Damien Rice 9Heffa Records (68m 10s) . . .

Reviews of Rice's second album are likely to be guided by the artist's refusal to promote it worldwide as well as its two million-plus-selling debut O. Expectations are high. The opening track does not disappoint, with Lisa Hannigan stealing the vocal before Rice comes in to stunning effect.

9's first single, unfortunately it is the high point of what proves an uneven record. Not that the second song isn't strong. 'When The Animals Were Gone' is Rice doing Leonard Cohen at his emptiest. Wonderful. Next, 'Elephant' is one of the most intense songs ever heard by these ears . . . it makes you feel like you have accidentally walked in on a pair of lovers arguing, but you can't leave until it's over . . . but from here the progression into mediocrity begins. Rice sounds pissed off but gradually more defeated towards the end. Perhaps that's the point; maybe this is the closing chapter to Obut 9barely limps to the line. If Rice is being wilfull with his fans, he may be doing the same musically. And don't let the running time fool you, 15 minutes of this is one note. Nine pennies for your thoughts, Damien.

Download: '9 Crimes', 'Elephant', 'The Animals Were Gone' Neil Dunphy

Amy Winehouse Back to Black Universal Island Records (34m 57s) . . . . .

WHAT Lily Allen is doing to urban/ ska, Amy Winehouse is doing to soul. The young Londoner makes music that sounds like it was made 30 or even 40 years ago with profanities that could only be written about the world today. The single 'Rehab' proves merely a catchy taster to what is a deeply complex and reverential record. Sexy horn sections, languorous dub beats and sweet harmonies take the Motown sound out and give it a good dusting down. Nancy Sinatra would probably approve, even if she might want Winehouse to at times wash her mouth out with soap and water.

Download: 'You Know I'm No Good', 'Me & Mr Jones', 'Tears Dry On Their Own' ND

The Puppini Sisters Betcha Bottom Dollar Universal (43m 05s) . . .

EVERY record collection needs a female barber-shop trio of novelty cover versions right? Taking their inspiration from the Andrews Sisters of the 1930s and '40s, the Puppinis (who aren't real sisters but one Italian and two English girls) kick things off with the de rigeur Irving Berlin and Chordettes tunes such as 'Sisters' and 'Mr Sandman' but then, a la Nouvelle Vague, take on some more contemporary sacred cows such as Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights' (hilarious) Blondie's 'Heart Of Glass' (no comment) and The Smiths' 'Panic' (joyous). The 16 short tracks never fail to put a smile on the face.

Download: 'Mr Sandman', 'Wuthering Heights', 'Panic' ND

Iain Archer Magnetic North PIAS Recordings (52m 55s) . . .

THE fourth record from the former Snow Patrol and Reindeer Section man rocks it up a little bit. 'When It Kicks In' is lyrically violent, but ultimately the softer words are more pleasing. When Archer gets feisty, it sounds a little thin.

There are flashes of 'Run's' tempo . . . the Snow Patrol song Archer won an Ivor Novello award for his cowriting credit . . . and fans of Archer or his former band won't be disappointed with this pleasant, tender record.

Download: 'Collect Yourself', 'Everything I've Got', 'When It Kicks In' Una Mullally Warlords of Pez Warlords of Pez Trust Me I'm A Thief (1h 13m 44s) . . . .

OVER the past couple of days, my co-workers have been questioning my sanity as I plug in headphones and spend the next hour or so giggling uncontrollably. This album is full of screwed-up hilarity, worth the purchase for the artwork alone.

'Monster Voice' is inspired robotic metal and 'Old Women With Broadband' brims with comedy soul.

Other highlights: the brief national anthem of Dracula, the stoned 'Snowman Made Of Shit' and the 'secret track' at the end, which just happens to be their entire first album. Clearly, the drugs do work.

Download: 'Monster Voice', 'O Dracula', 'Old Women With Broadband' UM

Robbie Williams Rudebox EMI . . .

INTERESTING sounds. They are something Williams has managed to avoid thus far in his career, especially during the dreary Guy Chambers years. But all of a sudden here they are. Even covers aside, it is an ape-ish sort of record . . .mimicking Mike Skinner on the throwaway 'The 80s' and 'The 90s', Madonna's 'Vogue' on 'The Actor' and the Pet Shop Boys on, ahem, 'We Are The Pet Shop Boys'. For the first time, Williams appears to be making music for himself and having fun, a method that makes this record both fascinating and weird.

Download: 'Rudebox', 'Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus', 'Good Doctor' UM

Jazz E.S.T.

Tuesday Wonderland ACT . . .

THOSE who first heard EST breaking new ground in the late '90s probably thought that a new force had emerged in European jazz. The combination of dance and rock grooves, minimalist bass lines and Brad Mehldau-esque piano was a seductive form and felt like it might be the new jazz.

But EST have struggled to take the format any further and it is tempting to regard Tuesday Wonderland as another flogging for a now seriously unwell horse.

If you like the EST formula, this is more of the same. But if you were hoping that Svensson and friends were for moving on, hope again.

Cormac Larkin Classical Szymanowski Rattle/Various Soloists/City of Birmingham Orchestra & Chorus EMI Classics (64435 2) . . . .

OP 26, 31 and 55 of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski are represented here . . . each of them works for orchestra and voice. The music owes much to the impressionism of Debussy and Ravel but goes even further into imaginary, exotic soundworlds. The result makes for a stirring listening experience. Drawing on folk music of the Tatra mountains he so dearly loved, 'Harnasie' (Op 55) is the centerpiece with a rousing performance from Rattle and his forces.

Sleeve notes provide details of the composer's influences and the Polish texts in three translations.

Karen Dervan