Latest releases reviewed
PRIMAL SCREAM Country Girl SonyBMG ****
The Scream team are back and it sounds like they've been getting it together in the country. Here's a rural rocker about rolling around in the hay with a local lass and then telling the lads all about it down at the Dog & Liquidiser. You can take the boy out of the city etc.
BREAKS CO-OP The Otherside Parlophone ****
This Anglo-New Zealand r'n'b collective boasts BBC Radio 1 jock Zane Lowe in its ranks, but it's been so long since they last had a record out that young listeners will be surprised to learn of Lowe's other talents. This is a finely rolled soul tune, not quite as heavy as Marvin Gaye, but not as light as Lighthouse Family either.
THE SPINTO BAND Did I Tell You Radiate ***
Named after the late Roy Spinto, grandfather of guitarist Nick Krill, these Delaware dudes are worthy heirs to the clown crown once worn by Weezer, Fountains of Wayne and They Might Be Giants. Here's another fine, cracking tune straight out of the Crackerjack box that is their debut album, Nice and Nicely Done.
MATT WILLIS Up All Night Mercury **
The third guy out of Busted has been tipped to "do a Robbie Williams" and eclipse his former bandmates (not hard, really). Here's Matt's own Let Me Entertain You, an '80s-style hair-metal pop-rocker in which Willis blends Dave Lee Roth with Billy Joe Armstrong. I think I'll be loving angels instead.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS Sin Sin Sin Chrysalis **
Robbie's come over all Nick Kershaw lately, and his new album harks back to those decadent days when we all sported Bravery hairstyles and MTV actually played music vids. Somehow, though, I don't see the crowd singing this one in Croker.
THE ORDINARY BOYS VS LADY SOVEREIGN Nine2Five B Unique ***
After his little holiday in the Big Brother house, Preston's plainly not happy about having to go back to the day job and actually make some music to justify his celebrity status. Never mind, he's got Sov to help him lift this skankin' tune above the crushingly ordinary.
SANDI THOM I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker with Flowers in My Hair RCA ***
This is the girl who hit on the novel idea of playing gigs in her own home and broadcasting them on the web, eventually posting up the "site full" signs. This tune is reminiscent of Janis Joplin's Mercedes Benz, but all Sandi wants is to go back to a time before pesky MP3s, podcasts and Celebrity Big Brother.
