Content area
Full Text
Ryan Adams So Alive (Lost Highway RYANCDP5)
It is ironic that Adams is championed as one of the musicians at the helm of the Americana scene, while he releases records which unfortunately display his limitations rather than the excellent songwriting that has been showcased on previous offerings.
Basement Jaxx feat. Lisa Kekaula Good Luck (XL XLS178CD).
Good Luck finds the duo dishing another helping of the kaleidoscopic brew they made their name with; a glorious mess of euphoric styles topped by a rousing vocal from Kekaula. This is a wise choice of single from their underperforming current album Kish Kash.
Victoria Beckham
This Groove/Let Your Head Go (19/Telstar tbc)
Beckham's second stab at solo success is backed this time by the clout of 19, which could make all the difference between success and failure. Both songs on offer are inoffensive pop/dance /R&B hybrids, treated to an ultra-sleek production that makes the most of her vocal proficiency.
Beyonce Me Myself and I (Sony 67454462)
It's time for a slick, laid-back ballad from Beyonce which she delivers on this fourth single from Dangerously In Love. Whereas previous releases have displayed her ability to embrace the cutting- edge of R&B, this single relies on the genre's more traditional methods.
Jamie Cullum Wind Cries Mary (Universal Classics & Jazz tbc)
The 24-year-old jazz sensation's take on the evergreen Jimi Hendrix classic comes across as a cynical choice of cover at first glance, but this adaptation does have a degree of swing and grace which makes it a worthwhile exercise up to a point. Taken from his double-platinum crossover album Twentysomething, this could give him his first taste of singles chart success.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor I Won't Change You (Polydor 9815123)
Co-written by Gregg Alexander and Matt Rowe, this is the second single from Ellis-Bextor's recent album Shoot From The Hip. It's her usual cool slice of dance-pop with arch lyrics, a formula that is both novel and refreshing in these rather banal times. It has no surprises, but then why should it?
Franz Ferdinand Take Me Out (Domino RUG172CD)
Hotly-tipped...