For a band that created such a buzz back in 2004 with their debut release it’s actually hard to remember why when listening to their third album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand. There’s nothing here with any excitement – the melodies are limp…

Fortunately few artists ever have the tangled, drug-addled histories of this artist. One time girlfriend of Mick Jagger, Faithfull almost lost, not just her career but also her life due to heroin addiction throughout the 1970’s

U2’s first masterpiece was 1984’s The Unforgettable Fire. Considering that after 30+ years in the business and 25 years after their first true classic, that new album No Line on the Horizon is also fairly called another masterpiece, is nothing short of sensational…

Whatever we think about the TV talent show, however much we dislike the predictable and generic nature of its production format, winning the X Factor has done Leona Lewis no harm whatsoever. Her album Spirit sold over 6 million copies worldwide in 2008 and of course…

Much more fun than the previous lady (GaGa) this lady (Ladyhawke) comes from a small provincial farming town in New Zealand’s North Island. Now resident in London after honing her skills in Australia, (as most Kiwi musicians do), her album references so many great female performers of the past yet sounds strikingly fresh…

Twenty-two year old Lady GaGa has released one of the most calculated albums I’ve ever heard. The Fame is a collection of songs about just that, fame as well as of course money and sex. Talented though she obviously is, The Fame is aimed squarely at a young audience who will dance along appreciatively to songs called Paparazzi…

Also born in the south, 31 year old Kanye West had developed a reputation as being a pompous arse, suggesting not long ago that if the Bible were written today that he would be in it. Having won numerous awards, but apparently not as many as he would have liked…

Another southern rapper and hip hop star has also just released his 6th solo album. 28 year old T.I., and father of five kids to almost as many women, delivers another full on set with all the usual bravado expected from stars of this genre.

Tired of all the TVB end of year Canto Pop shows? Then for a full-frontal assault on the senses you can shake all the TV sugar away with a blast from gangsta rapper Ludacris. The 31 year old’s 6th solo album comes blasting out of your speakers and leaves your hair blown backwards…

The third CD in this month’s manufactured pop selection comes from the very cute teenage runner-up of American Idol. David has a sweet voice and is a very talented young singer, but he definitely needs time to mature, I’d say that in ten years he could establish himself as a rather popular soloist…