OCEAN Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock reckons the first five songs on an album are all important. He has a point. In hectic, microwave times, how often do you listen all the way through?

On their fourth studio album, Glasgow's sun-worshipping Cosmic Rough Riders stock up the goodies in the opening quintet, with only an occasional mellow, melancholic delight to follow. By comparison, Longview's opening hand of five only affirms what an erratic, promising yet overblown debut Mercury is, swinging from a winning hybrid of Coldplay and Doves to Screaming Trees and Deacon Blue at the too intrusive hand of Seattle producer Rick Parashar.

Cosmic Rough Riders saved Alan McGee's Poptones label from drowning with the low-key chart success of 2001's Enjoy The Melodic Sunshine, but they have since reverted to their own indie label and parted amicably with singer Daniel Wylie. Guitarist Stephen Fleming has stepped up to the mike, and you can hardly tell the difference. Too Close Too See Far is another pleasant surf through breezy Byrds harmonies and glistening guitar pop, with a Beach Boys nod on the a cappella Tomorrow May Never Come. Drifting into a quiet corner, Cosmic Rough Riders may lack the scruffy personality of Teenage Fanclub, and the rise of The Thrills could not have been more unfortunately timed, but Justify The Rain, hit single Because You, Life In Wartime, Blind and Now That You Know are utterly buttery.

Where Cosmic Rough Riders ride their own wave, Longview are being subjected to the big splash treatment, feted producer, heavy-sell TV promotion and all, and it hasn't done them any favours. Rick Parashar has Pearl Jam, Blind Melon and Alice In Chains among his clients and he leaves Longview sounding like a slushy, sludgy American stadium act. Yet they belong to rainy Manchester, in particular Rob McVey's moody, earnest vocals, and a little intimacy and delicacy to counter the epic excesses would have gone further. Instead, they go too far on the manipulative likes of Nowhere, Still and Will You Wait Here. Yet they still could become a grand rather than grandiose band because the songwriting troubles the heart.

Updated: 11:06 Thursday, July 31, 2003