Stereophonics: 'Innocent'

It's easy to knock Stereophonics, but last year's Best Of Collection proved that Kelly Jones's clan know a thing or two about perseverance. It also suggested that the "workmanlike" tag they've been saddled with is a tad unjust. The Welsh group have at least had the decency to appear annoyed by the slight, chucking out a grubby rock single every so often as a curveball to their critics.

'Innocent' doesn't quite live up to former glories like 'Dakota' and 'Bartender And The Thief', but it should provide them with yet another hit. Built around a chugging guitar riff and some "bah-bah-bada-bah-bah" harmonies, it waddles along pleasantly enough for a little under four minutes. There are hints of Jones's darker side in the lyrics ("One of us never made it home that night, drunken high got the better of her mind"), but this never really breaks out of 'Phonics autopilot, which will sadly only provide more ammunition for those tireless doubters.


> Click here to watch the 'Innocent' video