WHATEVER your mood, Amity Dry’s album True to Me, has a tune to suit. Best known for her internationally successful album The Lighthouse, and her renovation adventure on The Block, Amity has given us something a bit different with her second album. Expect the same amazing voice that has won her fans world-wide, just add a touch of country and a little bit of rock. Enough to give her voice a raw, gutsy edge and her songs a real storytelling quality. The album as a whole is refreshingly sincere. A seemingly more grown-up Amity sings about everyday issues, from the frustrations of today’s hectic pace to the joys and pitfalls of falling in and out of love. There’s no question Amity has a gift for beautiful ballads (be sure to listen to my favourites My Love Would Go that Far and Let Go).

– Rebecca Codey

DEBUT singles are often the best song on any CD, and unfortunately this also rings true on Anniemal by Norway’s Annie. If you have heard and hated the annoying Chewing Gum song lately with such lyrical genius as “well hot dog I’m a chewing machine, it makes me smile and it keeps my teeth clean”, then do yourself a favour and do not, under any circumstances, ever listen to this album. I always thought my worst musical nightmare would be to be stuck in a lift for hours with nothing but Celine Dion playing, but that dubious title is now held by the sickly-sweet Annie. This is Eurotrash at its worst and if I ever have to hear Anniemal again I will gladly put a fork into either, if not both, of my eyes.

– Rachel Irving

THIS is classic tuning music at its very best. Imagine a mood-lit room with an open fire and a balloon brandy glass in your hand as you recline on a brown leather lounge next to the chick of your dreams. Now put this CD on and if you haven’t achieved some level of success by track 10 Les Nubians, you never had a chance in the first instance. Unless you speak French you won’t understand most of it as contemporary French artists pay homage to the Parisian jazz masters of yesteryear. But don’t let that fool you – the sultry and husky jazz vocals mixed with double bass is a delight. And if that’s not enough, there’s a English subtitled DVD included with half-an-hour of footage of the St Germain Des Pres district in Paris from back in the day – all very cool.

– CPL Damian Shovell