Kevin Courtney'sguide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams

MIKA

Relax, Take it Easy **

Mika's had a brilliant year, going from complete unknown to high- pitched superpopstardom in just 12 months. This is a mellow tune by Mika's manic standards, and a little less silly than his usual stuff. Which would be great, if it was even remotely catchy, which, sadly, it ain't. Come back Grace Kelly, all is forgiven.

MUTYA BUENA

B Boy Baby Universal Island **

If the tune sounds familiar, it should be: it's The Ronettes' Be My Baby, retooled to suit the Bebo generation. Mutya gives it the full soul welly but, considering the season that's in it, shouldn't she have gone for The Ronettes' version of Frosty the Snowman?

BON JOVI

Lost Highway Mercury **

Not to be confused with the country tune The Waterboys used to cover, this is an altogether more pedestrian, poodle-rock take on the traditional rock'n'roll road song. Bovine Bonjo's been hittin' the highway for far too long - this one sounds positively road-weary.

ELECTROVAMP

I Don't Like the Vibe in the VIP Universal Island **

Are these girls even allowed in the VIP? Electrovamp are two teenage sisters from Wales, and this electro-trance-rap banger struts its way past the velvet rope and straight into the back bar. They've certainly got the looks and the moves, but they don't have the indie sex appeal of CSS or the gumption of The Gossip.

MARY J BLIGE

Just Fine Matriarch/Geffen ***

She's the grandmammy of all the r'n'b girls, but Mary J can still hold her own against the younger bootylicious babes. She bagged three Grammies for her last album (The Breakthrough), and this tune from her new one, Growing Pains, is already in the r'n'b Top 10. Okay, it's verging on Janet Jackson, but it should do just fine.