The latest CD releases reviewed

DJ SHADOW
This Time (I'm Gonna Try It My Way) Island ***

Josh Davis has an encyclopaedic knowledge of obscure music, but even he can't tell us who the mystery vocalist is on this old-school soul joint. Its from Shadow's new album, The Outsider, and once again, Davis does it his own sweet way.

THE COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE
Waiting Game Sequel ***

Reading's finest have finally gotten over losing bassist Didz to Carl Barat's Dirty Pretty Things, and they're sounding heavier, less Britpoppy and with more electronics. There's still room for a bit of a tune, though, as this rocky ballad proves.

THE HEDRONS
Heatseeker Measured Records ***

Baby, it's cold outside, but these four punka girls from Glasgow know exactly where to find the hotspot. They've been burning up venues and festivals across the UK, and even played a gig on Second Life. This is off their debut album, One More Won't Kill Us. One step closer, though, and you might melt.

THE CHEETAH GIRLS
The Party's Just Begun Walt Disney Records **

OK, don't get too excited. The Cheetah Girls - not to be confused with The Cheeky Girls - are the latest Disney-manufactured pop group, and this party is strictly of the sweets and soda-pop variety - followed by a screening of The Lion King, no doubt. Do you feel cheetah'd?

THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE QUEEN
Kingdom of Doom Parlophone ****

London's burning again, so it's a good time for Damon Albarn to team up with Paul Simonon from The Clash, Simon Tong from The Verve and Dangermouse from Gnarls Barkley on this eerie ode to the Blur man's home town. Make this man Lord Mayor right now.

GUILLEMOTS
Annie Let's Not Wait Polydor ****

Impatience is a virtue, especially when accompanied by such a fine tune. This is a radically different version than the one on their fab album, Through the Windowpane, so it's worth a flutter. You'll even get a strings-only version of We're Here, and a Live Lounge version of Franz Ferdinand's Take Me Out.

JUST JACK
Stars in their Eyes Mercury ****

As the latest X-Factor winner grabs her 15 seconds of fame, Just Jack is ready with a damn good indictment of talent-show cannon-fodder. Makes The Streets' When You Wasn't Famous sound a bit Z-list.