JOHNNY HILAND: Johnny Hiland (Favoured Nations)

COUNTRY guitar picking of the highest order from a true virtuoso. It's an album which will leave the amateur guitarist gasping with disbelief at the technical genius on display. A great backing band mean it's much more than your average hoedown music, but probably still one for connoisseurs only.

NEVILLE STAPLES: Rude Boy Returns (Rude Boy Music)

WITH a pedigree including The Specials and the Fun Boy Three, you've got to admire Mr Staples. For those hoping for a Specials revival, you won't find it on this new album. It's more Bad Manners meets Madness than the Specials with plenty of happy reggae sounds. But it's not quite what so many of us hoped it would be.

DIZEE RASCAL: Showtime

DYLAN Mills aka Dizee has come a long way in a short space of time. Last year his debut album scooped the Mercury Music prize. This, his second release, is lighter and defter in touch than that - and none the worse for it I'd say. There's even a sense of fun on display with a reworking of Happy Talk. But at the heart of it remains some acutely observed rap lyrics which could win some new fans.

RAGHAV: Storyteller (A&R)

I'M not sure who Raghav is going to appeal to long term. He's obviously teen idol material but then again much is being made of his diverse upbringing and the fact that he's actually a serious artist rather than a fluffy pop star. Sounds more fluffy pop star than serious to me though.

JOHN ANSON