Rock/Pop

Guy Chadwick: "Lazy, Soft & Slow" (Setanta)

The House Of Love has been vacant for a few years, but its ghosts still haunt Guy Chadwick's first solo album, a collection of languid love songs and light-headed lyrics. Chadwick was reportedly a nervous wreck after the break-up of his band, and this album sees the singer healing himself through the old-fashioned power of love. Opening track, Soft & Slow, with its measured instrumental theme, sounds not unlike The High Llamas with a bursting heart, while You've Really Got A Hold On Me harks back to House Of Love's delicately-laced rock 'n' roll. Some of the songs border on the twee, like In Her Heart and Crystal Love Song, but Chadwick has a good ear for an insistent melody, and he tugs on the heartstrings without grating on the teeth.

By Kevin Courtney

Pearl Jam: "Yield" (Epic)

The creatively bankrupt band from Seattle have managed to tap into the last reserves of their diminishing muse to come up with an album almost worthy of their 1991 debut. Ever since 10 burst out of Seattle to challenge the supremacy of Nevermind, Pearl Jam have given the impression that they've only stayed together out of duty to their devoted fans, many of whom would be traumatised if the band ever broke up. Yield almost fulfils Pearl Jam's artistic obligations - it's hard-edged, solid, with a sense of direction sorely lacking in the band's past output. Singer/grunge Messiah, Eddie Vedder, is less irritatingly obtuse, although most of his lyrics still flounder in a stagnant stream of self-consciousness.

By Kevin Courtney

Cliff Richard: "The Rock`n'Roll Years" (EMI, 4 CDs)

Before Cliff, British rock was all parody, pastiche, pretence and farce. This is not to say that Sir Cliff Richard hasn't produced music that fits into all these categories. He has. But happily, far fewer in the years covered by this box-set, 1958-1963, than since. In fact, one suspects that had Cliff died in 1963, this collection would be more readily accepted as seminal in relation to the formation of Brit-rock pre-Beatles. Either way, it is. From `live' Oh Boy cuts such as King Creole and High School Confidential through early `B' sides such as Apron Strings and Dynamite, this is the best of Britain's original rocker, backed by Britain's original rock band, The Shadows. Sadly, The "Shads" own, hugely influential hits aren't included. Even so, kicking off with Schoolboy Crush, from 1958 and closing with It'll Be Me, from 1963, this is the sound of Brit-rock being born. A delight.

By Joe Jackson