Happy Neu Year to all those whose mind shall feel the wrath of my bombast! Yea verily tis I, the Rashied of Garrison to put you all on the straight and narrow, music-wise. Listen up, for ye know I speak only the truth.

Paul has sent me three cds to check out for thee. And I shall do my job. Let’s get this party started.

So, why I’ve got “Take Me Away (Radio Edit)” by Stonebridge (featuring Therese) to review, god only knows. Dance fans will be frightened to learn I was a regular at Venus in Nottingham during the Duck Call years, so I know a thing or too about gettin’ down on it. Shame Stonebridge don’t - it’s banal, faceless, four to the floor handbag pap. Those uplifting chord washes were in use when I was bopping about, and that is some fifteen years ago. Can’t these people learn some new tricks?

Onto “Electric Superhighway” by The Southern Electrics then. I was pleased to find that this was also banal, faceless pap, but not four to the floor style, more 100th generation Jet meets Kula Shaker, which gives you some idea of the original ideas bursting forth from my speakers as I listen to this horror. Last year I tried to listen to every track on everything I was sent, but this year a new years resolution is to not waste my valuable time doing that, so a quick flick confirms that yes, I could go and do something less boring instead.

Like listen to the demo cd by Salvo. The production on this demo is great! It’s yer basic bass/guitar/drums/ vocals, but the opening song, “Faultline” has a neat riff like an Esher etching, turning in on itself. I like the English vocals. Doesn’t outstay it’s welcome. “Drown” is next and is a bit more pub rock Stooges in feel. “Bleeding Shins” starts with electro burbles and then onto Metallica riff land. It’s a bit like the music that you hear on “Jackass” as American fools fall off shopping trolleys and stuff. Classy English vocals again - none of this pretend to be American stuff. The last track, “Vibrator”, is about vibrators. Shame. Anyway, this is not bad overall as demos go - ditch tracks 2 and 4, more like 1 and 3 which are about 55% of the way there, make 'em more extreme, go to the Steve Albini school of lyric writing and they might be onto something. Don’t give up yet, Salvo. A demo I listened to more than once! Wow. For more info go to www.salvo-online.co.uk.

Oh well, a half decent demo and two landfill cds. 33.3% environmentally friendly so far this year. That’s probably better than your local council is doing, unless you live in Banbury. In which case, my condolences.

Best

Rashied Garrison

PS I really like "Love Machine" by Girls Aloud. In fact, it was one of my favourite tracks of last year. What's up with that?