One star

LISTENING to Brendan Benson's second album brings lentil soup, cold showers and tidying the airing cupboard to mind.

You know they're good for you, they're a brilliant idea, but can you really be bothered?

Although reading Brendan's publicity made me believe I was in the presence of a musical icon - one critic called his other CD the 'greatest overlooked pop masterpiece of the decade' - his songs left me cold.

The first two tracks were reminiscent of how Oasis would sound playing at a children's tea-party, and those that followed sounded like Oasis playing at a village fete after everyone had gone home.

I'm sure his 12 songs were technically very good but there was nothing to make me stop and give them full attention.

Other people have described them as 'jangly, crunchy, witty, dreamy and dark' - I'd define them as unmemorable.

Apparently Brendan suffered severe writer's block after his lauded One Mississippi hit the headlines in 1996.

Many fans will be relieved, and will love what he now has to offer. I just wish he had found inspiration sooner, then maybe all his songs wouldn't sound the same.

SCC