With Boyzone dangerously past their sell-boy date, the talented one's are venturing into George Michael territory in an endeavour to capture a more adult market. Backstreet Boys, 5ive and even Westlife have proved that in order to be a successful boyband, you've got to be, like, boys, and recent Boyzone promo pics have seen the old pretenders look more like car-mechanics than racing car drivers. I've always belived that Stephen, rather than Ronan, was the gifted one. While I hope he'll pardon me for saying that he's not as good-looking as his frontman, and not as comfortable in the spotlight, he's miles ahead in terms of vocal ability; does anyone else remember their appearance on The Lyric's Board? This guy can sing.

For the most part New Beginning stands up, but I have a slight quibble. If this was an album by a new artist, we'd have a major image sell so we'd know who we're dealing with. But we already know who Stephen Gately is, he's the little, cute, gay one from Boyzone, except not anymore he 'aint. He's now a credible artist in his own right, and the talent evident in numbers like 'New Beginning', (with its curiously telling lyrics), and the gotta-be-a-single 'You Lied' means that he doesn't need to do a cheesy cover like 'Bright Eyes'. So why did he? He could become George Michael or he could become Mark Owen. I hope he pulls a Georgie. On this evidence, he's well able.