The Metros - Education Pt.2

Following in the footsteps of last year's it-crowd, the Pigeon Detectives and the Enemy, the Metros have previously tried to garner some punk kudos by covering Gabrielle, written by no less a figure than a pre-Pogues Shane MacGowan. Here they offer a modern take on the genre. Now it's all chipper tales about GCSEs and ASBOs, delivered in an impeccable Lahndahn brogue. A taut, funky early Clash-esque backing only adds to merriment, showing a new band who've actually listened to what punk's first wave had to offer. All in all, not a bad knees-up for a first attempt. [Pete Ballantine]