Deadwood

A slightly above average single from a resolutely average group. Actually, that's a little unfair - "Deadwood" rattles along with a hustler's energy, a vaguely runaway momentum, and scratchy indie guitars turned right up to eight and a half. For the instant or so before you remember what this is and where it's come from, it's engaging enough, especially the bit towards the end where they suddenly morph into the Kaiser Chiefs en route to riotous meltdown.

But it's the bloke from The Libertines hawking that Libertine blueprint and there's nothing new or inspiring or exciting enough here to fend off the cloud of ennui that descends as soon as you peg what you're dealing with. Post-Babyshambles (ie, once the charm of This Kind Of Thing has been ruptured) and post-Arctic Monkeys (ie, now that we've seen This Kind Of Thing done much, much better), there seems little need for a song like "Deadwood". Sorry lads, but your time's nearly up.

5/10

By Ian Watson
Source:Launch, music on Yahoo