"Nice To Be Out (demo)" is less effective - much so. Even giving it the benefit of the doubt due to its demo status, the lyrics are truly laughable ("Stood where Oswald took a shot, in my opinion there's a bigger plot" ) and the tune lumbers forward with all the balletic poise and grace of a blind elephant. "Positively 4th Street" is a Bob Dylan cover, which is all that needs said (apart from the observation that all that the Phonics bring to the song is an alternative annoying singing voice). Never trust a hippy. Things are redeemed in the end by the inclusion of the video to "Pick A Part That's New", its Italian Job pastiche a pleasantly diverting enough way to spend staring at a screen for 4 minutes.

When all's said and done however, the Stereophonics seem cursed by their own lack of ambition. Brief phosphorous flares such as this aside, much of their material plods along inoffensively, begging its pardon as it shuffles off into the obscure middle distance. So unless they can convince me they are something more than a diversion - a sideshow act - I will stick with the bands that take the musical baton and twist and turn it into shapes previously unheard and unseen. Like Steps.

Guy, put that knife down...

Rating: 8/10