Single track

Here are a few of this week's new singles that I have put before my critical ears. And, as always, they will be judged using the following ratings:

***** Rocky
**** Rambo - First Blood
*** Cliffhanger
** Lock Up
* Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot

"Falling Down" - Scarlett Johansson
She's beautiful, a great actress and just to prove she is closing in on perfection, she releases this dazzling, unique, Wall Of Sound-ish gem.
It's a Tom Waits cover with David Bowie on backing vocals and is far better than people may have been expecting. SJ's deep, near-Nico style vocals add to the sense of drama on this track. An unexpected delight.
****

"Beloved" - Minnie Driver
Another song, another Hollywood actress crossing the divide. But the difference here is Minnie already has last year's Sea Stories album, where this is lifted from, under her belt.
A more conventional, country-tinged rock effort than Scarlett's single, but a solid effort nevertheless.
***

"In My Arms" - Kylie Minogue
I will argue till the day I die that Some Kind Of Bliss remains her best song, despite the British public largely ignoring it.
But here she sticks to her current winning disco formula and she delivers again. Deliciously catchy, a dancefloor filling hit-in-the-making from a girl it's impossible not to adore.
****

"That's What You Get" - Paramore
Maybe it's just me, but this sounds more like an "edgy" effort by someone who was probably the winner or runner-up on American Idol.
Of course. it's anything but edgy and has radio-friendly stamped all over it. It's not bad, it's just a tad unremarkable and the sort of power pop effort that could be on in the background without you ever noticing.
** (and a half)

"Alone" - Celine Dion
Incredible. And not in a good way. She somehow contrives to make Heart's orginal, overblown, epic sound as soft and under-stated as a Nick Drake song.
Having a voice that can shatter windows from 100 miles away is NOT good. It's been 10 years since she inflicted that horrid Titanic theme on us, but unfortunately her career hasn't gone the same way as the famous old boat did...
*

"Poison" - Martina Topley-Bird
What a welcome sound for sore ears! Her long awaited second album The Blue God is finally out next week, five years after he first LP, and this is a superb taster.
It's clever, it's infectious and it's actually pure pop but, as ever, her gorgeous voice remains the main highlight - just as it was on her debut Quixotic and Tricky's first two albums back in the 90s.
*****

"Daddy-O" - Wideboys feat Shaznay Lewis
A little curious, this collaboration. Why would the most talented one from All Saints lend her vocals to what is really a monotonous dance track?
Whatever her reasons, this isn't the mess it could have been, although it'll probably struggle to avoid not getting lost amongst a million other dance tracks out currently out there.
***

"Galaxy of the Lost" - Lightspeed Champion
A quite lovely piece of folk rock from the former Test Icicles man.
It may be acoustic driven but there are enough twists and turns to lift it beyond the ordinary.
***

"Bluebirds Flying High" - James Fox and Cardiff City FC
Oh how we laughed as all those David's slayed Goliaths including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, in this year's FA Cup.
But we are not laughing now we realise Portsmouth v Cardiff awaits us at Wembley. Be honest, other than fans of the clubs, how many will watch without a Ronaldo, a Torres, a Drogba or a Fabregas on show? Thought so.
Oh the song? Well, it's sub standard Championship fare, like the team it backs, and is littered with golden lyrical nuggets such as "We are Cardiff City and we're going to Wembley". Where's Chas & Dave when you need 'em?
**