Singles

FUZZ LIGHT YEARS: Girl Song, (Karma 31) -- To quirky to be punk, to spiky to be disposable, this just how perfect pop should sound. Girl vocals and sweet music, if this group had a fairy tale ending it'd be infinity and beyond. CL (7/10)

EMBRACE: Wonder, (Hut) -- A slice of heartfelt melancholy from Danny McNamara delivered in exactly the same way as every other Embrace ballad. Please, Please, Please can we return to the intensity and passion that gave us Save Me and Yeah You, before we lose complete interest. CL (4/10)

BJORK: Hidden Place, (One Little Indian) -- Not that chart friendley but still a breathtaking, majestic, epic of a track. Widescreen still sounds to small for this brilliant piece from our Icelandic genius. CL (9/10)

SPIRITUALIZED: Stop Your Crying, (BMG) -- Jason Pearce goes gospel here but apart from that the big orchestral sound of his earlier stuff remains in tact. Sounding a touch on the slow side this is music to wallow in. CL (9/10)

Albums

THE STROKES: Is This It, (Rough Trade) -- In case you've missed the buzz, The Stokes are pack leaders of the new US punk movement. This is punk with melody but without the shambolic edge. So much more accessible than you'd expect, even from the first listen you get just where they're coming from. Angular guitars, a vocal drone not dissimilar to Mark E Smith, and influences as diverse as Joy Division to The Ramones helps create a retro sound with a modern feel. Is this it? Yes it is and very fine it is to. Believe the hype and enjoy the moment. CL (10/10)

VARIOUS: Cream Ibiza 2001, (Cream Records/Virgin) -- Is it me, or does every track on this compilation sound identical to the one before?. The repetitive beats leave me uninspired and unimpressed. Perhaps you just had to be there. CL(1/10)