ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

Queen featuring Pras and Wyclef

It does exactly what it says on the tin. Admit it, you knew it was only a question of time.

EACH TIME

E-17

Tony goes west, East 17 goes south, yes? No. It’s a brave move, carrying on when your main songwriter’s done a bunk, let’s make no mistake. The all-powerful Depeche Mode did it when Vince Clarke said cheerio, so why not the new-look E-17? Cynics would say there are lots of reasons, mainly involving the words ‘Brian’, ‘Harvey’, ‘Drugs’ and ‘Controversy’. These cynics should hear this single though, really. They’d probably quite like it, as it’s a perfectly agreeable slab of swingbeat that would never even hurt a fly and hey, perhaps Brian’s a new man after all that horrid press attention. Will it be a hit? Very likely. Is it their finest hour? Not quite, but getting there. Brian and colleagues, the hard work starts here.

I’VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU

Robbie Williams (album)

As I have said before in this column, Life Thru A Lens was a bit over-extravagant, basically exactly the sort of album that you’d do if you wanted to escape the shadow cast by Take That, ie. no poppy stuff, just full-on rock. His second album’s better - lots better. In fact, it’s like it was done by someone else (who shouted Milli Vanilli at the back?). For starters, he’s welcomed back synthesizers with open arms (and an open wallet, judging by the quality of the whole package). For another thing, he’s finally, truly started doing his own thing instead of stuff that he sang as though he was contractually obliged to. Gary Barlow, you’re not singing anymore. Not bad for a boy band reject.