Ronan Keating

No 1: Aug 6th

The debut solo album from main Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating, simply called Ronan, launches his career in fine style with two weeks at no 1 starting on August 6th. Despite the cover where Ronan's reddish hair clashes horribly with the wallpaper background, the album has a mixture of tunes including the two number ones When You Say Nothing At All and Life Is A Rollercoaster. Future hits are likely in the shape of The Way You Make Me Feel and In This Life while other stand-out tracks are Addictive and Only For You. A well-rounded effort that retains a Boyzone flavour while stepping into new territory.

... Mark Knopfler

No 4: Oct 1st

Is this a Dire Straits album? It certainly has the sound if not the credit of one. Mark Knopfler's second solo effort Sailing To Phildelphia features the laid back transatlantic guitar, soft growly vocals and songwriting peaks of the former band at their best. It debuts at no 4 on October 1st. There's a few guest artists thrown in too including James Taylor on the title track and Van Morrison on The Last Laugh. Other top tracks are Silvertown Blues, One More Machine, Baloney Again and Prairee Wedding. The guitar ranges in flavour from country, through folk, to electric blues and should appeal to any fan of Knopfler in any of his former guises.