The Damned

Yet another addition to the "they should have hung it up years ago" catalogue, the Damned break their recorded silence with latest effort So, Who's Paranoid? The follow-up to 2001's stable effort, Grave Disorder, apparently a lot has changed with the Damned in eight years, namely their ability to discern between good songs and bloated crap. A tortuous collection of mid-tempo songs and ballads mired in keyboard tomfoolery and over-production, the entire affair fails to reveal a catchy chorus or inspired beat. Tracks such as "A Nation Fit For Heroes," "Shallow Diamonds" and "Under The Wheels" feel closer to something Morrissey and the Smiths would release than the band that once penned such inimitable classics as "New Rose." So, Who's Paranoid? is nothing but paranoia-inducing. Will they perform this trifle live? Is this for real? Just a joke? Has Captain Sensible fully lost it? Progression as an artist is wonderful but in the case of this stinker, the Damned seem on the verge of Alzheimer's. They've forgotten what true punk rock is.