So the Bunnymen's descent into middle age seemed a prime target for abuse, seeing as I paid virtually nothing in real money for this LP. In truth this is an opportunity I've been anticipating for some time and I have a number of prime insults lined up. But first things first - I suppose that I better listen to the record  (I know that this breaks the cardinal rule of rock criticism, but, hey, I have my reputation to think of.)

For younger readers, the Bunnymen were of course a seminal post-punk band, particularly on their first two LPs, the magnificent "Crocodiles" and the brooding "Heaven Up Here". Thereafter the records became more patchy, culminating in the eponymous fifth album which seemed to conclusively demonstrate that the Bunnymen were going soft and which nobody claims to like, well apart from the entire population of America.. Subsequently singer Ian McCulloch left amid some acrimony to pursue a solo career whilst guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les Pattinson recruited new members for Bunnymen Mark 2. However all the glamour left with McCulloch and despite a decent LP ("Reverberation" available in good bargin bins everywhere) and some decent live shows no-one was listening anymore and the band fizzled out.

McCulloch and Sergeant were reunited in 1994 in Electrafixion, a short-lived band who released a ferocious, but samey, album ("Burned") before recalling Les to re-form the Bunnymen in 1996/7. The reverence that the band were still held in by many critics, ensured that the unsatisfying comeback LP "Evergreen" received a better reception than it deserved, which brings us up to date with this LP. (I always thought that if "Burned" and "Evergreen" had been mixed up then there would have been 2 good LPs.)

The album was preceded by a single "Rust", which lacked the awkwardness that distinguished comeback hit "Nothing Lasts Forever" from the crowd. In short it seemed TOO perfect, good song undoubtedly, but just not very EXCITING. And "Rust" does point the way for this album. The unconvincing rockers of "Evergreen" are gone (only "Lost On You" rocks in any shape or form) and the mature approach is definitely in.

Surprisingly, this is a decision that I reckon works. Without the rock distractions, the songs are left to fend for themselves. Additionally at only 38 minutes, the record avoids another of the flaws of "Evergreen" - it was just too damn long. There's some very un-Bunnymen-like instrumentation - sure it's mainly polite guitars, bass and drums, but there's also horns , what sound like classical pianos ("History Chimes"), woodwind ("Get In The Car" and "When It All Blows Over") and of course strings and these differences just about prevent the record from descending into blandness. Even the collaborations with the laidback Fun Lovin' Criminals make some sense in this setting.

So it pains me to admit that all my lovingly crafted slaggings can't, in all conscience, be utilised today. This isn't going to appeal to me every day of the year, but enough of the songs remind me of classic McCulloch melodies to save the day. And it seems appropriate that the best track is the only one that features Les, the closing epic "Fools Like Us".

It's not all great of course - opening track "What Do You etc" just doesn't cut it, never reaching the levels of melodrama required, but ultimately it's a pleasing set, which as Chris Roberts said in "Uncut", tugs at the heartstrings more often than you would expect.

Damn. I must be going soft.

APPENDIX -The Unused Slaggings

"Will said that he wasn't going to stand for some spotty 19 year old telling him his record's shit. What about a fat 37 year old then Will?"

"What Are You Going To Do WIth Your Life? Not waste 38 minutes of my life listening to this again that's for sure."