ALBUM OF THE WEEK

TAKE THAT - III

First there were five, then there were four and now there are three. A trio since Jason Orange announced his departure from the 'man' band in September, Gary Barlow, Mark Owen and Howard Donald show no signs of giving up and disbanding, as they unveil their seventh album, III. Opening with the No 1 hit These Days, their latest record is a worthy follow-up to 2010's Progress. There are more high-energy and club-friendly tunes than ever before, such as I Like It with its electro-tones, the dancey Let In The Sun and Lovelife and Into The Wild. Barlow dominates on lead vocals, although Owen takes the frontman spot on Lovelife and Into The Wild, and Donald gets his moment of glory on Give You My Love. Fans who prefer Take That ballads will enjoy Flaws, the amazingly sweet Amazing and the soaring Do It All For Love. This collection of 15 tracks will satisfy die-hard fans who have been waiting patiently for new music.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Shereen Low)

THE WU-TANG CLAN - A BETTER TOMORROW

This year, the Staten Island rap collective announced the existence of a double album, of which there is only one physical copy, with plans to tour it around galleries and museums. In the meantime, there is A Better Tomorrow, a single album on commercial release, which, if not a work of art, is a welcome return for Rza, Method Man, Ghostface Killah and co. It's been seven years since the group's last release and there's been the usual stuttering gestation with beefs and backbiting among the strong personalities involved. Still, everyone's here on the album, even ODB, who died 10 years ago, with his profane gargle ushering in album opener Ruckus In B Minor. It's the best track here, as producer RZA gives things a surprising sheen with resounding organ doing battle with the usual chop socky sound effects and ribald rhymes. As with most Clan albums of recent years, the results are patchy, despite the themes of unity running through the lyrics. Preacher's Daughter has a nice twist on the Dusty Springfield track sample, used by Cypress Hill among others, and Miracle shows the 40-somethings are no longer just interesting in thuggin' and making money as they lambast the West's reaction to "people in Africa dying from Ebola".

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Mark Edwards)

NICO & VINZ - BLACK STAR ELEPHANT

Propelled to stardom by song of the summer contender Am I Wrong, Norwegian duo Kahouly Nicolay 'Nico' Sereba and Vincent 'Vinz' Dery are seeking to build upon the success of their global smash with this strong collection of similarly upbeat numbers. The album's relentless cheer and straight-faced motivational messages could easily be dismissed as cheesy or old hat, but - maybe it's just the fact that we're all seriously bereft of vitamin D right now, but it's honestly refreshing to have some sunny optimism lighting up the charts. Not every track manages to avoid coming across a little too treacly or earnest, but the likes of the Stargate-helmed Imagine and easygoing rhythms of In Your Arms are just as catchy and enjoyable as their best-known hit.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Simon Harker)

AC/DC - ROCK OR BUST

On the surface, nothing has really changed on Rock Or Bust. All three chords are accounted for, the word 'rock' appears four times across the track-listing, and the familiarity of Angus Young's white hot solos are as reassuring as ever. This isn't quite the case, however, as the 16th album is the first not to feature Malcolm Young. The AC/DC founder and one of the strongest pillars of the band is receiving treatment for dementia, so has been replaced by nephew Stevie Young. There's also the distraction of drummer Phil Rudd's legal woes. Thankfully behind all the politics, it's business as usual as the opening title track kicks off with the line "We be a guitar band, we play across the land!". There's some hard rock blues in the vein of Led Zeppelin with Rock The House while the one-man powerhouse Brian Johnson tears through Miss Adventure proving his voice is still yet to falter. Rock Or Bust is all killer and no filler throughout. As a tribute to Malcolm Young's permanent absence, the album's title was almost Man Down, but Rock Or Bust seems particularly apt here, considering the boys have already survived such adversity with the death of Bon Scott.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Robert Penney)

KIESZA - SOUND OF A WOMAN

Canadian singer Kiesza, born Kiesa Rae Ellestad, catapulted into the nation's consciousness back in April with the huge No 1 hit Hideaway, and this debut album is a nod back to Nineties house mixed with the dance sound of 2014. The title track is an epic ballad with the 25-year-old singer belting out her impressive vocals. So Deep is a moody jam reminiscent of Jessie Ware colliding with Massive Attack. And there's a cover of Haddaway's What Is Love, while slow covers are everywhere at the moment, this version is a heartfelt twist on the 90s dance original. The overall feel of this collection is emotive and atmospheric, EDM with a heart. A strong debut.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Lisa Allen)

SMASHING PUMPKINS - MONUMENTS TO AN ELEGY

In recent years, Smashing Pumpkins sole survivor Billy Corgan seems to have only retained his power to shock outside of music - with his stint as a wrestling promoter making more waves than his follow-up albums to early Nineties classics Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness. T he release of the 47-year-old musician's latest, Monuments To An Elegy, to be swiftly followed by a companion release, Day For Night, suggests the creative juices are flowing again. Despite keeping the band name, it's practically a solo project with Corgan joined by just guitarist Jeff Schroeder and Motley Crue's Tommy Lee on drums. Despite Lee's presence, this is no return to the abrasive rock of the band's heyday. and the guitars tend to wash over the tracks when they used to cut through them. The exception is the impassioned One And All, where Corgan's emo yearning soars over great guitar interplay and Baba O'Riley-like keyboard arpeggios. There are hints at invention in the glam-like stomp of Anaise and there is a sense of triumph and, oddly, contentment running throughout the album. However, Corgan in a good mood can be a little cloying and lead single Being Beige is almost unpalatably saccharine. At just 32 minutes running time, this album may be the Pumpkins' most concise work yet, but it lacks the depth and darkness of his best work. Now he's away from the ring, perhaps he can wrestle more with his demons for his next album.

Rating: 6/10

(Review by Mark Edwards)

On The Road

:: Clean Bandit will embark on a headline tour in March 2015. The quartet will kick off the shows at Belfast's Mandela Hall on March 5, taking in Cambridge, Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester, before finishing at London's Alexandra Palace on March 13. Tickets are on sale now from www.gigsandtours.com.

:: One Direction have announced some new dates for their On The Road Again 2015 tour. The boyband - Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson - will kick things off at London's The O2 in September and wrap up a month later in Sheffield. Tickets are available from December 6 from www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.