Latest releases reviewed

EMINEM
Mocking Bird Aftermath/Interscope
**

Forget the big bad wolf - here's a big, bad bedtime rap from Shady to his daughter Hailey and adopted daughter Lainey, all about why daddy and mommy are so screwed up. Child-devouring lupine creatures don't seem so scary anymore.

WEEZER
Beverly Hills Geffen
****

Rivers Cuomo wants to live in Beverly Hills, but of course they don't allow geeks in Beverly Hills, so he's stuck in the boondocks without a paddle. Once again, Weezer encapsulate the human condition in three minutes of glorious, tuneful stupidity.

A
Rush Song London
***

Is this the first time a band has namechecked the Canadian prog-rock trio in a song? Luckily enough, this big, rocking behemoth, from the Perry brothers' forthcoming Teen Dance Ordinance album, isn't as long and noodly as yer average Rush song.

IDLEWILD
I Understand It Parlophone
***

The Big Music returns in the capable hands of Roddy Woomble and his band, as they keep the stadium flame alive and kicking. This is a Glasto-blaster of a tune that builds like an avalanche of emotional alternorock.

DONNA & JOE/SIMON CASEY
Love?/I Still Believe In You Universal
nul points

Euro stars past and present unleash the cheese. The Smarmy Siblings' chirpy, cheap anthem can't be any worse than some of the other Eurovision entries, but Simon Casey's cover of a Vince Gill tune makes Ronan sound like Robbie.

FAITH
Again Capitol
****

We didn't believe Whitney when she denied it all in a song, but Faith Evans's denial comes wrapped in old gold soul, so we'll give her another chance. This samples an old Whatnauts tune, and restores our Faith in r'n'b's soul power.