Crash Test Dummies: "He Liked To Feel It" (RCA)
Once, there was this band whose singer sang soolooooowwww ... the Crash Test Dummies return with another home-spun horror story, this one about a masochistic little boy who saves on dental bills by pulling out his own "teeth, using whatever tools come to hand, e.g. doorknobs, dogs' tails, etc. This quirky tale of toothsome torture is, er, extracted from the Dummies' forthcoming album, A Worm's Life, and the sound is, as usual, dominated by the rumbling bass baritone of Brad Roberts, but while the lyrics are almost as bizarre as those on Mmmm MmmmMmmmMmmm this one lacks the bite of their biggest-ever hit.
Revelino: "Step On High" (Dirt)
Dublin's most poptastic guitar combo take their first step into the European market with this single from their forthcoming Broadcaster album, and a fine, catchy piece of retro rock heaven it is t0o. Nice, solid guitar licks, an infectious "ba-ba-ba" refrain and a jolly nod to all the right influences make this one worth turning up the radio for; but I can't see this one competing against Britpop's brand-new heavies.
The Hormones: "Are You With Us?" (Trade 2)
Here's another heavenly pop hit from Dublin man Marc Carroll's new outfit, this one replete with crunchy guitars, Teenage Fanclub-style hooks and "sha-la-la" lyrics. You may remember that Marc used to front a band called Puppy Love Bomb, who declared that "Dublin Is bead" before promptly expiring on the spot. This time round, Marc asks us, "Are you with us, and are you cool?" which should get young hormones panting to join Marc's gang.
Jubilee Allstars: "By The End Of The Night" (Lakota)
Comprising three brothers, Fergus, Niall and Barry McCormack, and a drummer, Lee Casey, Jubilee Allstars can be found at the lo-fi end of Dubcore, slouching around in the same back porch as The Sewing Room. The downbeat tunes on this four-track EP won't give The Spice Girls much cause to worry, but they will provide a brief, atmospheric detour from pop's main drag, bringing the listener down some dusty backroads.
Jeannette Byrne: "Une Femme (Avec Toi)"
Nothing beats a bit of Ia Iangue d'amour for a bit of late-night seduction, and this one should be accompanied by a bottle (or six) of the finest, French red. Jeannette Byrne has duetted with the likes of Jack L, and she puts a nice Piaf-style quiver in her voice for this gentle yet full-bodied little ditty, but in the end she emerges as little more than Ireland's answer to Celine Dion.
The Heartbeats:"Michelle"
(Ambush Records)
This cover of the Beatles' hit features more lyrics en franca is, but singer John Lowe (Teresa Lowe's brother) doesn't quite have that seductive Sacha Distel quality in his voice. Never mind, at least this ode to Olympic gold medallist Michelle Smith is in a good cause, the proceeds going to the I.S.P.C.C., and we can be thankful that the song's publishers didn't allow John to go ahead with the idea of singing the song as gaeilge.
Vanessa Williams: "Where Do We Go From Here?" (Mercury)
Not only does Vanessa get protected by Arnie Schwarzenegger in his new movie, Eraser, she also gets to sing the theme tune. Didn't Whitney Houston do something similar already in The Bodyguard. The song is your typical slushy love theme, lifted only by a vibrant, John Barry-style orchestral intro before Nessa strolls in and brings it all back down to a pedestrian pop level once again.
Lionel Richie: "Ordinary Girl" (Mercury)
The former three times a lady man has lowered his expectations in recent times, and all he wants now is an ordinary girl: "someone I can talk to/ someone I can lean on now and then/I'm just looking for a friend". All very laudable, Lionel, but not very exciting, is it? I mean, what's wrong with a good, old-fashioned sex-bomb?
