Rock/Dance

The Ramones: Hey! Ho! Let's Go! The Ramones Anthology (Rhino)

Three chords, two minutes, 57 tracks: this must be the shortest anthology in recorded history. New York slacker-punks the Ramones were the ultimate cretin rockers, slouching around CBGBs in torn jeans, sneakers and leather jackets, hair permanently over their eyes and a guitar slung somewhere around knee level. The personnel often changed, but the surnames always remained the same, and the music, well, Heinz beans had more variety than these 57 slices of blitzkrieg bop. The classics come thick, fast and furious, and include Sheena Is A Punk Rocker, Judy Is A Punk, Teenage Lobotomy, I Wanna Be Sedated, Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue, Beat On The Brat, Rockaway Beach, Rock 'N' Roll High School and The KKK Took My Baby Away. The great thing about The Ramones was their sheer, boneheaded simplicity. Gabba, gabba, and furthermore, hey.

Kevin Courtney

Somatic: The Bop Apocalypse (Universal)

In the never-ending search for diversity, new acts are mixing genres willy-nilly, often rustling up some unpalatable combinations like mad chefs gone fusion crazy. Somatic's influences range from big band sounds of the 1950s to The Beatles, Billie Holiday and hip-hop, and the trio of Damien Logan, Bernie Miles and Fleur Davies come from wildly disparate backgrounds. The Bop Apocalypse features a dizzying array of guest musicians, including The John Altman Big Band, the London Metropolitan Strings and The Kick Horns, and the result is an exuberant pastiche of Portishead, Lamb, GusGus and Benny Goodman. Throwing For Six throws you for six with its sudden shifts, while Go Between is a lush mix of lounge and old R'n'B. There's a light Latin touch to La Chica, and a cello-drenched gravity to Not Forgiven. This fusion hits the spot nicely.

Kevin Courtney

Groove Armada: (Pepper)

If you're still looking for a suitably summery album and have yet to succumb to Macy Gray's delights, Groove Armada may be able to help. Not only does their name summon visions of sultry late-evening soirees and the sleeve resemble a Wallpaper magazine shoot for the next Air album, but Tom Findlay and Andy Cato's sonic moods are as chic, lush and quietly euphoric as they come. Opening turn Chicago has a mesmerising, deep bassline with perfect melodies, while Dusk, You & Me and Serve Chilled sound just as evocative as their titles. Naturally, the duo's breakthrough single At The River fits like a glove into this scenario, a pleasant paddle complete with trombone solo. Laidback may be the word you are searching for.

Jim Carroll