BUSH

When The Voice announced Gavin Rossdale on the judging panel for the debut season on ITV, many were surprised. For despite his success as a vocalist, Rossdale has become better known in the UK as the ex of Gwen Stefani or father to Daisy Lowe. That may be due in part to the lack of sustained commercial success in the UK. With a #1 album Stateside under their belt, the group peaked at #4 with their 1996 sophomore effort Razorblade Suitcase, only for each subsequent release to be met with diminished success. As they release their seventh studio album will the added publicity of The Voice help them break the British mainstream once again?

Sadly if Black and White Rainbows is the strongest they can deliver at this point in time, it seems unlikely that they will break out of the niche fanbase they currently enjoy. The fault is on no part due to Gavin Rossdale's distinctive vocal, but rather due to the lack of real substance that the album contains. While he is clearly far more deserving than will.i.am of his place on the panel as a vocal commentator, his colleague at least is able to boast of producing hits relevant to the current musical landscape.

Having stated openly that the record is a creative response to his marriage breakdown, it seems that his guarded take on his personal life has lead to a rather repetitive and lackluster seventh studio album. With their heart clearly set on stadium style success, the songs are certainly big enough sonically but they simply don't move the listener or even grab their attention with each subsequent listen.

While The Beat Of Your Hearts shows that his compelling fire still burns within, the rest of the album just seems mis-paced. While there are a couple of other key cuts, notably new-age closer People At War, which should appear earlier on the tracklisting and the compelling Mad Love and beautiful All The Worlds Within You - at 15 tracks long, it may have benefited from a little more post-studio cuts.

While Black and White Rainbows may not be the glorious commercial return Rossdale was hoping for, but with no doubt another The Voice season ahead, Bush will have another shot.