It’s been almost precisely two years since the European release of their eponymous debut and they haven’t died on their arse yet. I mocked at the beginning and then when I’d realised that CSS weren’t to be taken too seriously, it clicked and now we get on well. We often bump into one another in clubs and they’ve of course made a massive name for themselves as the ubiquitous international festival act by being generally a bit wacky. Lovefoxxx’s outfits are the main draw for me. That rainbow coloured all-in-one makes my pants happy.

Yeah, I had the first album on heavy rotation for a while. I love Off The Hook and the accompanying (shit) video, Alala makes me wiggle a bit and Meeting Paris Hilton makes me laugh. For a while I found myself saying “Lick, lick, lick my art-hole” under my breath every now and again so I guess it would be fair to say this record got under my skin. The ‘couldn’t-give-a-fuck’ attitude and the sweaty tomboyishness of five not quite ugly birds and some bloke just having fun appeals to me quite a bit too. As a whole piece, it didn’t have any kind of flow, any obvious concept and it didn’t manipulate the album format; it was just a bunch of songs but it was still a laugh.

The new record, Donkey, is just as fun, just as frivolous and just forward with its full-frontal frolicking. There’s been no noticeable maturing since the last record. Not in terms of the musical content or again in ‘artistic direction’. I don’t want to put a downer on it though, after all, this isn’t Pitchfork and I’m not an arsehole (only the former is true). This isn’t a disappointing release by any means - it does have great songs on it, they’re just not life-changing is all. They’re a better live band and that’s that really.

Ok, so, the usual... one at a time.

Album opener Jager Yoga is a great post-punk dance track opening with the line "Oh my God, it's so hot" and is later followed with "We didn't come into the world to walk around; we came here to take you out". Bold words but true, this record does rock and you can't say they didn't warn you.

Follow up track Rat Is Dead must have something about it that is beyond me. I don't geddit. It's about a girl who smashes some stuff but for me it doesn't really go anywhere. The chorus tries to be sing-alongy and succeeds; it's got loose drums and a proper punk intro but I don't know what they're trying to do with it.

Let's Reggae All Night has a great groove. 'Reggae' is blatantly a metaphor for 'shag'. The dirty synths add to the filth of the sweat and sex suggested in this one. It's a definite dancefloor filler about the end of a relationship. Recently heartbroken teenage girls could possibly enjoy the sentiment.

Give Up puts me in mind of The Strokes. Not that The Strokes are in any way original but this captures their commercial essence. It wouldn't sound wrong if Casablancas were to usurp Lovefoxx and take over on the vocals.

Left Behind... "I'm gonna get up on the table and dance until I die". This feels lyrically familiar to many of their tracks and I can't help but think they might have run out of ideas. How many times can you be encouraged to dance or fuck through the medium of song by one band? Funny that... one of the other lines is "Every night, every day, it's the same". Point proven?

Beautiful Song does what it says on the tin. The intro guitars are wicked. The formula of basic lick and sparse drums building up to hi-hatted sixteenths is not new to anyone but this is a shining example of how to do it well. I think I can hear a theramin in there somewhere. Nice.

How I Became Paranoid has the feel of a track that is a little timid but blatantly kicks arse live. I've never been one to accept 'All the songs sound the same' as a criticism because if the songs weren't similar, how could you establish an original style if not for being known by the way you and only you create and output your work? I'm on seven of eleven and I've started to think differently. I'm not put off, it's not offensive but just samey. Samey however, more often than not, equals boring.

Move gives us yet another great guitar intro. It's obvious that this bit came first and the song was written around it. There a little bit of Marr signature playing in the verses and the chorus melody comes up trumps with a superb vocal 'call' melody and a cute little 'response' backing vocal. The album has improved most certainly.

Oh wow. I Fly is a choon.  A stomper if you will. Might be a weird observation but in parts it sounds like a song that could have been on the soundtrack to Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels. I don't know if I'm stoned or if that makes sense to anyone else. Have a listen with one of the more visual scenes in the movie, like the intro sequence where they're running from the police or the bit where they play I Wanna Be Your Dog at the casino. Let me know?

You know those self-help books that tell you how to love yourself, have twelve-step programs and some patronising smarmy idiot with a gimmick on the front? Well this one is called "Believe achieve"! There's not a lot to love about it. It's repetitive and plain and repetitive.

I'm at the last track, Air Painter, and it's another song. Just like that, another song. It's not a closer. They've once again neglected to manipulate the medium of the recorded album.

I've had the same experience with this album after a good six plays across a couple of nights and all it comes down to is a list of songs and a couple of throwaway remarks that neither persuade or dissuade. This album isn't inspiring to me. To all intents and purposes, they've made the same record again. There are potential hits that will be re-invented in clubs and on world stages but this time they aren't fresh and exciting and the new kids on the block. It'll do, it'll do but I shan't play it over and over as much as I could.

Buy it if you're a fan but you don't need it.

Release date: 21/07/08
Artist website: www.myspace.com/canseidesersexy
Label: WEA

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