Howard Devoto - Rainy Season (Virgin)

An atmospheric trip to the jungle with Howard obviously having fun. It's a sophisticated and classy offering with lovely guitars, piano and understated percussion. The catchy chorus assures that you'll get peculiar looks as you burst forth with "It's the rainy season and I'm on fire" - but it's worth it. A hit, no doubt about it. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 25, 1983)

Despite all the pretension and intellectuality, the ex Buzzcocks and Magazine editor still finds it difficult to make records that provoke any reaction apart from apathy. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, June 25, 1983)

Roaring Boys - House Of Stone (Epic)

When they first appeared earlier this year, perfectly made up with not a hair out of place, the Roaring Boys came in for some stick. Touted as the next DD rumours flew of huge advance payments etc etc. "We're serious musicians," they pouted. Maybe. But this single will do nothing to add to their credibility. Dull, instantly forgettable, and going absolutely nowhere. Don't spend it all at once lads. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 15, 1985)

Y'know I actually feel quite sorry for those lovable old empty-heads the Roaring Boys. Imagine having all that money and all those people telling you how very talented and good looking you are when in fact - yeah, hilarious isn't it - you're not. In fact an uglier bunch of derivative old also-rans you'd be hard pressed to find. "House Of Stone" treads the well-worn path of sub-Roxy moodiness with all the content, all the right noises but not one whiff of the style or personality. (Graham K Smith, Record Mirror, June 15, 1985)

Kirsty MacColl - He's On The Beach (Stiff)

A sad tale from Kirsty about a boy who takes off on holiday and ends up in Australia. Still, he's happy there. Kirsty will be happy too when the single marches up the charts. It's even better than "A New England", more bouncy and with a chorus that stays in your brain after just one listen. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 15, 1985)

Even though Kirsty wrote this herself it sounds very like her last single, Billy Bragg's "A New England" - lots of shiny guitars above which a million Kirsty MacColls breathlessly sing the tune. I just don't quite understand why she's bothered to write a song about an old drinking partner who's gone to Australia, spends all his time on the beach and isn't coming back. (Chris Heath, Smash Hits, June 19, 1985)

The lovely Kirsty is always worth a lot of anybody's time. Her appreciation of the finer aspects of pop construction are enough to warm even the coldest discaphile's heart. All the usual ingredients are there - sometime bittersweet but ultimately optimistic lyric, hefty, pacey backbeat, just the right amount of memorable jangling and those trebly harmonised vocals. A tribute to lost love? A yearning for sunnier climes? A summer hit? All these, and more. (Graham K Smith, Record Mirror, June 15, 1985)

Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels (Mercury)

Tears For Fears have certainly come of age. Here they are again, living down their old 'wimp' tag, and singing their hearts out in a single that will certainly follow "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" to make this their third big hit in a row. The song is similar in style to "Shout", and probably deserves its success, but I can't help wondering where they'd be if they had any real competition in the charts. (Maureen Rice, Smash Hits, June 5, 1985)

Everything Tears For Fears do these days is tinged with gold-dust. Although the melody on their latest isn't as strong as "Shout", it'll undoubtedly grow on you as steadfastly as it climbs the charts. I'll be humming it until the next one's released. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 15, 1985)

ABC - Vanity Kills (Phonogram)

Musically, a little more like the old ABC that most know and love, with a middle bit sounding like David Bowie's "Fame" thrown in as well. But the lyrics - considering that they're by Martin Fry, who has written some corkers in his time - are a real disappointment. A case of one step forward, three steps back, I'm afraid. (Maureen Rice, Smash Hits, June 5, 1985)

Not a patch on "Be Near Me", which wasn't a patch on "How To Be A Millionaire", which wasn't a patch on anything on their Lexicon Of Love LP. Sorry Martin, I know how you hate comparisons, but "Vanity Kills" is duff. A weak tune isn't helped by meaningless lyrics. Pull your finger out mate. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 15, 1985)

Paul Young - Tomb Of Memories (CBS)

Well, you won't catch me saying a bad word about Paul Young, though I do think it's a bit of a swizz taking a fourth single off The Secret Of Association LP. Paul sings predictably well on this song co-written by him and featuring Squeeze members Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook on backing vocals, but Laurie Latham's over-wrought production is really beginning to grate. (Maureen Rice, Smash Hits, June 5, 1985)

Think of something smooth. Something round, featureless and very, very bland. Something instantly forgettable. Something entirely worthless. Yes? Well, you're getting near to appreciating what the (wow) New Paul Young Single is really like. Paul Young's assimilation so quickly into the belly of the beast of boredom is tragic considering the class of interpretations like "Wherever I Lay My Hat" and, more recently Daryl Hall's "Every Time You Go Away". Young's voice can assume magical properties (occasionally) but the boy can not write songs. (Graham K Smith, Record Mirror, June 15, 1985)

From his latest LP The Secret Of Association this song is one of the weakest and a waste of his wonderful voice. Everything he's done so far has been great, but methinks everything must change if Paul is going to stay at the top. Loyal fans will probably make it a hit, but he doesn't deserve it with this funeral dirge. (Anne Lambert, No 1, June 15, 1985)