Here's music to your ears
Tune in to some choices that might make suitable Christmas presents

Confession
Ill Nino
Roadrunner

Reviewer :: Gaelian Ditchburn

Apparent in Ill Nino's music is a strong Latin influence. The last song on Confession is a repeat of the CD's second song - How Can I Live - but sung in Spanish.

The inclusion of nicely played Spanish-sounding acoustic guitar scales can be heard in many of the songs. There are also a few distinctive distorted guitar riffs, solid beats and a vocal that alternates between growl and melody.

Ill Nino show there's more to Latin music than Ricky Martin after all.

Welcome Interstate Managers
Fountains Of Wayne
Virgin

Reviewer :: Cpl Damian Shovell

Easily the band's crowning achievement, the song-writing duo of Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood have produced their most accomplished and stylistically varied album yet.

Their sound has evolved but still fits somewhere into the Indie, pop-rock genre that has you humming along in no time.

As for the lyrics, they're still a collection of short stories that for the most part portray a more retrospective or humble view of the world than on earlier albums.

Jarchives: 10 Years of Bodyjar
Bodyjar
Capitol Records

Reviewer :: Michael Weaver

Ten years ago, I'd have been a big fan of Bodyjar. Their guitar-based Aussie rock sound is right
up there with all the bands I was into at the time but, alas, CD purchases don't occur as often as they used to.

So if the extent of your Bodyjar appreciation is what you've heard on radio, this 14-track compilation of their first 10 years is well worth the listen.

All their hit songs are there and Bodyjar's covers of Midnight Oil's Borderline and Paul Simon's Hazy Shade of Winter are as good as the originals. There's also two new singles and a bonus DVD with the usual backstage footage, live action and fanography.

Buy the CD for no other reason than to feel 10 years younger.

Identity Crisis
Shelby Lynne
Capitol Records

Reviewer :: Ellen Rees

What do you get if you combine Norah Jones, Cheryl Crowe, Harry Conick Jr, gospel choir music and a good dollop of country rock?

The answer is Shelby Lynne's first album, Identity Crisis.

An easy listen with no surprises, Identity Crisis makes for good background music at your next dinner party, provided your guests don't mind slide guitars.

It will probably never be a best seller, but if you like a bit of country that's not too country, combined with a smooth easy-listening vocalist, this may be the next album for you.