Crash Test Dummies: Give Yourself A Hand

(Vik. Recordings/Arista)

When the world failed to go "mmmm" for their last album, A Worm's Life, it looked like the quirky Canadian band had hit a creative and commercial ditch, sideswiped by a record-buying public who had grown tired of Brad Roberts's distinctive bass voice. A change seemed in order, but just how dramatic a change can be heard on the opening track, Keep A Lid On Things. No, it's not on the wrong speed, dummy, that's Brad's brand new falsetto voice in full flight. Elsewhere, on I Want To Par-tay!, the newly-versatile Roberts tries his throat at rapping, while keyboard player Ellen Reid takes over lead vocals on Just Chillin', Get You In The Morning and A Little Something. Roberts doesn't throw the basso out with the bathwater, however, going low on songs such as Aching To Sneeze and the distasteful I Love Your Goo. Having dealt deftly with Brad fatigue, the band delves into drum'n'bass rhythms and trip-hop beats, which, when matched with Roberts's wacky lyrics, makes for a rather grotesque musical goo altogether.

By Kevin Courtney

Various Artists: No Boundaries (Epic)

This album in aid of Kosovar refugees is a reminder that the world must sit up and take notice of the human tragedy which has been precipitated by the war in the Balkans. It's also a sobering reminder of how stultifyingly dull Pearl Jam have become, how increasingly annoying Alanis Morissette is getting, and how much Jakob Dylan of The Wallflowers sounds more like his dad every day. Initially, this compilation leans heavily towards American hard rock bands such as Korn, Rage Against The Machine and Bush, but Brit bands Oasis, The Manic Street Preachers and Suede get a look in later on. Neil Young contributes the relevantly-titled War Of Man, while Black Sabbath may have been thinking of a certain Yugoslav dictator when they donated Psycho Man. Sadly, as is often the case with charity albums, no one really wins here, and though it's undoubtedly in a good cause, No Boundaries seems doomed to be bought by a conscientious few but soon forgotten by the rest of the world.

By Kevin Courtney

Chemical Brothers: Surrender (Virgin)

Fresh, radical and exhilarating are the keywords here as Ed Simons and Tom Rowlands kick out the jams for the third time. Surrender is state-of-the-art Chemical Brothers, an album where the presence of some singing superstars (Noel Gallagher, Bernard Summer, Bobby Gillespie, Hope Sandoval etc) does not distract from what has been produced in the duo's lab. The single Hey Boy Hey Girl may appear simple enough, but check the turbo-charged Out Of Control, or the new psychedelic whirl of Let Forever Be for more complex examples of a new way of working. The closing Dream On, with Mercury Rev's Jonathan Donahue in lullaby mode, is where the next step begins. In a year of big albums, this one matches the pack beat for beat.

By Jim Carroll