Pete Doherty2.jpg

Grace/Wastelands, 3/5

To most folk, Doherty is better known for his drug habit than his music. It's certainly true that some of the greatest rock 'n' roll music has been made by people - John Lennon, Keith Richards, Lou Reed - who were deeply into hard drugs at the time. But it doesn't follow that by having the most high-profile crack/heroin addiction this side of Amy Winehouse, you are going to attain excellence.

As a musician with The Libertines and solo, Doherty has certainly had his moments. This long-trumpeted debut solo album has a few too, but it's a long way from matching the outlandish claims of Pete's most fervent followers.

Lyrically, it is full of posing as Pete plays up to his vulnerable lost boy image with a terribly fey and affected vocal.

Songs titled A Little Death Around The Eyes and the luscious but unnerving Lady Don't Fall Backwards ("opium in Chinatown", anyone?) don't exactly fight to shrug off his public image.

What a ham. Even the delivery of Second World War memorial 1939 Returning sounds self-obsessed.

Producer Stephen Street and ever-resourceful Blur guitarist Graham Coxon have helped give the record polish and diversity. But this oddly titled album is half-cocked and humdrum, and will get a lot of attention because, unlike most junkies, Pete has been happily fawned over by fans and an indie rock scene that rates him as cool.

But you can't really blame Pete for not raising his game. His meal ticket seems assured as long as the hangers-on, sycophants and fellow travellers indulge him.

Even as this CD is released, a new Babyshambles album is promised and a Libertines reunion rumoured.

Fair enough. But on this evidence, if he wants to do justice to his talent it sounds as if Pete, sorry, Peter, has rather more pressing matters to attend to.