On the record: Skunk Anansie bring back the trash

Nov 2 2009 By Polly Weeks

What's hot and what's not in this week's new releases.

Skunk Anansie - Smashes & Trashes

With a UK tour set for late November, the 1990s indie rock band return with a 'best of' compilation. The good news is, the songs which made them so successful before are still just as good: Hedonism, Weak, Twisted and Brazen (Weep) are all clearly amazing. It's a shame that some other key tracks such as Yes It's ******* Political have been left off. Still, with a good back catalogue, the whittling-down process must have been a tough task. There are three new songs on the album, and they show that the band haven't lost their songwriting abilities. Squander is a delicate pop tune, Tear The Place Up is a great piece of punk rock, and Because Of You builds wonderfully from sultry pop to rock heavy.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

Cheryl Cole - 3 Words

With her career turning full circle - she's now a judge on a talent show similar to the one that launched Girls Aloud's assault on the charts - a solo album was always going to be the obvious next step for Cheryl Cole. Unfortunately for the X Factor judge, she's become a victim of Girls Aloud's success. The five-piece pushed pop music to new, previously unassailable levels with their string of hits - seriously, Biology is one of the best songs released in the last 20 years - but for all the production and money that's been lavished on 3 Words, it never gets close to hitting those innovative heights. The solemn opening title track is a slick, grown-up song that oozes quality, but it's pretty much downhill from there with one weak 1980s-inspired track following on from the last. It'll sell millions, naturally, but we've come to expect more than this.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Andy Welch)

Dionne Bromfield - Introducing Dionne Bromfield

She's Amy Winehouse's goddaughter, and the 13-year-old Londoner has clearly been inspired by her mentor. On this album, Bromfield covers classics such as Ain't No Mountain High Enough and My Boy Lollipop. It's the soul numbers like opening track Tell Him which show what a promising artist she is - a voice beyond her age and a great vocal range will make her one to watch in the future. That said, some of the songs seem slightly strange for a young teenager to be singing.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

The Bee Gees - The Ultimate

The veteran high-pitched disco warblers release a double album full of their classic tunes. The opening track You Should Be Dancing sets the tone for the rest of the first disc, it's all about 1970s dance hits and will transport you to a bygone era of white flares and medallions. The second album is a more downbeat affair. Including the songs How Deep Is Your Love, Emotion and Run To Me, there are also a few live numbers including a live medley and Immortality featuring Celine Dion. It's a good collection and will make a nice Christmas present for fans of the best-selling band.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

Cold Cave - Love Comes Close

Put together by Wesley Eisold, a singer best known for fronting a series of well-regarded US hardcore bands, this electronically-minded quartet channel that aggression by marrying it to the dance-pop nous of New Order and focused angst of Nine Inch Nails. The presence of former members of Xiu Xiu and Parts and Labor explains the band's experimental bent, but their particular blend of nasty synth-pop falls a little flat - it's all a bit too much of a mishmash, and the lack of cohesion marks this down as a stuttering non-starter.

Rating: 5/10

(Review by Simon Harker)

Ginuwine - A Man's Thoughts

Ginuwine has grown up and he wants everyone to know it. The US R&B star - once famous for hits like Pony and Holler - is now older and wiser (well, he's 34) and his new album, the first since 2005, reflects that. Filled with slow jams to win the ladies over such as One Time For Love, Last Chance, Bridge To Love (a duet with Brandy) and Used To Be The One, his sixth studio album is more filler, atmosphere-setting music than radio-friendly hits. A sure-fire sign of Ginuwine's maturity is on Lying To Each Other, when the former heart-throb hints to being in a stale relationship, admitting to his lady: "I'd rather watch cable than see you with a negligee on." Get Involved, featuring long-time collaborators Timbaland and Missy Elliott, lifts the mood if only briefly.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Shereen Low)

Brakes - Live: Rock Is Dodelijk

Hailing from Brighton, Brakes have never received the attention they've deserved. This album highlights what an exciting rock band they are. Like an overly-excited Buzzcocks, their energy when playing live is clear to hear on this album. From tracks like Cease And Desist and Don't Take Me To Space Man, the four-piece come across as a live force to be reckoned with. It's a great decision to release this, as hopefully not only will it bring the band more attention but also it'll help sell out their tours in the future.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

Paul Weller - Paul Weller (Deluxe Edition)

The Paul Weller of 2009 may be one of Britain's most successful and acclaimed solo artists, but back in 1992, when this self-titled debut was originally released, things were very different for Woking's most famous son. He'd already found global fame with The Jam and The Style Council - the former disbanded at the height of their powers, the latter were dropped by a record label who refused to release the house-flavoured album Modernism: A New Decade. Not content with dwelling on past glories, he dug deep and delivered an album of gems, once again proving himself as a master songwriter. With tinges of jazz and the sophisticated cosmopolitan sounds he had touched upon previously, songs such as Round And Round, I Didn't Mean To Hurt You and Remember How We Started are lost classics in his catalogue, while Above The Clouds and Into Tomorrow remain two of the finest songs he's ever written. The added disc of bonus material - mainly alternate takes - is interesting, but doesn't offer much more to what is an already great album.

Rating: 8/10

(Review By Andy Welch)

The Chemists - Theories Of Dr Lovelock

Bristol band The Chemists arrive with their debut album having clearly been influenced by Foo Fighters and Feeder. The album opens with a speech from Richard E Grant which adds a nice touch to the album - after that it's fast-paced guitar riffs, heavy drums and screaming vocals all the way. It does get slightly repetitive, and A Love Like No-One Else sounds very similar to A's Starbucks tune. It's quickly followed by Radio Booth, which is better. After an outro from the aforementioned Grant, the band complete proceedings with a cover of Britney Spears's Toxic - like the rest of the album, it's a bit predictable but enjoyable nevertheless.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

Within Temptation - An Acoustic Night At The Theatre

The Dutch rock/metal band get a softer makeover for this acoustic album, their second successive live release. Female vocalist Sharon den Adel grabs the attention here, and the whole album sounds like a dark musical, full of theatrical tunes which - even if they are slightly cheesy - you're still impressed by. The songs Towards The End Caged and What Have You Done highlight the stage feel to the album. At the end of it they have have new song Utopia which, as much as they'd dispute it, sounds like it should be on a Walt Disney soundtrack.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Polly Weeks)

Singles by Polly Weeks

Beyonce - Broken Hearted Girl

A ballad from the Destiny's Child diva. In the last couple of years, her uptempo numbers such as Single Ladies have been far more exciting than this.

JLS - Everybody In Love

Ahead of their debut album, the JLS boys release this anthemic pop number. It's a strong single and will keep the teenage girls happy.

Sugababes - About A Girl

The first single for the new-look 'Babes. It's by no means a classic Sugababes song but will be a good club number. However, the idea of the original three members forming a new band is far more exciting than this release.

On the road

Live review

Dame Shirley Bassey - The Electric Proms, Camden Roundhouse, October 23

The last time Dame Shirley Bassey took to the stage in the UK was at Glastonbury 2007, when she wore a full-length gown and diamante-emblazoned wellies. Two years later and at the age of 72, the question was whether the diva would still be able to deliver. Following her performance at Camden's Roundhouse, it was clear you should never doubt the Dame. It's 50 years since she embarked on her career, but when the velvet curtain dropped to reveal the songstress in a slashed-to-the-thigh silver dress to the strains of Diamonds Are Forever, Bassey proved she's better than ever. Through the 17-song set, she belted out old favourites such as Kiss Me Honey Honey, Kiss Me and Big Spender along with material from her new album The Performance, including Almost There and After The Rain. Showing the young pretenders of today how it's done, the crowd couldn't get enough of the dramatic gestures, bellowing voice and the cheeky talk of toy-boys as she introduced collaborators Tom Baxter, Richard Hawley and Dave Arnold to the stage. The 30-piece BBC Orchestra, drum-beating soldiers and yellow roses thrown into the sea of adoring fans only added to the electric atmosphere. By the time she closed the concert with the Bond classic Goldfinger, while gold confetti descended from the rafts, the Dame had proved why there's only ever going to be one Shirley Bassey.

(Review by John Griffin)

Upcoming tours

Lady Gaga's Monster Ball tour comes to the UK in February, and you'll need to book tickets quickly as the dates are sure to sell out. She kicks things off at Manchester's MEN Arena on February 18 and finishes at the Nottingham Arena on March 8. For tickets visit www.aeglive.co.uk from October 30.

Irish indie rockers The Saw Doctors are celebrating 21 years in the music industry with a 17-date UK tour. Starting in Newcastle on November 27, they end up in Glasgow on December 19. See www.sawdoctors.com for full details.