Latest CD releases reviewed

CARLOS ADOLFO DOMINGUEZ
Boobies Gut Records
*

"I wanna go to the movies/cos that's where I feel your boobies." This is the sort of thing you'd expect from Dick Valentine, but this silly disco tune is actually by well-known dance producer Marco Bernardi, in his alter-ego as a sexed-up Brazilian love god. As Keith Barrett would say, it's just a bit of fun.

CHARLOTTE HATHERLEY
Bastardo Double Dragon
***

The girl from Ash shows her stuff on this tune about being picked up by a Latin lothario, who seduces the hapless axe lady, then skedaddles the next morning, taking her beloved guitar with him. Ah, the hazards of being a rock chick with a fine set of Strats.

STEREOPHONICS
Dakota V2
**

Er, waiter, this isn't my usual meat 'n' potatoes rock 'n' roll. There's a synthesiser in my soup, and the singer sounds like some soft-rock dude from the 1980s. I don't mind a change in the menu, but I don't remember ordering the theme from Electric Dreams 2 - the '80s Strike Back.

NEW ORDER
Krafty London
***

Waiter, I'll have my usual order of synthesised dance rock, with lashings of bass guitar and a side order of lyrics about all the hard work it takes to keep churning out the same familiar post-punk sound for nearly 25 years. With fries. Perfect.

AVRIL LAVIGNE
He Wasn't Arista
*

She got rich on petulant teenage pop anthems, but now Avril's just going through the motions with this patronising pap about being bored on a Saturday afternoon because your sk8er boi dumped you. Makes Sum 41 sound sincere.

JOSH RITTER
4 Songs EP Independent
***

Hearing the audience going gaga on this live EP, it's not hard to understand why this American troubadour has settled in Ireland. This includes two of his most popular tunes, Kathleen and Snow Is Gone, recorded at Ritter's Vicar St and Dublin Castle shows last year. No wonder Dublin's crawling with singer-songwriters - it's the smell of the crowd.