The latest releases reviewed
ELTON JOHN Electricity Mercury/Rocket *
From Billy Elliot - The Musical, here's a mawkish tune, written by Elton and lyricist Lee Hall, about that fabulous feeling inside that makes you want to write a camp musical about mining and ballet. Not as good as Elton's music for The Lion King, obviously.
CHARLOTTE CHURCH Crazy Chick Sony BMG ***
The Welsh opera babe is slumming it with the popsters, and turning her talented tonsils to a funky r'n'b type thing that sounds like Joss Stone dueting with Britney. You can bet she won't go out of tune. Next week: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa does Crazy in Love.
STEREOPHONICS Superman V2 ***
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a hit? Kelly's in snarling form on this lugubrious rocker about a boorish type who thinks he's the Man of Steel, but is nothing more than a plastic punk. Not many hooks, but plenty of punch.
SYLVIA SAINT Southern Noises 01 ROK ***
Named after a Czech porn star (I'm told), this Cork bunch sound promising on this debut EP featuring four grungy metal tracks: Beaten By a Girl, Wrist Band & Fake Tans, Apology and Tickprease. Oh look: they've got loads of videos out.
BECK Girl Interscope ****
Prince had Raspberry Beret, but Beck's got his own sweet summer tune all about, well, a girl. Starts with a nice, cheap-sounding bleepy bit, then bounces off down the boardwalk in search of a popsicle. If this doesn't bring the sun out, nothing will.
IAIN ARCHER Boy Boy Boy PIAS **
No relation to Boys, Boys, Boys, that Sabrina summer hit from way back when. Instead, this is the Northern Irish singer-songwriter's follow-up to Summer Jets, a totally sunny tune complete with Thrills-type tinkly bells, Elliot Smith-style melodies and a crunchy summer salad riff.
TOWERS OF LONDON Fuck It Up TVT **
Here's something to chant along to at the next guerilla gig - a collision of Sex Pistols and Sham 69, complete with a middle bit that sounds like Toni Basil doing the pogo. Curse 'em, boys.
