Calculated to be bigger than Ben Hur, Razorlight are back and back with a vengeance on their self-titled second album. Everything about Razorlight seems to ensure that it’s predestined to be a rather large summer hit in the United Kingdom, with bouncy rhythms coupled with melodic licks from guitarist Bjorn Agren.

But it’s still all about the frontman – Johnny Borrell announced himself and his band with the braggadocio of an American hip-hop star on debut Up All Night. In the wake of the Libertines’ Pete Doherty’s desultory drug addiction, he was the dapper rocker you could take home to meet the grandparents without any fear that he’d flog the silver to feed his habit.

Opening cut and single “In the Morning” is a jaunty pop winner, ripping off the Style Council nicely. And that’s the set up for much of the album – there’s nothing remotely offensive about Borrell and his cohorts as they rape and pillage their heroes throughout Razorlight, but the shocking lack of originality and disingenuous nature of the beast marks the band as entirely second-rate.

That the Libertines booted him long ago for being so square summed his position in the world nicely; a couple of cracking tunes later and Razorlight were UK chat show host Parkinson’s favourite new band. This self-titled sophomore effort continues Razorlight down that path towards MOR stardom – songs like “Hold On” are fun, but frivolous, and the ballad “America” features lyrical imagery worthy of Boston at their most horrifically addictive. Will it be huge? It should…all the elements are in place from the songs to the look to the whole kit and caboodle.