Latest releases reviewed

50 CENT Just a Lil Bit Shady/Aftermath/Interscope  *

Ooh ah, just a lil bit more of that lazy-assed hip-hop from the two-bit rapper, as he continues to mouth off about his way with the laydeez. He's joining his homey Eminem at Slane in September - I'll give you 50 cent for a ticket.

NELLY N Dey Say Universal *

Whoa, Nelly! Stop right there. Your hayseed rap is cheesy enough, but sampling Spandau Ballet's True is straight outta hicksville. This is off his Sweat album, and it sure stinks.

DAFT PUNK Technologic Virgin **

The disco-robot duo love messing around with vocal effects, but, like a pair of kids with helium balloons, they just can't stop being silly. This sounds like Madonna and R2D2 having wheezy android sex on board a Vogon spaceship.

LADYTRON Sugar Island **

The retro-futuristic foursome have a new album and here's a sweet, synthful taste of their two-girl/two-boy electro action. Bet Girls Aloud would love to be let loose on this tune - in Barbarella spacesuits, of course.

JEM Just a Ride ATO Records **

Life is a rollercoaster, says this Welsh girl, so you may as well enjoy the ride. This one isn't too scary, although it sometimes veers towards Swing Out Sister and Natasha Bedingfield.

FRED Summer's Coming RCM **

Fred are a hippie-ish looking collective from Cork who are firmly of the belief that we are going to have a summer this year. Well, of course Cork will be basking in Mediterranean sunshine, but the rest of us will have to just play this breezy cafe-jazz tune and hope for the best.

GREEN DAY Wake Me Up When September Ends Reprise ***

Billy Joe Armstrong must have spent a summer in Dublin waiting for the rain to stop. But instead of just going to the pub like we do round these parts, he's written a surefire worldwide hit about it. Wake him up when the royalty cheque comes in.