Singles

BIG DOG: In The Middle (Jive) -- The second offering from Kermit and the gang finds the singer sharing his thoughts on the paranoia that surrounds a relationship turning sour. Taking the foot off the gas, this tune is way more chilled than it's predecessor Raise The Alarm. Swapping rocket-fuelled hip-hop for a lazy reggae feel for the summer makes sense but this isn't the best listening if you've just fallen out with your other half. (8/10) CL

MONOBOY: The Music In You (Perfecto) --The theme tune from the Channel 4 show Around The World is an intense slab of of vocal trance charged with emotion, throbbing beats and pulsating bass line that set the pace. Colliding with seductive female vocals and lilting guitars, this is another Perfecto gem. (8/10) CL

Albums

VARIOUS: Essential Tracks (Telstar) -- There seems no reason for combining tracks from Pulp, Fat Boy Slim, BB Mak and so on but it works. A great blend of music, put together on two CDs. It's impossible to pigeon hole, apart from to say that it has some of the best songs from the last 10 years on it (8/10) DH MUSE: Origin Symmetry Mushroom) -- The dancing piano lines of opening track New Born prove to be the lull before an almighty, earth-shattering storm. Matthew Bellamy, Chris Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard take no prisoners, as their take on goth/metal mayhem rains out from the speakers like explosive loaded hailstones. After all the work of the last two years, Muse could have burned themselves out. Instead they've gone even better than their smash hit debut album Showbiz, providing their growing army of fans with manna from heaven. (9/10) CL

TRAVIS: The Invisible Band (Independiente) -- For services rendered to the sales and marketing of acoustic guitars, Travis should have been included in the Queen's birthday honours list. But in terms of making ground-breaking records, they find themselves in the same queue as Toploader and Ocean Colour Scene. For some reason indie music always has to have a an acceptable face, one that plays safe and one that plays for the masses. Unfortunately it tends to follow a path that's well trodden and usually very bland. If your morning alarm clock woke you to any of these tunes, you'd probably just turn over and go back to into a comfortable sleep. (3/10) CL