Rock/Pop

Linda Martin: "You Needed Me" (Polygram)

Linda Martin singing the blues? Absolutely. And beautifully. At least that's what she does with the Brenda Lee hit, Break It To Me Gently. It's a pity the musicians don't follow her into the shadows evoked by her vocal. Much better is the menacing sense of Amoureuse - though, again, the real dynamic comes from Martin's voice; she has never sung better. But songs like Snowbird and, worst of all, Paper Roses degrade her talent, and the weakest aspect of this album is the song selection; though the cover of Cry Me A River nearly redeems the whole affair, as does Love Me, where Martin's contemplative approach highlights what might have been. She really can furrow into the centre of a song - when a song has a centre. Too many of these songs don't even have a shell.

Joe Jackson

Lonnie Donegan: "Muleskinner Blues" (BMG)

Given that Lennon and McCartney started out in a group which, in part, paid homage to the original "skiffle king" Lonnie Donegan, this is British rock-roots music to its bones. It's also the kind of American folk music derivative that inspired Van Morrison, making his presence on Muleskinner Blues and I'm Alabammy Bound historically accurate and a pure delight. The latter really is deliciously understated, a train slowly rolling down a one-way track. As is the legendary Rock Island Line, which Donegan slows down so much at the outset you ache for it to take off. And it does, believe me. Stewball, on the other hand, flies out of the station before you even know it's arrived.

Great fun. Muleskinner Blues is a surprisingly potent album - probably the best Donegan has ever recorded.

Joe Jackson

Various Artists: "The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star" (Virgin)

The television series has ended, but fans of fictional rock band Jocks Wahey can now relive the dream through this 15-track CD, featuring imaginary hit tunes such as No 1 and The Joke's On You. If you missed the Channel 4 comedy, this CD won't help you to "achieve fame, fortune and funkability in six easy weeks", but it will give you a flavour of the rock'n'roll world of Jocks Wahey, plus a taste of those satirical Scottish soulsters, Bonk Bonk Bonk. To be brutally honest, the music flounders outside its comedic context - songs such as We Love Cowdenbeath and Why Won't You Shag Me? don't sound very funny on CD, and listening to sub-Oasis guff such as Righteous and Happy makes you feel relieved that Jocks Wahey aren't a real band.

Kevin Courtney