SINGLES: - PETER GABRIEL: The Barry Williams Show, (Real World/Virgin)

The first single from his forthcoming and 12th solo album is a dark and humorous number. With a wry swipe at the outer limits of reality TV and some hard hitting lyrics makes for a bizarre combination. CL 3

JJ72: Formulae (Lakota)

DESPITE having swapped angst and pain for love and religion as subjects for his songs, the angelic tones of singer/songwriter Mark Greany remain consistent on first taste of the new JJ72 material. His soaring and equally uplifting voice is excellent.CL

GARBAGE: Shut Your Mouth (Mushroom)

FOR or all the polish on Shirley Manson's efforts this track could have been easily been lifted from their anthemic Version 2.0 album. It really is time for the trio to try something new. CL

ALBUMS:

JOHN SQUIRE: Time Changes Everything (North Country)

YOU'D never know that inspirational guitarist John Squire had even seen the Stone Roses or Seahorses, let alone been the leading talent behind the two groups, from this, his first solo album. Singing with a Lennon-esque twang in his vocal and with melodies more in tune with Bob Dylan than Ian Brown, it's at best a very slow grower and slightly off the mark compared to his previous works. CL

THE SHINING: True Skies (Zuma)

FEATURING Verve old boys, Simon Jones and Simon Tong, means expectations are high for this new indie band. But having put down the album long before any serious touring of the material, has left the recorded versions somewhat flat when compared to their excellent live performances. Opening track and first single, Quicksilver, is The Shining at their moody best, shimmering with the essence of early Verve magic but from then on the album goes down hill fast. CL

PETER GABRIEL: Up (Real World/Virgin)

THE diffident star is looking a bit frayed around the edges these days. The famous voice is wearing rather better, however, and fans will be delighted with his latest thoughtful offering -- the first in 10-or-so years. Although there are none of the obvious stand-out hits of his last two albums, most of the tracks are the meticulously-crafted gems you would expect. But perhaps we could have lived without the brass band on My Head Sounds Like That. DB

MISS BLACK AMERICA: God Bless Miss Black America (Integrity Records)

SEYMOUR Glass and his bandmates, mix their punk/rock background with bits of U2, REM and a passionately political agenda. In fact, take politics out of the equation and this band would cease to exist. OK Chumbawamba have survived 20 years writing about little else but in this case the record sounds like the lads need relax and enjoy life a little more. CL