Latest CD releases reviewed

THE DARKNESS
One Way Ticket Must Destroy *****

"Cocaine hell? This way, sir, just follow the white lines." Justin's been rubbing his nose in it, and now he's feeling a little snowblind. Here's a cautionary tale of collapsed septums, set to a rip-snorting rock beat. The message is clear: don't do drugs, kids - that's our job.

ELBOW
Leaders of the Free World V2 *****

"Passing the gun from father to feckless son." Now who on earth could Guy Garvey be talking about? Here's Elbow's tune about arms and the little big men who wield them. Disarmingly good.

BLACK EYED PEAS
My Humps Interscope ***

"My humps, my humps, my lovely lady lumps." Jeez, there's more double-entendres here than your average Benny Hill sketch. I bet you don't get many of those to the pound. Boom-boom.

GEMMA HAYES
Happy Sad Source ***

Gemma can't decide if she's happy or sad, so she's decided to be both. As to whether she's Irish or American, though . . . This one oohs and aahs very nicely, like My Bloody Valentine doing some California dreamin'.

BOB MARLEY
Slogans Island/Tuff Gong ***

Bob's sons recently uncovered an old vocal of their dad's, and got some musicians in to play along with it, including Eric Clapton. Talk about jammin' at heaven's door.

ATHLETE
Twenty Four Hours Parlophone **

The "other Coldplay" have done terribly well with their Tourist album, sneaking in there while Chris Martin gets all the media attention. Boring but effective.

STARS OF THE CITY
128    www.starsofthecity.net ***  

This Dublin band have played SXSW in Texas, In the City in Manchester and Hard Working Class Heroes in Dublin, and this song was used as the TV theme for O2 in the Park. Kinda leaves The Revs stalling in first gear.