Eoin Butler's guide to singles, downloads and free audiostreams
LIL' WAYNE Mrs Officer Universal ****
Though far from being one of the highlights of Tha Carter III, this humorous account of Weezy's seduction of a female copper contains more than enough warped rhymes to keep things ticking over. "We got it on, and after it was done/I said 'Lady, what's your number?'/She said 'It's 911'..."
SNOOP DOGG Singh Is Kinng Junglee Music **
"Represent that Punjabi . . . whaddup to all the ladies hanging out in Mumbai." It's a long way from Compton to Bollywood, from Punnany to Punjabi, but if any artist could bridge that vast cultural chasm, it's Snoop Dogg. The laconic rapper occupies a weird space in the musical firmament: much-loved entertainer who is also a gun- toting thug; credible recording artist who is also a shameless self-parodist; artistically bankrupt even as he scales new heights of international celebrity. Snoop's best work may have come well over a decade ago now, but those contradictions alone make him utterly of this moment.
THE BLIZZARDS Trust Me, I'm a Doctor Universal ***
"OOOMG i luv dis band . . . dey r 4m Mullingar & so am i lol!!!!!" Sometimes the comment section on YouTube puts it better than Shuffle ever could.
THE KOOKS Sway Virgin **
I'll say one thing for Luke Pritchard: he certainly rocks the hell out of the gold lamé blouse/girly haircut combo he sports in the video to this single. Where lesser indie heartthrobs would have baulked, Luke boldly flounces. He looks an idiot, mind, but I'm sure that's half the point. That aside, this is bog-standard, "Do whatever you have to do, be whoever you need to be be" fauxepic indie pop nonsense.
KID ROCK Roll On Atlantic *
According to the chorus, the redneck rocker is one day older and one day closer. Closer to what exactly, it does not specify. But here's hoping it's some career-ending vocal cord mishap.