OUTKAST
PROTOTYPE new single out 11 October 2004
How have Adre 3000 and Big Boi managed to cross all barriers? Is it the strength of Hey Ya - undoubtedly the crosover hit of the past few year's. Whatever here's another surprising and brilliant single, just like the remix of The Way You Move, this weaves it's way in and is a more mellow listen but coupled with the previously released and unsuccessful single Ghetto Muzak as a double A. XXXXx www.outkast.com

REM - LEAVING NEW YORK
new single 27 September 2004
There's an election on in the USA and REM are back on tour, their 13th studio album - 'Around The Sun'. Only U2 from the 80's Rock hierarchy have stayed the test of time and could claim to be bigger on a global scale. Politics is firmly on the agenda and the new music is entirely in harmony with that, they join Bruce Springsteen on the Vote For Change tour from 1st to 8th October in key states for Democrat candidate John Kerry. They start their own World tour on October 13th in Los Angeles, visiting Cardiff Millenium Stadium on Saturday 10th July. get tix here XXX www.remhq.com

ROBBIE WILLIAMS - RADIO
new single 4 October 2004
Brace yourself for a whole load of ridiculous Robbie Press releases like Robbie to star in American Sit-com, Robbie conquers Poland, Robbie eats Mount Everest, Robbie is unhappy eh?? Well it's time for a new release from 'the UK's greatest showman' as the Press says, and this is a bit weird. Produced and co-written by former Durani Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy - Guy Chambers replacement. It's kind of similar in structure to Duffy's 1985 hit 'Kiss Me', "Listen to the Radio" goes the chorus, so saturation is virtually guaranteed for the bloke who was in Take That and lived! XXx www.robbiewilliams.com

MARJORIE FAIR - WAVES
new single out 4 October 2004
There is a fantastic airy quality to this 'Waves Silly Boy' melody that worms it's way inside your head. A little Californian sunshine from these Los Angelinos debut album 'Self Help Serenade'. This should win major airplay from both Beeb and Commercial sides of pop's long corridor and hopefully go Top Ten. XXXXx www.marjoriefair.com

PAUL WELLER - STUDIO 150
new album 13 September 2004
Well errr, here's the tracks - Close To You (Carpenters), The Bottle (Gil Scott Heron), longer version of Wishing On A Star (Rose Royce), Hercules (Alain Toussaint), Thinking Of You (Sister Sledge), Birds, If I Could Only Be Sure, One Way Road (Backing Vocals by The Stands), the haunting traditional Black Is The Colour, Don't Make Promises (Tim Hardin), Early Morning Rain (Gordon Lightfoot), All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan & Jimi Hendrix) Birds (Neil Young). Surprisingly brilliant, look out for a limited edition vinyl version. XXXXx www.paulweller.com

MARILYN MANSON
PERSONAL JESUS new single 4 October 2004
GREATEST HITS new album 27 September 2004
This is the dog's proverbials, more mainstream than even Tainted Love would allow. Personal Jesus is probably the best Depeche Mode hit single, and now covered by partners in Goth Marilyn Manson have No. 1 at their feet. This really is the monster and the Hits album will be massive, Eurythmics Sweet Dreams, Tainted Love and Disposeable Teens, oh yeah and Beatiful People! XXXXx www.marilynmanson.com

THE ISCARUS LINE - ON THE LASH
new single out 30 August 2004
The Icarus Line have a unique take in this rock thing - it sounds like they're all playing different songs! How they're stuff hangs together is a major work of art, 'On The Lash is a manic blast of raunchy wild guitar with crazy off beat splurge of percussive drumming - it's very bizarre and could be absolutely massive or.... flop completely. They've played at Cardiff Barfly and I love their standard rocker Spike Island so good luck to them for being different. XXXX www.theicarusline.com

ANA JOHNSSON - DON'T CRY FOR PAIN new single out 18 October 2004
"I don't cry for pain, I only cry for love" - it's a nice idea for a lyric and standard fare for Ana fresh from her Spiderman duties and the massive hit 'We Are'. An album 'The Way I Am' co-written by Ana is due soon. XXx www.anajohnsson.com

HARMAR SUPERSTAR - THE HANDLER new album out now
Harmar goes pop and how?? A great opener called Transit maps out the sirection Harmar's travelling in - heading to Top 40 ville. The single DUI is included - another stab at a hit single and what's this, Gilbert O'Sullivan's 'Alone Again Naturally', eh? "Cheerfull bright and gay!" Other than Hurricane Smith's 'Who Was It?' this is the first and only Gilbert cover I can think of, bizarre coz it was a number one for five weeks in Harmar's homeland, fond memories for him maybe! XXXX www.harmarsuperstar.com

EMBRACE - GRAVITY new single 6 September 2004
OUT OF NOTHING new album 13 September 2004
This is sooo good Radio 2 have playlisted it .... well it should be good. But it is very reminiscent of some 1980's U2, nice song but a little bland! XXx www.embrace.co.uk

THE ZUTONS - DON'T EVER THINK (TOO MUCH) new single out 11 October 2004
There There My Dear, this is not Dexy's Midnight Runner's but on this track you can hear their influence. Zutons seem to get a mixed reaction but Pressure Point was a fine piece of rock pop funk, this is a little too pacey to fit that category but catchy enough - if it gets the airplay this should see them Top Twenty again! A new track not on their Who Killed The Zutons album, you can see the boys on tour in October or if you fancy a trip to the States they're supporting The Thrills in September! XXx www.thezutons.co.uk

THE HIVES - TWO-TIMING TOUCH AND BROKEN BONES new single 2004
This is a bit of a grower, The Monkees will love it! Well they should recognise it anyway, it's the same riff as 'I'm Not Your Stepping Stone'. There the similarity ends - this is hard, fast and furious rocking Hives 2004 style, the chorus with so many words is punched out plenty of times, and if you don't like it here's some more good news - it's less than 2mins! XXXx www.hivesmusic.com

KILL RADIO - OFF WITH HIS HEAD
new Single / EP? maybe - to be confirmed...
From Hollywood not Hollybush and they're angry. One of the underground bands of the mo', having supported Lostprophets, Rollins and Jello Biafra. Hard to credit Sony being behind this band of anti-establishment proletariat from Los Angeles. With four angry, raucous, punk of '04 songs like 'Off With His Head', 'Do You Know (Knife In Your Back)', 'Pull Out' and 'Amerika' you get the impression they don't like Mr. Bush. "for the times they are a-changing...." XXXx www.killradiorevolution.com and apparently www.rockagainstbush.com

BURNING BRIDES - LEAVE NO ASHES new album out 18 October 2004
Burning Brides played at our Cardiff Barfly venue a couple of times, you kind of feel they're going to crack it. Maybe Leave No Ashes will do it for them, the opening track 'Heart Full Of Black' is a stormer but hey... isn't that a Chinn & Chapman Sweet riff??? No matter it sounds great! Tour dates to be announced soon. XXXx www.burningbrides.com

THE DEAD 60's
RIOT RADIO new single out 20 September 2004
Dead 60's are supporting Morrissey on some of his tour dates, that gives them a chance of winning some of his incredibly loyal fans. I don't think this is the song to win a mass audience for them, in fact I'll be surprised if the inclusion of the word radio in the song even manages to win them much airplay. It's one of those looks good on paper ideas, the song unfortunately is a bit weak. XX www.thedead60s.com

MADRUGADA - BLOOD SHOT ADULT COMMITMENT new Single out 20 September 2004
These guys have got it too!. With an underlying tension right from the first drum roll. Madrugada - weird name - and no wonder coz they come from Stokmarknes?? Where did you say??? Norway, you know Norvege Nil Points!!! You can hear the gruesome influence of the Velvet's, Jesus & Mary's and The Crammps with this stormer from their third album 'Grit' (produced by PJ Harvey's producer Head) - and this track is quite simply brilliant! XXXXX www.madrugada.net

SEVENTHSUN
MELODY new single out 4 October 2004
Three former members of The Freestylers with new lead singer Wasi. This is quite tasty, a haunting ... well melody, and some good mixes. Emily Eavis insisted they play Glastonbury, now there's an offer they couldn't refuse, as if they would. XXXx www.seventhsunmusic.com

THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES (TSOOL)
BIG TIME new single out 6 Septemberr 2004
From the land of Sven and Abba and ... The Final Countdown! This is pretty good - a pacey number with a good hook, like so many. However quite atmospheric and that's a good sign for thing's to come, and come they will with the new album 'Origin' out in October. XXX

FIERY FURNACES
BLUEBERRY BOAT new Album 6 September 2004
This is verging on comedy, and without the help of Jack White's left hook tooo! 'I Lost My Dog' might seem like a good idea for a song, but I can't imagine too many singing along. Straight Street, Bird Brain and Chris Michaels are all nice songs but there's no Hotel Yorba .... yet anyway. XXx www.fieryfurnaces.com