Melanie C - Northern Star

(Virgin)

*

Review: Russell Baillie

Solo album from the Spice Girl who, apparently, can sing. And, by the sound of it, the Spice Girl who spent a lot of money getting the best co-writers, producers, stylists and photographers that Spiceworld could buy to mould her into spiky tattooed poprock chick - only to prove she has as much hidden depth as last week's pair of trainers.

Yes, she has a not unattractive lungpower but the songs are warmed-over Madonna, Garbage or Alanis rejects.

But she does have a conscience: "I couldn't live without my phone/you don't even have home ..." she sings on ode-to-the-homeless If That Were Me.

Fitting then, that they should be picking this one out of the bins real soon.