Punchier and more dynamic than their debut Who Killed the Zutons, Tired of Hanging Around gets off to a ballistic start – the first five cuts are absolute stompers that deliver on everything the Zutons have ever promised to give.

It doesn’t so much fall in a heap after that as it slows down and spaces out – apart from single “Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?” and perhaps “Hello Conscience” there’s a marked difference between the opening and the ending of Tired of Hanging Around, the first of which is fire ‘n brimstone to the latter’s slow and careful descent.

But the starters are killer – the title cut and “It’s the Little Things We Do” punch, while “Valerie” just rolls. It’s got the pop dynamics that are so rare these days, able to be both instantly memorable yet timeless. “Secrets” is similar in some respects in that the chorus just doesn’t give up, as it rattles through the station at a rate of knots.

In truth, that’s where Tired of Hanging Around loses its intensity; when it slows down the songs just aren’t as fine. “How Does It Feel?” ends up being fairly tedious, and “Oh Stacey (Look What You’ve Done!)” doesn’t match the Love-like high of “Valerie”. As to whether the Zutons are able to deliver on their promise in much the way fellow Liverpudlians the Coral did with their third album The Invasion is going to be interested to see.