The Fratellis - Here We Stand

Rating: * * *

Laden with hooks, sprawling riffs and thumping basslines, Glaswegian pop rockers The Fratellis' sophomore effort is a fun romp of drunken singalongs and poppy anthems. But like so many drunken nights out, it quickly fades from memory, failing to dish up anything of substance worth savouring.

The closest it comes is the cool saunter of Acid Jazz Singer, complete with contagious electric guitar riff,  and the honky tonk piano of Mistress Mabel, though the latter becomes painfully annoying as it stretches out a 90-second outro, repeatedly bursting back into life, refusing to die.

The softer, acoustic opening of Baby Doll provides a welcome reprieve from the onslaught of rough and ready pop, remaining jaunty while toning down the album's otherwise brash energy.

Though plied with catchy choruses, stomping bass lines and simple melodies, the album somehow ends up less than the sum total of its parts. It should be better than it is.

Where their debut album Costello Music had the confident swagger of a band on the make, Here We Stand has the arrogant air of a band who know they've got it made and aren't prepared to make an effort. Not that frontman Jon Fratelli cares. As he drawls on Look Out Sunshine! "I'm a cynical c*** and I'm much too lazy to change." Indeed.

Joanna Hunkin