ALL SAINTS CHRISTMAS BOX SET

All Saints (box set)

After a few years in the business, Massive Attack release a massive box set next week. After ten years in the business Depeche Mode released three massive box sets. After one year in the business that we know only as show, All Saints have released a box set. Quite frankly, this is just the sort of idea that will smack your gob as the Massive and the Mode have truly staggering back catalogues from which they can mine until eventually, British Coal style, the mines are closed. All Saints, however, have not. Five singles and one album, to tell the truth. Still, if you know someone who likes All Saints, that's Christmas sorted out.

NO REGRETS / ANTMUSIC

Robbie Williams

After many listens to I've Been Expecting You (his latest LP) I can safely say this is the best song on the album. It's a corker and deserves to go straight to the top, if only to stop Cher's deeply frightening warblings on Top Of The Pops. It's moody, sinister and features Neil Tennant (you know full well where he's from) and it all works amazingly well. Somewhere up north, some bloke who broke up a band and now specialises in power-ballads is crying his eyes out.

WHEN YOU'RE GONE

Bryan Adams with Melanie C

Mels B and C are the only Spice Girls who can sing, so here we are with what amounts to a head to head. Mel B kicked off first, going straight to No.1 but then tumbling down the chart faster than a lemming that's been told the fastest way down a cliff. Mel C has to follow that and it ain't going to be easy. It's a pleasing enough slab of driving Virgin FM rock (Mr Adams' contribution), but it's apparently the season to be jolly and that means ballads and kiddiepop and very little room for stuff like this. Annoying, isn't it?