Woodstock 99 - Volume 2

UNLIKE ITS legendary ancestor, Woodstock '99 could hardly be described as "three days of music, peace and love", ending as it did in a riot. Perhaps it was induced by the sheer boredom of witnessing corporate America's current rock vanguard going through their paces with such apathy and indifference.

While the original of the species effectively launched the careers of Santana, Sly & The Family Stone and Crosby, Stills Nash & Young, as well as giving a welcome lift to The Who, Hendrix and Joe Cocker, last year's model gave us the likes of The Dave Matthews Band, huge in America where they can't get enough of this kind of thing (see Hootie, Matchbox 20, Counting Crows etc) but failing to make much of an impact elsewhere. The awful Everlast ('Ends') and the even more turgid Everclear ('Santa Monica') would make you want to pray for rain while The Brian Setzer Orchestra currently riding high on the swing revival win the Sha Na Na prize for their nostalgic take on 'Rock This Town'

Lilith Fair stalwarts in the line-up include the usually talented Sheryl Crow who rocks out here on her hit 'If It Makes You Happy', Alanis Morrissette whining again on 'So Pure' and the permanently dejected Jewel who warbles her way through 'Down So Long'.

Dance fares only slightly better and is represented by The Chemical Brothers ('Block Rocking Beats') and Jamiroquai ('Black Capricorn Day'). Only the ever-reliable Elvis Costello shines through with a solo version of 'Alison' but even he must have felt like a fish out of water among this lot.