What We're Listening To

REVIEW
A man will go a long way to avoid having to review, listen to, or even consider the existence of a Cheryl Cole solo CD.

But sitting at my desk with my fingers jammed in my ears ain't going to fill this space.

So here we are, wallowing around in Sony's greatest hits recycling bin, which they empty jumpily out onto the road every time the words "Michael Jackson" pop up on Google News.

This time the "event" is the release of the late King of Pop's This Is It film, a big shiny DVD extra tarted up as a tribute epic. If Michael's revealing rehearsals are heading to cinemas, Sony figure, then it's definitely time hurl out the same breadcrumbs they've been lobbing at us for years.

While it's marketed as a two-CD "soundtrack", it's actually an excuse to slap old favourites from Bad, HIStory, Thriller on the table like old holiday snaps, and chuck in a song that's probably not as new as they say it is, and certainly not as good.

The song This Is It, like the post-mortem Beatles effort Free As A Bird, is a disappointing last note in a fantastic career. But then there's still time for execs to find some more behind the sofa.