Sara Bareilles | Bottle It Up

It's ironic that after her debut hit Love Song proclaimed she wasn't going to write, well, a love song, Sara Bareilles releases a single which quite possibly has the most instances of the word 'love' in the history of music lyrics. It's a wonder that the song isn't called Love Song Part II: The Love Song Song. Inevitably, many will scoff at Bottle It Up, but once you're done laughing, you'll hear a lovely little ditty that mixes fragility, tenderness and angst (the almost rap-like bridge is quite the marvel) with panache. Think of a slightly more edgy Carpenters who aren't afraid to sing the word 'shit', and you've got the gist. 4/5.

Boyzone | Love You Anyway

It's an odd thing trying to make an old band appeal to a young audience by giving them a new song with an old vibe. But as 60s music is in (see: Duffy, Adele, Amy), Boyzone must have thought they were onto a winner with this; a sappy track that is essentially a Ronan Keating comeback single featuring assorted guests. Love You Anyway is repetive, with the lyricists trying to trick the listener into thinking the chorus actually rhymes. As for that stiff dance routine in the video... it's no surprise that their manager is, as ever, Louis Walsh. 2/5.

Gabriella Cilmi | Sweet About Me

It's hard to believe that Australian Gabriella Cilmi is only 16-years-old. Her voice, which has lazily been compared to that of Amy Winehouse, is distinct and soulful in its own right, sounding even riper than Camden's finest. Another surprise is that she co-wrote the track with Xenomania, the hit factory behind the sound of Girls Aloud, and the Summery, rootsy vibe of Sweet About Me makes for a welcome addition to the pop scene. 5/5.

Sugababes | Denial

This time last year, the trio and Girls Aloud teamed up to create a new species of cheese in the form of their cover of Run DMC and Aerosmith's Walk This Way for Comic Relief. Now they're back to the day job of working against each other, both bands release single 3 from their respective albums this week. Both are strong songs, but Denial, accompanied by another Sugababes is-it-brilliant-or-just-odd? video, deserves to climb higher. With its rock-meets-reggae tune and infectious chorus, this is up there with the the band's best. 4/5.

Goldfrapp | Seventh Tree

Admiration must be dealt to the duo as they have unexpectedly change tact on album four. Out go the synths (mostly) and in come the acoustic guitars. It's make-or-break time for the band as they desert the genre that finally made them stars with Supernature back in 2005.

Seventh Tree sees Goldfrapp leaving the dancefloor and fleeing to the coffeehouse, with a floating, hippy feel prevailing. Excellent first single A&E starts off calm and unassuming, swirls through Kate Bush territory, before fading back into a simple guitar riff. 

Cologne Cerrone Houdini (the new tongue-twister sweeping the nation) almost has a title too pompous to merit listening, but is actually a cool, sophisticated track that mixes a wistful mood ('I'm in your car / But not your life') with dreamy, high-pitched vocals recalling elements of Felt Mountain. 

Happiness is a clever observation of today's self-help culture summed up by: 'Donate all your money / We'll make it better'. Here, the synths return, squelching and swooshing away, and is an obvious choice for 2nd single.

Elsewhere, however, the majority of tracks are less instantly appealing. Clowns is barely audible and along with Eat Yourself, features rather disturbing lyrics - the former concerning Barbies and 'titties' and the latter commencing with the line 'If you don't eat yourself / No doubt the pain will instead'. Perhaps these are stabs at poignancy, but instead of being engagingly offbeat they're both easily skippable.

Monster Love is a decent finish, tying up the bittersweet mood of the album in the key line: 'Here is where we start / and where we end'. The sentiment could return to haunt them - will the start of a new sound also be the end to their success? Touches of cleverness and ingenuity are ruined by confusing lyrics, but the album is still worth investigating for the precious few gems. 3/5.

Mary J. Blige | Just Fine

After the overlooked Be Without You of 2005 and the following drear-fest that was Enough Cryin', Mary J. Blige is finally taking her own advice of No More Drama. With her last big hit dating back to 2002's Dance For Me, Just Fine may well return her to the Top 10 - like Alicia Keys with No One, Mary has struck gold again at last. Anthemic, fresh and with the life-affirming lyric 'I won't change my life, my life's just fine' makes this catchy RnB at its best. 4/5.