Bachelor No 2

Sub-titled "The Last Remains Of The Dodo", this is the Mann woman's third post 'Til Tuesday solo collection. Alas, her ex-label Interscope didn't approve of it so the feisty Mann bought the tapes, sold it through the Internet and now it's in the stores.

As expected it's a beguiling slice of Mann-a from heaven, a batch of pop-rock songs for grown-ups about the perils and otherwise faced by the singleton. 'Red Vines' is one of her most wistful offerings to date, while 'The Fall Of The World's Optimist" is a sparklingly chilling co-write with Elvis Costello.

Most of Mann's lyrics here, as in 'Calling It Quits', reflect the cussed way life stubbornly refuses to do what you tell it.

And then there's the added bonus of a video clip of 'Save Me'. Sublime stuff, deserving of a caring, loving pad.