The Great Brain Robber

There are plenty of reasons to like The Crocketts. This four-piece came together in Aberystwyth a few years ago, and their mixture of college boy angst, rock & roll and black humour, has resulted in some good singles.

Their new offering The Great Brain Robbery, has all the trademarks that an album by The Crocketts should have. It has decent tunes, funny lyrics and erratic screaming, along with the odd singalong, footstomper.

Unfortunately, being funny and clever does not get you all the way. While there are no tracks that are outright bad, there aren't really any very good ones either. 'Host' comes close . It's another tale of failed love ("She ruins my life, then she smiles . . .") and brings to mind the band's biggest single to date, 'Will You Still Care', released a couple of years ago.

The Crocketts are the sort of band you want to like, because they do all the right things. Unfortunately, in this case, there is a spark missing.

Strangely unaffecting.