Singles -Rikki & Daz, Rhinestone Cowboy, Out now, Serious Records - HOW the mighty have fallen.
It's bad enough that a pair of Manchester DJs have hijacked a classic and set it to a dance beat, but by re-recording the track with them, the legendary Glen Campbell has taken this off the cheesiness radar.
So, it's bound to be a hit. It's catchy -- but so is chicken pox -- and while Mr C is a living legend, this is something the legendary solo artist won't live down in a hurry.
Daniel Bedingfield - If You're Not The One (Out now, Polydor)
AFTER two up-beat pop tracks, this is a love song with a sincere message. Gotta Get Thru This and James Dean (I Wanna Know) let the world know Daniel Bedingfield had arrived and this will do his credentials no harm, especially showcasing his excellent vocal talent.
The message here will ring true with anyone who has been in love: I don't care if you're not THE one -- it doesn't get any better than this.
Suede - Obsessions (Out now, Epic)
THE good 'uns keep coming from Suede's fifth album, A New Morning. Another message of love here, about the little things you notice about your lover: everything from the way they pick their clothes off the floor, to the way they close the car door. It's an obsession, but it's an excellent rocker.
****
The Veils - More Heat Than Light (Out now, Warner)
WITH a sound like Oasis, it's hard to imagine this lot not doing well. It's more like the Definitely Maybe period, and definitely worth a listen.
VANESSA CARLTON , Ordinary day, Out now, A&M
THE up-beat A thousand miles put the baby-faced 22-year-old on the map and on the strength of this, there's plenty more where that came from.
Ordinary day is slower than its predecessor but just as sincere -- about the ordinary things that matter. Nothing ordinary about this.
PAUL WELLER, LEAFY MYSTERIES, Out now, Independiente
NO point going over old ground; Paul Weller just doesn't do it for me. Anyone want a free CD?
ALBUMS
SHAKIRA, LAUNDRY SERVICE: WASHED AND DRIED, Out now, Epic
THE fantastic Laundry service just got better.
Not only do we have the hits Whenever, wherever, Underneath your clothes, and the new single, Objection (tango), there are three bonus tracks (remixes of the aforementioned), and a DVD featuring a live performance of Objection, from last week's MTV Europe music awards, the making of the video, and the Objection video itself.
No objections here, it's great stuff.
LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY, GREATEST HITS, Out now, Polydor
EVERYONE knows Lifted and Ocean drive, and that's about the extent of the Lighthouse Family's greatest hits. More of a CD single than a 17-track album, even though there are two new tracks, I could have loved you and Absolutely everything, both instantly forgettable.
STEREO MC's, RETROACTIVE, Out now, Island
NOW this is something to get worked up about.
While most people think the fabulous Connected when they think of the Stereo MC's, this is a band with more than one string to its bow.
There is the fantastic Step it up, Elevate my mind, Supernatural and On 33 to name a few.
With the festive season approaching, these will be leaving the shops like hotcakes, paid for or otherwise.
Get yourself connected: Stereo MC's play Manchester University MDH on December 3.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS, ESCAPOLOGY, Out now, EMI
IF I had £80 million burning a hole in my pocket, I'm not sure I'd give it to Robbie Williams to make a few records.
No doubt the other members of Take That are thinking the same as they attempt a comeback.
Not that there's anything wrong with the Robster or his latest offering, full of his usual wit, cynicism and humour. Let's face it, the arrogance, the attitude, the girls -- dreadful. But, deep down, who wouldn't be Robbie for a while?
Anyway, to the music. The whole album has a raw feel to it, and we learn Robbie recorded most of it live in the studio, aiming for a certain roughness, rather than the polished and perfected type of Brian Wilson masterpiece.
The highlight is the anthemic Monsoon, a hard-rocking expression of Robbie's view on who and what he has done, who and what he hasn't and regrets either way.
Handsome man is all of the above with typical Williams humour: "I'm going to milk it until I turn it into cheese!"
Worth all those millions? The jury's still out, but a very good album which, like Tampax in a convent, is bound to sell.
BBMAK, INTO YOUR HEAD, Out now, Telstar
AS a huge fan of The Beach Boys, guitar tracks with harmonies are always a winner in my book.
So a mix of '80s rock (probably Foreigner and Def Leppard) with the California boys is a real success.
Out of my heart is the track of the album for me -- a rock-pop love song. Also worth mentioning is After all is said and done, with a very definite '80s feel.
Decent.
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