Vanessa Carlton: A Thousand Miles (Out now, A&M)

WITH a sound similar to Alannis Morisette, this is a catchy pop track that should do well. Although the chorus starts "I would walk a thousand miles" don't worry -- it's nothing like The Proclaimers' awful offering.

Blue States: Metro Sound (Out Monday, XL)

WE'VE all done it -- come back from a night on the town, put a mellow CD in the stereo and sat down for a couple of minutes contemplating ordering a takeaway. Next thing it's 4am, you're sprawled across the settee, the CD's still going and no takeaway. This is one of those instrumental chill-out numbers for such occasions. It has an Elbow feel to it and isn't bad.

Darius: Colour Blind: (Out Monday, Mercury)

LIKE the Energizer Bunny, Darius kept going and going after Popstars rejection. He has since become one of those people it really isn't cool to like. But to hell with what's left of my street cred, this is actually a decent debut single. Written by the lad himself (unlike endless covers by Pop Idol's Will and Gareth), Colour Blind is an up-beat catchy tune with a Take That feel.

Despite the public humiliation that was his PopStars audition, he has a good voice and with U2 produce Steve Lillywhite behind the scenes, should go far.

George Michael: Shoot The Dog (Out Monday, Polydor)

MUCH has already been said about this single and video, so I won't be going over old ground. So, forgetting controversy and media-hype for a second, the single is rubbish.

As I said about Sexual Freeek earlier in the year, it sounds like a rehash of what he's done before.

That aside, here's what George has to say about it: "Shoot the dog is intended as a piece of political satire, no more, no less, and I hope that it will make people laugh and dance, and then think a little.

"I am truly a patriotic man. And it is my love for my country that gives me the inclination to defend it right now, in any way I can, regardless of the fact that I will know I will be attacked by some for doing so.

"I am definitely not anti-American. How could I be? I have been in love with a Texan for six years and we are still going strong.

"My feelings about George W. Bush, however, are a little different."

That's cleared that up, then.

DEF LEPPARD

NOW

Out Monday, Mercury

SHEFFIELD rockers Def Leppard are back, though they've slipped out of overdrive for this one.

It's not the flat-out rock of things like Animal, Pour some sugar on me or Let's get rocked, but has a fair bit of energy.

There is also more of an electronic sound -- which again is not typical Def Leppard -- but it's not bad.

BEN KWELLER

SHA SHA, Out Monday, 679 Recordings

I ENJOYED Ben Kweller's debut offering, EP phone home, and am not disappointed with this follow-up.

The track of the album is the opener, How it should be (sha sha), which has a very strong Beach Boys Here today feel to it, especially the harmonies.

Wasted and ready is a catchy hard rock song, while Walk on me sounds as if it should be on the soundtrack to the Channel 4 series Teachers.

It is a decent album that will get a fair bit of a airtime at my place.

BELLY: Sweet Ride/The Best Of Belly (Out Monday, 4AD)

THE ambiguity of double-A sides is surpassed only by a compilation of B-sides. In most cases, songs were demoted to the flipside because they weren't as good as others, so why would people be interested in a compilation of second-choice offerings? And, this is a compilation from a band who only made two albums. This is very take-it-or-leave-it.

album and I think I'll do the latter.

SILVERCHAIR

DIORAMA

Out Monday, Atlantic

WITH legendary producer Van Dyke Parks behind this one and proclaiming singer/songwriter Daniel Johns the hottest thing since Brian Wilson, I was expecting something amazing with Diorama.

Here comes the "but" or "unfortunately".

How could it live up to such a billing?

Across the night has the type of big orchestral score and studio production number you would expect from Mr Wilson and co, but isn't as good.

There is a heavy rock/metal sound to One way mule, but nothing to write home about, while Tuna in the brine is just out there somewhere.

Luv your life sounds like Wet Wet Wet and is the track of the album.

Sorry Van Dyke, not one of your better moves.

P DIDDY & THE BAD BOY FAMILY

WE INVENTED THE REMIX

Out Monday, Arista

RAP purists would probably be able to tell the difference between original and remix versions, so this was lost on my untrained ears.

My favourite P Diddy track is the Every breath you take tribute to Notorious BIG, followed closely by Bad boy for life, featuring Busta Rhymes and M.O.P.

As you would expect, the language is blue, there's plenty of bass and even more attitude.

Not bad, but I won't be rushing to HMV for it.