Not so long ago, it was common knowledge that America had a virtual monopoly on all the best modern R'n'B music. Then along came Ms Dynamite and Mis-Teeq, proving that the Brits could do it just as well when they put their minds to it. Now Brummie kid Jamelia Davis wants to follow in their footsteps - and having had her career put on hold by an unexpected pregnancy, she's determined to make up for last time with her long-awaited second album. Thank You should do the trick - it's a genuinely classy collection of urban pop tracks, packed with twitchy grooves and ear-grabbing hooks. Chris Martin of Coldplay is on hand to contribute a typically mournful piano ballad, while Bubba Sparxx turns up to add some dirty Deep South rapping. The real star, however, is Jamelia herself, who comes across as tough, smart and more than ready to embrace superstardom. True, Beyonce remains the queen of R+B - but she's now got a serious rival for her throne.

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