Dirty Pretty Things: 'Tired Of England'

Despite what you may have been led to believe by the tabloids, there were actually two frontmen in The Libertines. While Pete Doherty's drug-fuelled antics make for a good read, it seems unfair that Carl Barat's post-Libs output has been largely ignored. On Dirty Pretty Things' debut, Waterloo To Anywhere, Barat penned an album's worth of scruffy-yet-melodic indie, but the sales figures were unremarkable. Better looking, better behaved and (arguably) more talented than Doherty, it seemed like a classic case of the nice guy finishing last.

The lack of interest in their debut means record number two, Romance At Short Notice, has a lot riding on it. Unfortunately, if this single is any indication, the band are in danger of falling off the radar all together. 'Tired Of England' finds Barat re-hashing his favourite theme of celebrating Blighty/London, with lyrics about the "Queen of England", "bingo cards" and "chicken bones", over music that's limper than a month-old lettuce leaf. The band sound creatively knackered and aimless; let's hope, for Carl's sake, the album fares better.