BEAUTIFUL DAY

Three Colours Red

Only two weeks into the new year and already the anthems are on their way. The only surprise really is that it wasn’t Embrace who delivered it. No, twas Three Colours Red, another in that never-ending line of bands who constantly turn out songs far better than most of the stuff that hits the chart only to see them fall way short one after another. However, this could ruin everything by reaching the Top 40 with something to spare. It’s got a proper tune, heartfelt lyrics, what sounds like the BBC Concert Orchestra in the background and a good-evening-wemberlee-let-me-see-those-hands attitude, so how can it fail? Oh yes, I forgot, it isn’t Boyzone.

BY YOUR SIDE

Black Crowes (album)

Whilst the rest of us party like it’s 1999, you can always trust any number of American rockers to continue partying like it’s 1989. Forever. Which can be somewhat disconcerting. Here we find yet another example of this strange phenomenon and you know exactly what to expect. Good old time rock, delivered with the exuberant joy and obligatory tacky videos that only an American band can provide. It’s frightening, but it’s happy, cheerful, harmless and it has no idea that the nineties have happened. This is a time capsule, cherish it.

ELECTRIC BARBARELLA

Duran Duran

Yes, they’re still around. Now then, how shall I describe this? Do you remember Fuzzbox? Oh come on, surely you do. International Rescue, Pink Sunshine, all that malarky? It’s all falling into place now, surely. Right, now you remember how their songs sounded (and I don’t mean the punk-like early stuff, I mean the pop sound that came later). You’re way ahead of me, aren’t you? My friends, I give you what is probably the only Fuzzbox tribute record there will ever be.