Album: Stereophonics, Keep Calm and Carry On, (Mercury)

Its title began life as a message for us, but its use here suggests a band’s memo to themselves.

And rarely has an album’s name proved so apt – for calmly carrying on – in the face of critical indifference and an everdiminishing fanbase – is exacly what the ’Phonics do here. Surprisingly, and in spite of a cruelly dismissive NME review, it’s not all completely horrible. In fact, it’s sonically richer than recent efforts and, though still wedded to the genre of generic, stonewashed indie rock, has a soupçon of light and shade.