CDs of the week

GAVIN DEGRAW
Gavin DeGraw (RCA)
**
New Yorker Degraw sings the theme song to US teen drama One tree Hill - Hollyoaks with more six-packs - which should give an idea of the kind of schmaltzy pop rock to expect on his second album. Just as the actors on that show are too good-looking to be real teenagers, so Degraw's sound is too sleek to have soul. He occupies the same world of yearning vocals, crisp guitars and occasional piano that is also inhabited by Maroon 5 and Bon Jovi. they are both big-sellers, and this album will do similarly well. Cop stop and in Love With a girl are particularly catchy, but it left me cold.
DAVID SMYTH

ALICE COOPER
Along Came a Spider (SPV)
Dedicated golfer Vincent Furnier has an unusual take on the 19th hole: instead of repairing to the bar, he puts on tons of make-up and becomes Alice Cooper. On this outing, he has become spider, a serial killer. All of which could be quite unpleasant were it not so ludicrous. The old metal riffs are efficiently recycled and alice does his pantomime villain vocals which aspire to be grand guignol but only summon a weary shrug of resignation. If this was the soundtrack to some comedy slasher movie, there might be some point it. That appears not to be the case.
PETE CLARK

JAZZ
FREDDIE HUBBARD
On the Real Side (Times Square)
****
Here's how one of jazz's great trumpeters sounds at 70. Freddie Hubbard's first recording for seven years, it indicates further recovery from the lip problems that have plagued him. The raw power of his heyday is no more but enough of his unique talent, expressed through the more mellow flugelhorn, remains to make this a significant event. It's also a labour of love by fellow trumpeter David Weiss, who assembled the new Jazz Composers Octet to give Hubbard classics (up Jumped spring, skydive) a richly voiced update. Saxman Myron Walden is among the all-star cast.
JACK MASSARIK

WORLD
KASAI ALLSTARS
In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic (Crammed Discs)
****
There are extraordinary sounds coming out of Congo now. This 25-strong collective from the Kasai region play music from five ethnic groups on acoustic instruments. The music sounds both ancient and modern - but from a distant and enchanted ritual world. It's not easy listening, but let the trance-like grooves work and the music becomes fascinating. Sadly, we'll have to wait for Kasai's UK tour, which is one of several recent casualties of visa problems affecting african musicians in particular.
SIMON BROUGHTON