ALBUMS.

Byline: GAVIN MARTIN

THEM CROOKED VULTURES

Them Crooked Vultures **

A supergroup combining Led Zep's John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme provides just what you might expect. High-impact musicality from JPJ, muscle and strong shoulders from Grohl, and a lick of slicked-back, sharp-eyed mania from Homme. But the Boy's Own muso love-in lacks songwriting orginality and wants for personality.

NORAH JONES The Fall ***

The lovely but slightly dull Norah could hardly go anywhere but down commercially after the Grammyladen multi-million selling Come Away With Me. With nothing to lose, she's now followed her heart, hired some Tom Waits sidemen and left the smoothly-contoured jazz freeway. It's not exactly a radical re-think, but it is enough to keep the Snorer Jones jibes at bay - for a while.

50 CENT Before I Self Destruct **

The big, bad bogeyman of rap has naturally claimed this album is the greatest thing since sliced bling. Reuniting him with early champions Eminem and Dr Dre, it comes complete with a Fiddy-directed feature film. In actuality it just rehashes well-worn routines in a self-serving, jaded manner.

JOSS STONE Colour Me Free **

Poor Joss. She had it all to play for, but somewhere along the way the too-much-toosoon syndrome kicked in. She split with her boyfriend and has also been at war with her record company. Colour Me Free attempts to make up for the commercial pratfall of its predecessor, but the fightback, like her voice, is often somewhat strained.

N-DUBZ Against All Odds ****

As they promised, this is a boldly ambitious, sonically confident second album. Their tripartite vocal delivery is used to optimum effect with songs that tackle thorny issues in character-filled exposs. Phil Collins - and everyone else - should be proud.