Two stars

THIS is Britpop at its finest but the problem is it's 10 years past its sell-by date.

Apparently the four-strong band have had a 'triumphant return to the live circuit' with a sell-out tour of the UK, which is still going strong.

So why drop this greatest hits album in the thick of it?

The double CD features all the 'best' from the group from 1995 to 2002 and includes eight top 20 hits and four new songs.

But you'll have to look damn hard to find them because every song sounds outdated, pass and so 90s.

Don't get me wrong, I like to look back once in while. But listening to this reminds me of chewing a really tough bit of steak - bland, hard to swallow and not very enjoyable.

And just for those who, like me, need to be told what the new songs are here goes: Freeze Dried Pop, Persuasion, The Bluetones Big Score and After Hours.

MS