Sometimes British bands end up all sneery and attitude-first, so it is refreshing, in an age when anyone cares what Pete Doherty does, to hear a debut that lets the music do all the talking. Like a modern day Kinks, Tragedy Rocks presents wholly-resolved songs laden with melody, dynamics and lyrics: rock with intelligence and invention, and a good measure . The late John Peel loved their single Lottery Winners on Acid, the happiest and most spellbinding song here. The band, at turns, sound like others such as Australian band The Church, Ed Harcourt, mid-80s Waterboys, with touches of the Beach Boys (the latter probably the most intentional, for example on Bad Vibrations). The highlights of this album suggest a band that has a real star in frontman Davey McManus. Although there are more than a few directions they could take musically, on this evidence, the mix here certainly means nothing gets old.

ACE rating 9/10

Even removing the obvious emotion from a reunion concert from one of history's most celebrated (if not necessarily widely popular) bands, nay supergroups, and judged purely on its merits today, this is an awesome release. Those of us not able to afford to make the concert, nor old enough to have been there when they played their farewell concert more than 30 years ago, have a double CD full of energy, soul and still-remarkable music. The blues-based rock doesn't rely too heavily upon nostalgia: although Jack Bruce isn't the vocalist he once was, Clapton can clearly more than keep pace with the young buck he used to be when jamming and soloing (as can Ginger Baker; how cool to hear a drum solo again!). The band pick from their catalogue well, and as they always did when selecting old blues standards, they don't treat their songs as museum pieces, throwing them around with their old abandon. Love it.

ACE rating 8/10

With the growth of a Pop Idol world where 'artists' are happy to front and sing, songwriters are needed more than ever. Malmo is a collaboration between two such writers: Chris Braide and Dean Johnson. Braide, an Ivor Novello winner, has written hits for many American chart artists, and even good old Westlife. Malmo clearly provides him with a more left-field outlet, although the classic balladry is not completely abandoned. Like a Squeeze song book mixed up with Elton John filtered through Robbie Williams arrangement, this is first-rate pop music. It is not going to be top of any indie charts, but that's irrelevant. The quality of writing here makes it more than perfect for the millions of people who want Robbie, or Keane or Coldplay, or Athlete. Clear and obvious quality.

ACE rating 8/10