Uninspired and uninspiring, Singer Sowing Machine is the sound of a once-entertaining talent that can't kick the writing habit, mistaking directionless doodling for creativity. Most songs sound as if they've been ground out over a rhythm machine: too long but no tune, and both the outdated rock styles and gratuitous attempts at more modern sounds are hopeless. The sloppily worked lyrics are no better: bitty, badly thought out stabs at being sparky by latching onto predictable problems (politicians, Ireland, unemployment etc) or feeble attempts at humour (see title). There are odd flashes of melody and moments of interest among this crushingly dull mediocrity - Please Don't Let My Weakness Show is simple, honest and it works - but such redeeming features are few and far between.

Rating 1 out of 5

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