AUSSIE rock lost another icon with the passing of Angels frontman Doc Neeson.

We all know an Angels track or two — or at least that foul-mouthed refrain.

Despite being replaced by Screaming Jet Dave Gleeson in the original line-up in recent years, Neeson and The Angels remain synonymous with pub rock in this country and were one of our best.

Heck they even influenced the likes of Pearl Jam and Guns N’ Roses, who paid tribute in Las Vegas last week with a rousing version of Marseilles.

It’s been 40 years since the band formed in Adelaide, releasing the still-famous Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again two years later.

This three CD collection (and Vol.2 of live recordings) runs through 40 of the big (and not so big) Angels tracks.

It’s a great trip back with blistering anthems like Take A Long Line, Shadow Boxer, No Secrets, Dogs Are Talking and, of course, the superb We Gotta Get Out Of This Place.

RATING: ★★★★

IN SHORT: Vale Doc

Sam Smith - In The Lonely Hour (Capitol)

WHAT about these geezers and their soul music?

Along with John Newman, Sam Smith is showing the world just how soulful lads from the motherland can be.

Katy Perry labelled him the ‘male Adele’ and while we wait for new music from the Rolling In The Deep singer, Smith’s debut will do just nicely.

Previously known for his vocals on Naughty Boy’s La La La and for the touching smash Stay With Me, Smith is a star on the rise and In The Lonely Hour is set to become one of the must-own records of 2014.

The recurring theme throughout is lost, or never-gained love. That person who won’t love you back. Smith’s brilliant voice aches throughout tunes like Lay Me Down and Not That Way.

Like I Can feels like Adele: an acoustic guitar and kick-drum keeps it simple for the most part.

Money On My Mind is club-styled with elasticised vocals and Leave Your Lover is truly lovely.

RATING: ★★★½

IN SHORT: Soul-soaked

Soundgarden - Superunknown 20th Anniversary Edition (Universal)

IT should have been retitled Superwellknown.

1990s grunge greats Soundgarden certainly achieved big things with this, their second album, in 1994.

It sold 9 million copies, won the band two Grammy Awards and took their sound to the world thanks to the hits Black Hole Sun and Spoonman.

Amazingly, 20 years later Superunknown doesn’t sound dated at all. If anything, it’s a smack in the face to some of the “music” being purported today.

Led by Chris Cornell, Soundgarden released new music in 2012 but fans will be dying to get their teeth into this 4CD reissue which features remixes (including a strange Steve Frisk take on Spoonman), live tracks (check Beyond The Wheel and Fell On Black Days) and super-rare original demos and rehearsals including Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, The Day I Tried To Leave and My Wave.

RATING: ★★★½

IN SHORT: Superexpansive

Colbie Caillat - Gypsy Heart Side A (Universal)

HERE’S a concept that will cause confusion among the iTunes-only crowd.

Heck, it will even stump the CD-only set.

You see, kids, a long time ago we had things called records, big black groovy things. They had a side-A and a side-B. (You had to flip it over halfway through — annoying eh?).

Colbie Caillat, she of the too-lovely 2007 hit Bubbly, believes 12 songs is too much for your short attention spans, so she’s halved her surprise new album into sides.

Clever stuff Colbs.

And Caillat seems to have challenged herself musically here — it’s not all acoustic guitars, sunshine and sand.

It’s strong pop (the opener Live It Up, Blaze), uplifting urban balladry (Try, co-penned by Babyface, and a hit-in-waiting), mid-tempo pseudo-electronica (If You Love Me Let Me Go) and organic, upbeat folk-pop (Never Let You Down).

RATING: ★★★

IN SHORT: Halfway there

Various - Fatboy Slim presents Bem Brasil (Universal)

IF you hadn’t noticed, the football (or soccer) World Cup starts this week in colourful Brazil.

And watching the Foxtel music channels, it seems like the latin pop stars have been given a free hit with new music from Pitbull, J-Lo and Ricky Martin all celebrating the occasion.

Legendary British DJ Fatboy Slim is in on the action, providing his own offering as the soundtrack of the World Cup.

Slim, aka Norman Cook, has a passion for the South American country and provides two discs to showcase Brazil.

Para Noite (Night) is the first disc, opening in a crush of percussion with Gregor Salto’s excellent Samba Do Mundo.

It’s a party from there, with Fedde Le Grand’s rebadged Put Your Hands Up For Brazil and Agora’s Celebration Suite setting the tone.

Para Dia (Day) starts with Cook’s Weapon Of Choice while tunes from Carl Cox and Riva Starr make for uplifting listening.

RATING: ★★★½

IN SHORT: Lively