Delta Goodrem -- Innocent Eyes

It's a great test of male psychology when a grown man acts like a caged beast when Celine Dion plays on the radio yet nods approvingly when Delta Goodrem strikes up.

Despite the two sounding very similar, Delta gets the nod. And why -- because we men are shallow creatures. Delta is the latest babe from Neighbours to embark on a career in pop. And in all niceness, Celine, well, isn't.

The difference between Delta and, say, Holly Valance is that Delta is a talented singer and musician first and foremost who used a soap to launch her music career.

And on the strength of this debut, a permanent vacation to Brisbane cannot be far away.

Despite some heavy handed vocal acrobatics, Innocent Eyes is a consistently fine and mature pop album which looks set to reap huge rewards.

Taking its mark from Celine's poppier moments and even Roxette, there is not a stone left unturned in the hunt for a loyal fan base.

And in light of her recent announcement that she is fighting cancer, Delta's following looks set to grow and grow.

Manny Grillo

Steely Dan -- Everything Must Go

Truly the accountants have now taken over the music business. They're even making the records themselves now.

This album seems to have been made with all the vigour and passion you'd expect of two late middle-aged men called Donald and Walter.

Imagine the worst excesses of late night radio and DJ's playing 'grown up' music.

They apparently used to be quite innovative but this offering puts the theme to 'Moonlighting' to shame and makes Shakatak look like the White Stripes.

Do you need me to go on? Alright then. It's the sort of music you imagine perma- tanned buffoons listen to in their open topped cars in Beverley Hills.

The lyrics are trite and valuable ink has been wasted in printing them. It's cocktail bar muzak of the very worse kind.

Forget you even knew they had a new album out and that a band called Steely Dan ever existed.

Antony Silson

Rough Trade Shops -- Post Punk 01

The major labels have released countless New Wave compilations, all with some great tracks, but none delving further than the likes of Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Stranglers.

Rough Trade, one of the independent labels that launched during the punk explosion, have a vast back catalogue of post punk gems. 44 of those gems make up this two-CD set.

Gang of Four, Delta 5, Pop Group with the classic We Are All Prostitutes, The Au Pairs, Mo-Dettes, Young Marble Giants, are all included on this CD.

If the names have you wallowing gloriously in nostalgia like me, you'll be transported back in time to the John Peel shows of the early Eighties.

Indispensable.

Graham Scaife