Music Week articles from August 2001

Music Week archives from August 2001

TOTP Awards primed to boost festive sales.
August 4, 2001... Music is set to take centre stage in the immediate pre-Christmas, Saturday night schedules, with the launch of the inaugural Top Of The Pops Awards in December. The show is to receive a primetime slot on BBC1, the week before ITV is...

Singles help EMI Music retain publishing crown.
August 4, 2001... EMI Music Publishing captured nearly a third of the singles market for a second successive period in quarter two to help it convincingly hold onto its overall publishing crown. Peter Reichardt's team captured a combined singles and albums...

Atomic Kitten (pictured) were yesterday (Sunday) due to score their second number one of the year with the Innocent label act's cover of The Bangles' Eternal Flame.
August 4, 2001... Atomic Kitten (pictured) were yesterday (Sunday) due to score their second number one of the year with the Innocent label act's cover of The Bangles' Eternal Flame. The single was outselling its nearest rival -- Destiny's Child's Bootylicious...

McRae's Mercury listing underlines Bates' return.
August 4, 2001... Seasoned A&R executive Dave Bates' return to the big time has been sealed with the Technics Mercury Music Prize shortlisting of his db Records's first signing Tom McRae. Bates, whose many successful signings while at Phonogram/ Mercury...

Dickens returns to radio with Absolute investment venture.
August 4, 2001... Clive Dickens, the former group head of programmes at Capital Radio, has emerged as one of three partners in a new radio investment and consultancy group. Joining Dickens, who quit Capital in June last year, in Absolute Radio International...

Epic Records is already gearing up for a second ship-out of the DVD format of the Super Furry Animals' (pictured) Rings Around The World, after selling more than 50% of the initial 8,000-unit shipment early in the week.
August 4, 2001... Epic Records is already gearing up for a second ship-out of the DVD format of the Super Furry Animals' (pictured) Rings Around The World, after selling more than 50% of the initial 8,000-unit shipment early in the week. The bend were were also...

MW and dotmusic link up to create musicweek.com.
August 4, 2001... Dotmusic -- Europe's most popular consumer music website -- is to expand its services to the music industry as part of the Music Week Group. Dotmusic parent company United Business Media had previously announced the sale of the site...

MoS recruits Stephenson for North American push.
August 4, 2001... Ministry of Sound has appointed House of Blues senior vice-president Chris Stephenson as president & CEO of its North American division in the first stage of its expansion into the region. Stephenson, who will report directly to...

Sherman tells industry to simplify online licensing.
August 4, 2001... The RIAA's Cary Sherman says the music industry must simplify its licensing practices if it wants to grab new business opportunities on the internet. In a lively keynote address to last Wednesday's BPI AGM, the senior executive...

Byrne Blood creates act for Saturday BBC show.
August 4, 2001... Management company Byrne Blood has linked up with the BBC to develop a new act for the broadcaster's new Saturday morning programme The Saturday Show. The company's partner Tim Byrne, whose clients include A1, Allstars and Steps, says the...

DEF JAM INKS ROADRUNNER DEAL.
August 4, 2001... The Island Def Jam Music Group has paid $33m to acquire 50% of Roadrunner Records, home of acts including Slipknot, Coal Chamber and Fear Factory. Initial releases under the joint venture will include Slipknot's second album Iowa on August 27.

IMRO WINS US COPYRIGHT VICTORY.
August 4, 2001... The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) was celebrating last week after the EU and US revealed they had reached an agreement to compensate the European music industry for lost royalties. IMRO had complained that under a "business exemption"...

UNIVERSAL POSTS EARNINGS RISE.
August 4, 2001... Strong performances in the US and Japan helped Universal Music Group generate a 17% growth in earnings before income, tax, depreciation and amortisation to 271m [European Dollar] (166m [pounds sterling]) for the second quarter of 2001 compared...

HILBERS SET TO HEAD NAPSTER.
August 4, 2001... Konrad Hilbers, formerly BMG executive vice-president and chief administrative officer, is to take over from interim boss Hank Barry as Napster chief executive. Last October, Bertelsmann forged an alliance with Napster, on the understanding...

MMF UNVEILS ROLL OF HONOUR DATE.
August 4, 2001... The Music Managers' Forum has set a date of September 19 for the seventh annual British Music Roll Of Honour at the London Hilton Park Lane where this year's BDO/MMF manager of the year will be honoured. Tickets are now on sale on 020 8741...

MERCURY: HELPING THE HOMEGROWN.
August 4, 2001... The Technics Mercury Music Prize shortlist has already attracted its usual mixed write-ups in the national press, spiced up by the Gorillaz' neat publicity stunt. Is it a good list? Certainly it is from the perspective of fans of slightly...

ONE WORLD, ONE MUSIC.
August 4, 2001... I read last week's Music Week world music supplement with interest, not least because I've never been quite sure what world music was. Charlie Gillett's definition that it's "music in a language other than English that appeals outside its own...

Indies come out on top as Mercury favours new acts.
August 4, 2001... The independent sector has achieved its greatest share of the Technics Mercury Music Prize shortlist to date by supplying seven of the 12 nominated albums. The indie sector's best-yet sweep of the list is dominated by debut releases, with...

Industry delegation reports `positive' Jowell meeting.
August 4, 2001... The music industry had its first senior meeting with the new Government last week, when a high-powered delegation met with secretary of state for culture media and sport Tessa Jowell. Invited to meet Jowell, who took over the job from Chris...

Megastore expansion continues says Wright.
August 4, 2001... Virgin Entertainment Group chief executive Simon Wright insists the international expansion of the Megastores business is set to continue despite the sale last week of its 16 French stores. The 103m [pounds sterling] deal with Lagardere...

Tesco claims 10% of albums market.
August 4, 2001... Tesco says it is now responsible for more than one in 10 chart albums sold in the UK after dramatically lifting its CD sales during the past year. The supermarket revealed in a presentation to suppliers in London last Wednesday that it has...

IPC unveils plans for Muzik awards 2001.
August 4, 2001... IPC is talking to a number of potential sponsors for its newly-named autumn Muzik Magazine Dance Awards following the ending of deal with Ericsson. However, not being associated with a telecommunications company -- the awards for the last...

Q magazine hires fourth editor within 12 months.
August 4, 2001... Emap has appointed its fourth Q editor in a year after parting company with John McKie -- following four months at the magazine's helm -- and installing the monthly's former features editor Danny Eccleston. The surprise move comes as...

Koch Records is continuing to benefit from the Pokemon craze with the release of Pokemon 3 -- The Ultimate Soundtrack on August 6.
August 4, 2001... Koch Records is continuing to benefit from the Pokemon craze with the release of Pokemon 3 -- The Ultimate Soundtrack on August 6. The last Pokemon album, Gotta Catch Em All, which was released by Koch reached gold and platinum status in more...

New Borjk album campaign aims to cross over into classical arena.
August 4, 2001... One Little Indian is confident that its marketing package for Bjork's latest album Vespertine will extend her crossover appeal to classical music fans. The company is aiming for a top five chart placing for the August 27-issued album and...

Telstar album targets `untapped' Bollywood.
August 4, 2001... Telstar is tapping into the Indian film music market with its first Best Of Bollywood album. The company has spent eight months researching and licensing the songs for the double CD 25-track album which is released today (Monday) and...

CHANNELFLY IN SONGPLAYER DEAL.
August 4, 2001... Multi-discipline music company Channelfly has signed an agreement with music tuition site songplayer, com. Channelfly users can access a Learn To Play feature and download the Songplayer tutorial software and song files. Channelfly will also...

MTV LAUNCHES RINGTONE SERVICE.
August 4, 2001... MTV has added a ringtones service to its website www.mtv.co.uk in a development partnership with Mobile Channel Network. MTV Ringtones cost around 1.50 [pounds sterling] and are available via an automated premium rate hotline to Nokia, Motorola...

MUSIC365 CLOSES DOWN.
August 4, 2001... Online music service Music365, run by 365 Corp, ceased operations last week. The decision to close the three-year-old service came in the wake of year-end results to the end of March showing 365 Corp had an operating loss of 47.5m [pounds...

MXR BEGINS MIDLANDS TEST.
August 4, 2001... Digital radio consortium MXR will begin testing its west Midlands multiplex tomorrow (Tuesday). Among the services included is Cube, Capital Radio's service for teenagers. EDITED BY STEVE HEMSLEY (TEL: 01892...

EMAP SITES NEAR COMPLETION.
August 4, 2001... Emap Digital Music completes the first phase of its online marketing strategy in the next two weeks with the launch of Mixmag.net and Kerrang.com. The Mixmag site goes live this week followed by the full online edition of Kerrang! in early...

JAMESON QUITS XTRAVAGANZA.
August 4, 2001... Xtravaganza Recordings will restructure its marketing department following the decision of product manager Suzanne Jameson to quit the label to "seek new challenges". Jameson, who has worked with Xtravaganza for three years, says, "It has been...

BAR WARS.
August 4, 2001... Sony's Bar Wars album tie-in is with Endemol/Channel 4 and not Sky One as previously stated, while the company's negotiations with Gatecrasher are for a label arrangement rather than a simple compilations deal. EDITED BY STEVE HEMSLEY...

GRAY CLIMBS LADDER OF SUCCESS.
August 4, 2001... David Gray's White Ladder album was certified five-times platinum last week by the BPI, while Eva Cassidy's Songbird went double platinum. EDITED BY STEVE HEMSLEY (TEL: 01892 519504/steve.hemsley@talk21.com)

HOW TV SHOWS' RATINGS COMPARE.
August 4, 2001... news file: HOW TV SHOWS' RATINGS COMPARE Programme this week % change (000s) on 2000 Top Of The Pops(*) 3,033 -10.1 Top Of The Pops 2(*) 2,797 n/a The Pepsi Chart(*)...

Innocent/Virgin's Blue have made strong gains in Europe with their debut single All Rise which is the highest new entry in Norway's sales chart this week at 10.
August 4, 2001... * Innocent/Virgin's Blue have made strong gains in Europe with their debut single All Rise which is the highest new entry in Norway's sales chart this week at 10. All Rise also rises three places in the Belgian singles chart to take it into the...

Travis continue to win over international audiences with their album The Invisible Band, thanks in no small part to strong chart results for the first single Sing.
August 4, 2001... * Travis continue to win over international audiences with their album The Invisible Band, thanks in no small part to strong chart results for the first single Sing. Scandinavia provides the strongest rises for the Independiente group this week...

Emma Bunton takes over from former colleague Geri Halliwell this week at the top of fono's Top 20 of UK-signed hits on Europe's airwaves.
August 4, 2001... * Emma Bunton takes over from former colleague Geri Halliwell this week at the top of fono's Top 20 of UK-signed hits on Europe's airwaves. Bunton's single What Took You So Long? ousts It's Raining Men as the most popular UK-sourced track at...

Parlophone's Gorillaz make strong international gains with their self-titled debut in the week of its Technics Mercury Music Prize nomination.
August 4, 2001... * Parlophone's Gorillaz make strong international gains with their self-titled debut in the week of its Technics Mercury Music Prize nomination. In Italy the album rises five places to reach 12, while also gaining four notches in Sweden to...

Polydor's S Club 7 have captured attention in Germany with their latest single release Don't Stop Movin', which continues its rise up the airplay chart to reach 14 this week.
August 4, 2001... * Polydor's S Club 7 have captured attention in Germany with their latest single release Don't Stop Movin', which continues its rise up the airplay chart to reach 14 this week. Don't Stop Movin' is also the second highest new entry of the week...

Gabrielle's new Go Beat/Polydor single Out Of Reach, taken from the soundtrack to Bridge Jones's Diary, is the highest climber of the week on Dutch radio where it gains 10 places to reach four in the airplay chart.
August 4, 2001... * Gabrielle's new Go Beat/Polydor single Out Of Reach, taken from the soundtrack to Bridget Jones's Diary, is the highest climber of the week on Dutch radio where it gains 10 places to reach four in the airplay chart. Out Of Reach also enters...

Wildstar looking to capitalise on Craig David's high US chart debut.
August 4, 2001... Wildstar and its US label partner Atlantic are looking to capitalise on a strong US chart debut for Craig David's Born To Do It with an extended North American promotional campaign aimed at boosting sales of the album into the millions. ...

Mushroom-Infectious rock act My Vitriol (pictured) are now part of a North American roster that includes such heavyweight artists as Korn and Rage Against The Machine after their record company inked a long-term licensing deal for the region with Epic Records.
August 4, 2001... Mushroom-Infectious rock act My Vitriol (pictured) are now part of a North American roster that includes such heavyweight artists as Korn and Rage Against The Machine after their record company inked a long-term licensing deal for the region...

UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE.
August 4, 2001... UK TOP 20 AIRPLAY HITS IN EUROPE Title/ TW LW Artist (UK company) 1 2 What Took You So Long? Emma Bunton (Virgin) 2 3 Thank You Dido (Cheeky/Arista) 3 1 It's Raining...

GAVIN US ALTERNATIVE TOP 20.
August 4, 2001... GAVIN US ALTERNATIVE TOP 20 Title/ TW LW Artist (UK company) 1 1 It's Been Awhile Staind (Elektra/EEG) 2 3 Schism Tool (Volcano) 3 2 The Rock Show Blink-182...

TOP UK AND UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD.
August 4, 2001... TOP UK AND UK-SIGNED SALES CHART PERFORMERS ABROAD Title/ chart Country Artist (Label) pos. LW AUSTRALIA single It's Raining Men 8 8 ...

AMERICAN CHARTWATCH.
August 4, 2001... Craig David this week becomes the first British artist to debut inside the Top 20 of the Billboard albums chart for more than four years. David's album Born To Do It sold nearly 79,000 copies last week to earn a number 11 debut. The last UK act...

PUBLISHERS EYE UP KOSHEEN.
August 4, 2001... Publishing interest in Bristol trio Kosheen is growing following their recent signing to Arista Records, who release the band's debut album Resist on September 17. The album follows the release on August 20 of the single Hide U, which has been...

NUDE SIGNS WHEAT.
August 4, 2001... Nude has signed Boston trio Wheat -- who have previously licensed material to UK labels including City Slang -- to a worldwide deal. The first release is likely to be a limited single in October, followed by a new album early in 2002.

DEALS ALL ROUND FOR OBI.
August 4, 2001... Lo-fi melodic four-piece Obi have signed with Cooking Vinyl and are understood to be close to securing a publishing deal with Chrysalis Music. The band are currently recording with Charlie Francis and will release an EP towards the end of the...

STEPHEN JONES RETURNS ON EASY TIGER.
August 4, 2001... City Slang's new label Easy Tiger has signed former Babybird frontman Stephen Jones' latest project, which is a collection of material titled simply Stephen Jones 1985-2001. Easy Tiger has also struck a deal with Virgin Labels Europe for...

SNEAKER PIMPS SIGN TO TOMMY BOY.
August 4, 2001... Tommy Boy in the US has signed Sneaker Pimps, who were previously with One Little Indian. The act has reverted to its original founding line-up of Chris Corner, Liam Howe, Joe Wilson and Dave Westlake. The first album for Tommy Boy, Bloodsport,...

MANTRA CELEBRATES FIFTH BIRTHDAY.
August 4, 2001... Beggars Banquet imprint Mantra Recordings is celebrating its fifth birthday next week with series of four gigs at London's Scala, culminating in a special one-off show to be staged at the Eden Project ecology centre in Cornwall. Among the acts...

MW PLAYLIST.
August 4, 2001... Groove Armada -- Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub) Not as instant as Vertigo, but well worth the wait (album, September 10); Kosheen -- Resist (Moksha/BMG) Poised to be one of the underground crossovers of the year (album, September 17);...

Mushroom's focus turns to Garbage comeback.
August 4, 2001... With legal complications over the release of their third album now behind them, Mushroom's Garbage are preparing to unveil the most obviously commercial sounding record in their career. Mushroom Records UK general manager Wez says, "They...

Sheyne and Hill unite for Naomi Streimer and Britney Spears projects.
August 4, 2001... UK-based songwriter Pam Sheyne, most widely known for her co-write on Christina Aguilera's Genie In A Bottle, is set to team up with writer/producer Mark Hill to write future tracks for Britney Spears. The duo hooked up last week at Hill's...

Acclaimed Polydor signing Nerina Pallot has re-recorded two songs from her forthcoming debut album -- Patience and If I Know You -- in French in order to kick-start her career in the region.
August 4, 2001... Acclaimed Polydor signing Nerina Pallot has re-recorded two songs from her forthcoming debut album -- Patience and If I Know You -- in French in order to kick-start her career in the region. "It's a market that we feel we can take on quite...

PRODUCER PROFILE.
August 4, 2001... For most of their 10-year career, Sheffield-based producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby haves been relatively low profile. However, a batch of diverse projects this year -- from the Lighthouse Family to The Pretenders -- is ensuring the...

New Order rediscover their old technique and get ready to set the world in motion.
August 4, 2001... If you ever wanted to kill a lot of time, you could do worse than try to find a music fan in the North-west with a bad word to say about New Order. The were out in force for the band's first gig in two-and-a-half years at the Liverpool Olympia...

NAXOS ENTERS DVD AUDIO MARKET.
August 4, 2001... Naxos has entered the as-yet tiny marketplace for DVD Audio with the release of a disc of Vivaldi's Four Seasons and other concertos performed by David Jurwitz and the London Mozart Players. The title is the first to be produced and engineered...

UNIVERSAL'S TOWERING SUCCESS.
August 4, 2001... Phil Kelsall's brand of organ playing has attracted a loyal following in the 26 years since he was appointed principal resident Wurlitzer organist at the Blackpool Tower. With over 40 albums and eight videos to his credit, the organist's work...

BELLINI: Excerpts from II Pirata and I Puritani; VERDI: Excerpts from Aida; Don Carlos; La forza del destino; Macbeth; Otello. Caballe, Allen; Philharmonia Orchestra/Muti, Giulini.
August 4, 2001... BELLINI: Excerpts from II Pirata and I Puritani; VERDI: Excerpts from Aida; Don Carlos; La forza del destino; Macbeth; Otello. Caballe, Allen; Philharmonia Orchestra/Muti, Giulini. (EMI Classics CDE 74723 2). One of the jewels on Encore, the...

THE FILM MUSIC OF JERRY GOLDSMITH.
August 4, 2001... THE FILM MUSIC OF JERRY GOLDSMITH: Including themes from The Waltons, Basic Instinct, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. LSO/ Goldsmith. (Telarc CD80433). Jerry Goldsmith's film and TV credits have placed him among the front...

ESSENTIAL BEETHOVEN -- 24 OF HIS GREATEST MASTERPIECES.
August 4, 2001... ESSENTIAL BEETHOVEN -- 24 OF HIS GREATEST MASTERPIECES: Including extracts from Fidelio, Symphonies 5, 7, 8 and 9, Piano Concertos Nos 2 and 3, Overture `Egmont'. Ashkenazy, Brendel, Colin Davis, Haitink, Horne, Pavarotti, Solti, Sutherland,...

BRUCKNER: Symphony No.9. Vienna Philharmonic/ Abbado.
August 4, 2001... BRUCKNER: Symphony No.9. Vienna Philharmonic/ Abbado. (Deutsche Grammophon 471 032-2). Bruckner's final musical testament, left unfinished at his death in 1896, has drawn several outstanding recordings from the Vienna Philharmonic. This DG...

SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.14. Rodgers, Tomlinson; BBC NOW/ Wigglesworth.
August 4, 2001... SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No.14. Rodgers, Tomlinson; BBC NOW/ Wigglesworth. (BIS CD-1173). Mark Wigglesworth's on-going Shostakovich series on BIS reaches the contemplative Fourteenth Symphony. The contrast between Joan Rodger's lyric soprano and...

FIVE: Let's Dance.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED FIVE: Let's Dance (RCA 0743218759628). The long-awaited pop comeback of the boy band it is okay to like is a spectacular one, matching the rhymes of Will Smith while borrowing a few tips from Daft Punk's vocodor rulebook. The...

EVE FEAT. GWEN STEFANI: Let Me Blow Ya Mind.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED EVE FEAT. GWEN STEFANI: Let Me Blow Ya Mind (Ruff Ryders/Interscope/ Polydor 4975932). The feisty Philly rapper should confirm her breakthrough to the UK pop premier league with this follow-up to the Top 10 hit Who's That Girl....

GROOVE ARMADA: Superstylin'.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED GROOVE ARMADA: Superstylin' (Jive/Pepper 9230472). Tom Findlay and Andy Cato return with this summery dub-infused track featuring toasting from Mike Daniel. Reminiscent of early Leftfield, it trails their eclectic second album...

EMMA BUNTON: Take My Breath Away.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED EMMA BUNTON: Take My Breath Away (Virgin VSCDT1814). With a summery feel that is captured in the beach-set video, this strong track is likely to follow Bunton's last single into the Top 10 thanks to the breadth of her fanbase. The...

FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS: Bump/Run Daddy Run.
August 4, 2001... FUN LOVIN' CRIMINALS: Bump/Run Daddy Run (EMI:Chrysalis CDCHSS51288797380). Both sides of this double A-side exude cool but it is Bump which comes in as the winner with a great chorus and wry lyric. Featuring elements from Are You Being Real?...

DE NADA: Love You Anyway.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED DE NADA: Love You Anyway (Wildstar WILD37). Wildstar's first signings since Craig David roll out this infectious R&B/garage track with silky vocals from Nadia counteracted by Allister's MC talents. Its crossover potential has been...

TYMES 4: Bodyrock.
August 4, 2001... TYMES 4: Bodyrock (Edel 0118636ERE). Fresh names on the UK R&B scene, this quartet mimic several of their US cousins. While the track has picked up selected radio -- including a C-listing at Radio One -- the girls are launching into a crowded...

PURE RUBBISH: Kiss Of Death EP.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED PURE RUBBISH: Kiss Of Death EP (Divine/Virgin PTYCD139). This is the hotly-anticipated debut from Sharon Osbourne's latest proteges, signed to her label last year after a showcase in Houston. Proving there is more to US rock than...

SUPERSISTER: Shopping.
August 4, 2001... SUPERSISTER: Shopping (Gut CDGUT37). After debuting last year with an ode to Caffeine, the Sheffield trio's attention turns to the high street for this bubblegum track. The act has enjoyed touring with Five and S Club 7 and are due to support...

SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR: Take Me Home.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED SOPHIE ELLIS BEXTOR: Take Me Home (Polydor 5872312). This is the debut solo single from the flamboyant singer who teamed up with Spiller a year ago. Groovejet is certainly a hard act to follow, but this cover of Cher's Seventies...

MINT ROYALE FEAT. POS: Show Me.
August 4, 2001... MINT ROYALE FEAT. POS: Show Me (Faith & Hope FHCD022). Featuring De La Soul's Pos, this funky hip-hop track is planned to re-establish the duo, with its upbeat sound and uplifting chorus. Currently promoting their first album in the US, the...

NEW ORDER: Crystal.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED NEW ORDER: Crystal (WEA London NUOCD8). Marrying their trademark piston drums and high-register basslines to a meaty production reminiscent of Bernard Sumner's work with Electronic, New Order's first new single since December 1993...

KINGS OF WOOLWORTHS: Bakerloo.
August 4, 2001... KINGS OF WOOLWORTHS: Bakerloo (Mantra MNT65CD). Bakerloo certainly has the right sound, with frisky jazzy beats jostling with John Barry-style cinematics to create a subtly sombre atmosphere, However, whether the band escape from obscurity...

A CAMP: I Can Buy You.
August 4, 2001... A CAMP: I Can Buy You (Polydor 00152162). Ostensibly the side project of The Cardigans' Nina Persson, A Camp casts the singer's plaintive tones in a ramshackle, largely acoustic musical setting overseen by Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous. I Can Buy...

LAMAI: Troubled Soul.
August 4, 2001... LAMAI: Troubled Soul (AM:PM 12AMPM142). Lamai is another alias for the Space Brothers (Ricky Simmonds and Steve Jones), this time along with Tony Rapocioli. Praha and Michael Parsberg provide tribal-tinged progressive mixes.

BARDOT: ASAP.
August 4, 2001... BARDOT: ASAP (East West EW236CD). With their UK debut not quite making the mark, the Australian group may have to settle with Popstars recognition on home turf. This pop track is once again a decent enough offering, but it may lack impact for a...

JAMIROQUAI: Little L.
August 4, 2001... RECOMMENDED JAMIROQUAI: Little L (Sony S2 6717182). Littered with subtle hooks that benefit from repeated spins, this is an impressive comeback from the funk-pop artist who seems able to continue reinventing his distinctive style. Backed with...

M.O.P: Warriorz.
August 4, 2001... M.O.P: Warriorz (Epic 4982779). Originally released in October last year, Warriorz is reissued to highlight the new version of street anthem Ante Up featuring Busta Rhymes, which is A-listed at Radio One and hits shops on August 6. While the...