The Futureheads are a Sunderland quartet with a small handful of ideas but rather too many allusions to The Jam.

And though pop freaks get understandably excited when an ostensible new talent flies the flag for loud guitars and all things rock 'n' roll, it seems to take little time for the newness to wear off and the band is spat out like the dummy of a petulant toddler.

Which is what could happen to these guys. They are far too impressed with their own abilities in playing tight punk riffs and syncopated beats to realise they miss the target when it comes to good old-fashioned tuneful song writing.

The band do lure you into believing they are something a little bit special at first but by the end you realise you can't remember many of their tunes and seem to have The Jam's Eton Rifles playing in your head, which can't be the intention.

There is a charming little version of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, which is finding a home on the radio at the moment but that is probably the best song.

They do have a natty line in multi-layered backing vocals which is probably their best attribute and you'll hear elements of The Smiths and even The Proclaimers - but it's mainly The Jam all the way.

It may be jam today but will it be jam tomorrow?

JS