"Honey Friends", first b-side track, sounds like Kraftwerk and The Pixies, both mounted upon killer riffs, meeting in a head-on collision, filmed in slo-mo. "Time Tunnel Cellar" is a definite Bis/Rezillos-influenced slice of buzzsaw indie guitar pop, but the highlight of the extra tracks is "I'm In Love With RAF Nurse", a frantic punk sing-song yelp of a song - the runt of the litter with big teeth.

Whether they go on to bigger things, or burn out and vanish, Tiger have made one of the best singles of the year.

Rating: 10/10

Nevertheless, "E-Bow The Letter" is a mighty fine chainsaw buzz of a single, guitars droning on morbidly behing Stipe's half-spoken vocal, coming on like "It's The End of The World"'s psych-babble exhausted and slowed down to a crawl. The inclusion of backing vox from Patti Smith works well, the punk veteran's low-pitched and barely audible contribution adding even more menace to an already brooding and melancholic song. The sound of stormclouds gathering on the horizon.

Of the b-sides on this "collector's edition" CD, "Tricycle" is a half-idea stretched out to a 2-minute instrumental, and "Departure" is a "Monster"-ish rock-out with yet more semi-spoken vocals. Closing the EP with reassurance that Stipe still knows how to sing is the country-tinged "Wall of Death". A well-rounded and balanced EP from America's most mainstream 'alternative' act.

Rating: 8/10

"Upfield" is the result: and proves that he can - almost. An upbeat, brassy pop song, this still sounds a little dated, calling to mind late Pogues or Dexy's. Could turn out to be a surprise hit, especially if the weather holds out for a couple of weeks.

The b-sides are back on familiar Bragg folk-hero/folk-song territory - good if you like his style, grating Bragg-by-numbers if you don't.

Rating: 7/10