ALBUM OF THE WEEK

WHITNEY HOUSTON - ULTIMATE EDITION

The world mourned for a soul diva when Whitney Houston was found dead, at the age of 48, in February 2012. As fans prepare to mark the third anniversary of this tragic date, this Ultimate Edition release, featuring a first ever live album and a greatest hits compilation, will keep them buzzing for a while. Houston's six-time Grammy-winning career is celebrated in the live record, with performances ranging from 1983, when she was a teenager, to 2009 with an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show. The How Will I Know at the 1987 Brits, Greatest Love Of All at the That's What Friends Are For: Arista Records' 15th anniversary concert in 1990, a trio of hits from the 1991 Welcome Home Heroes gig and two renditions from the 1994 Concert For A New South Africa, reminding us how amazing her vocals were. Produced by Clive Davis, with the backing of Houston's sister-in-law Patricia Houston, fans can be assured that this definitive collection has definitely got the seal of approval.

Rating: 9/10

(Review by Shereen Low)

COLDPLAY - GHOST STORIES LIVE 2014

The DVD section of Coldplay's latest live offering formed part of an NBC special recorded at Sony Studios in March 2014 in front of an enthusiastic 800-strong crowd in Los Angeles. The programme aired on the eve of the album's release in May and although tracks such as Viva La Vida and Paradise were also played that night, they fail to feature here as this release is all about Ghost Stories and how it translates live. The band's minimalist sixth album is also showcased on a CD of performances recorded around the globe on a recent world tour, with singles A Sky Full Of Stars - taken from the Royal Albert Hall - and Magic, in Australia, real highlights on a well thought-out package. A must for any Coldplay fan's stocking.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Andrew Carless)

LEONARD COHEN - LIVE IN DUBLIN

When it comes to the travails of love, there is surely no better chronicler than Canadian crooner Leonard Cohen, now 80 and who, by all accounts, has as extensive back catalogue in women as he has in songs. This three-disc set and bonus DVD was recorded in Dublin in September 2013, in front of an ecstatic audience at the O2 arena and is choc-full of his best work, with songs among the finest composed over the course of the past 40 years. The show opens with the outstanding Dance Me To The End Of Love, with Bird On A Wire and Everybody Knows following in quick succession. The second disc opens with one of his best songs, Tower Of Song, and also includes his best known track, Hallelujah, so memorably covered by Jeff Buckley. But it is the final CD which really sparkles. So Long, Marianne, First We Take Manhattan, and closer Save The Last Dance For Me are as good as it gets. In a word; stunning.

Rating: 9/10

(Review by Kim Mayo)

VARIOUS - THE X FACTOR SONGBOOK

The curtain has closed on another series of The X Factor, with Croydon van driver Ben Haenow crowned the champion of the 11th series. It's sure to say the show has seen a lot of songs performed on its stage, from rock theme nights to Big Band weeks, hopeful contestants have bellowed out hits from modern powerhouses like Beyonce and Adele all the way back to Luther Vandross and Toni Braxton. This compilation comprises a plethora of hits, including Jeff Buckley's original version of Hallelujah which saw 2008 winner Alexandra Burke gain Christmas number one, along with tracks from fellow contestants One Direction, Leona Lewis, Olly Murs, JLS and Rebecca Ferguson. With a total of 19 number ones, and 47 top 10 hits to pick from, this compilation has something for everyone.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Rebecca Flitton)

VARIOUS - JOEY ESSEX PRESENTS PARTY ANTHEMS

Love him or hate him, Joey Essex knows how to party and this three-disc compilation is packed with anthems to get anyone in the mood for dancing. From LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem, The Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling and Jason Derulo and Snoop Dogg's hit Wiggle, this is the album to stick on the CD player for your Christmas do. Get the party started with Tinie Tempah's Pass Out and Charli XCX's Boom Clap, then slap on the cheese with Earth, Wind & Fire's Boogie Wonderland, Reel 2 Real's I Like To Move Out and Hot Chocolate's You Sexy Thing before going old skool with Run-DMC and Aerosmith's Walk This Way, Kris Kross' Jump and OutKast's Hey Ya!. As the night slows down, get the afterparty started with Blackstreet featuring Dr Dre' No Diggity, Salt N Pepa's Push It and Montell Jordan's This Is How We Do It. There are some misses, but generally, this is the perfect party pick.

Rating: 7/10

(Review by Shereen Low)

METALLICA - SOME KIND OF MONSTER

It's the 10th anniversary of the release of the Metallica's award-winning documentary Some Kind Of Monster, so it's only fair that this Christmas, fans - and there are hordes of them - of the metal group get something new to open in their stockings. Some Kind Of Monster was originally commissioned to document James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo recording an album for the first time in five years back in 1994. Instead, it became a hard-hitting film about a band in crisis - struggling with their many vices, personal turmoil and the wrath of fans. The re-release of Some Kind Of Monster also includes brand new footage with This Monster Lives - a retrospective follow-up that takes a look back over the past ten years since the release of the original. The DVD offers fans a glimpse into the turbulent world of rock music and its honesty really puts shame to the 'reality' we see on TV today. Fans will want to find this under their tree.

Rating: 8/10

(Review by Nicole Gallagher)

On The Road

:: Wu-Tang Clan will play two special live shows in London and Glasgow in June 2015. The influential hip hop group, including RZA, GZA, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, Raekwon, U-God, Master Killa, Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna, will perform at London's O2 Academy Brixton on June 4, and Glasgow's O2 Academy on June 5. Tickets are on sale now from www.gigsandtours.com.

:: Kodaline have announced details of a 10-date UK tour in February and March 2015. The Irish rock quartet will kick off the gigs at Glasgow Barrowlands on February 15, before heading to Manchester, London, Nottingham, Southampton, Norwich, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle. Tickets are available now from www.ticketmaster.com.