The Courteeners - Electric Lick

Five new Courteeners tracks? Just what I always.. Wanted. Jesting aside, it's been ages since I've actually (and fleetingly) heard anything by these and I'm surprised to find that they're definitely not as bad as I thought they were. In a way the lead track here reminds me a bit of a (much) more commercial Flaming Stars; it's quite cleverly put together indie rock which only starts to become unbearable when it 'takes off' and the overproduction truly kicks in. 'Three Months' is very Libertines-y and I don't like it even though hunky Carl Barat's just a normal guy like you and me and he goes to the fish and chip shop and everything because the promotional postcards we've got here prove it. 'Zero' is an acoustic Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover and I don't like it. 'Lullaby' is a big slow burner type and I like it a bit more than I liked the last two even though it sounds just like another song by somebody else and it's doing my head in trying to figure out what it is. 'Swear Down' is one of those low-key ending jobs and I like it the most because it signals the end of me having to type song titles out. So yeah, The Courteeners.. Not actually as TOTALLY dreadful as their name? I'm putting it out there.