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ARTIST: HOOBASTANK

ALBUM: EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF (Island Records)

Hearing "Every Man for Himself" open with a drill sergeant barking orders of conformity is a little painful. Hoobastank hands-down performs corporate modern rock, so the presence of anthems about independence ("Born to Lead," "The First of Me") is somewhat smirk-inducing. Compounding the irritation is that the two best tracks (the midtempo ballad "If Only" and exotically flavoured "More Than a Memory") arrive at the very end, where the group must have felt it was safe to take chances. "Inside of You" is a quirky come-on with startling, frank lyrics -- Doug Robb doesn't usually sing about lust. But "Without a Fight," "Don't Tell Me" and "Look Where We Are" are bland rock filler. Nearly every cut shoots for maximum radio mileage, and the album's lack of stimulation makes such pandering harder to overlook.

ARTIST: BRIAN LITTRELL

ALBUM: WELCOME HOME (Reunion Records)

Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell makes his solo debut with a stunning pop album, and its potent songs about life, faith and hope. Littrell is targeting the Christian market with this project, and the lyrical depth will no doubt strongly resonate with that audience, but the uplifting tone and gorgeous performances will strike a chord with BSB fans as well. Littrell's warm, engaging voice has never sounded more compelling. The a cappella "Jesus Loves You" is a joyous romp featuring Take 6 and Littrell's son Baylee, while "Angels and Heroes" is a beautifully written treatise on the essence of human nature and man's relationship to God. But the album's most powerful moment is "Gone Without Goodbye," which conjures one of the most heartbreaking images of September 11, 2001, yet to be heard. Littrell plans to continue with Backstreet, but this album signals the arrival of a major new player in the Christian market.

ARTIST: THE TWILIGHT SINGERS

ALBUM: POWDER BURNS (One Little Indian Records)

Former Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli has spent nearly 20 years advancing his sound, with "Powder Burns" his newest evolution. Producer Mike Napolitano heavily influenced what would otherwise be Dulli's straightforward, self-loathing rock recordings, adding layers of crunchy guitars, piano and throbbing effects. While Dulli's bitter, drunken voice remains front and centre, the backup vocals and orchestras nearly make the songs sound like a parody, marrying a beast to a beauty. The affected "Candy Cane Crawl," with vocals by Ani DiFranco, is too pretty for Dulli's off-kilter caterwauls. Otherworldly standout "There's Been an Accident" (with Joseph Arthur) capitalizes on Dulli's lyrical desperation with crashes galore and a climax of cinematic strings. Dulli's lyrics haven't advanced much since he began using the Twilight Singers moniker, but the production and arrangements seemingly have moved forward without him.

ARTIST: CHRISTINA MILIAN

ALBUM: SO AMAZIN' (Island Def Jam)

With her third album, "So Amazin'," Christina Milian tries to fully transform from peppy pop sweetheart to sweet urban soulstress. But the former Disney Channel hostess has yet to pinpoint her true identity. Here, the mostly midtempo production provided by Miami-based duo Cool & Dre gives synergy, and though Milian often comes off as a third-rate Beyonce, her feathery soprano captivates when her lyrics do not. Lead single "Say I" featuring Young Jeezy is instantly rousing, and her well-publicized breakup with ex-boyfriend actor Nick Cannon seems to be fodder for scorned-woman cuts like "Fooling" and "Who's Gonna Ride" featuring Three 6 Mafia. Milian's sound is not strikingly distinctive, and although it can be a fun listen, "So Amazin'" only scratches the surface of who she really is.

ARTIST: BANANARAMA

ALBUM: DRAMA (The Lab/Fuel/UMVD)

In the United States, Bananarama has been missing in action for 10 years. But with "Drama," the duo and a handful of beat-savvy producers (including Mute8 and Ian Masterson) deliver a cohesive collection of dance-floor-ready jams. Like contemporary British girl groups Girls Aloud and the Sugababes, Bananarama revels in pop-alicious rhythms from electro, trance and disco. The disc opens with international singles "Move in My Direction" and "Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)," and except for the lacklustre "Waterfall," the momentum remains until the final track (the Solasso remix of the act's early-'80s hit "He Was Really Saying Something"). "I Love the Way" and "Rules of Attraction" sound just fine when played alongside Kylie and Goldfrapp, respectively, while the gorgeously chilled-out "Middle of Nowhere" detours to the beaches of Ipanema.

Reuters/Billboard

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