BACK IN YOUR FACE

Def Leppard

Animal. That was a tune and a half. That’s what I thought when it came out. Of course, people’s opinions change over time and now, sadly, I see it for the standard-issue pumped-up big-haired eighties rock sad act that it really was. This song is entirely different, naturally, after all, everyone’s twelve years older and much more aware of musical trends. That’s why I think I can safely describe this song as a standard-issue pumped-up big-haired seventies rock sad act. Yeah, right back in your face, lads.

GA GA

Melanie C

Forget the Spice Girls. Forget Geri and her exceedingly awful album. Forget Mel G singing Word Up on Top Of The Pops whilst looking like a leatherbound toilet brush. Forget even that local-radio-friendly horror, When You’re Gone. Forget even the other two. Forget the lot of them because Mel C sure as hell has. How can I prove this, I hear you ask? Simple. The vast majority of the Spice Girls music stinks like a dead fish convention in a building with no air conditioning. This, on the other hand, is fantastic. Just so you missed it or thought I’d mistyped, here’s that word again. Fantastic. Now, there’s a fair chance this may not be her first solo outing proper, but I’m assuming it’s a fair indication of what’s to come and that’s why I’m reviewing it. The simple fact of the matter is, this rocks. Think of Blur and Garbage getting together and offering Mel the chance to sing. Go on. It’s not that frightening, is it? Never in a million years did I think I’d be praising a Spice Girl for her music, but this is precisely how going solo should be done. Did you hear that, Mr Keating?