Abbotts lyrical finesse and singing style (talking) bring the obvious comparisons with The Streets Mike Skinner, albeit with a Wakefield accent, though musically its more Northern Soul than -urban.Debut -Love and Other Catastrophes was recorded with record company money and though there are some good songs here, -Red Lipstick & -The Thrill of Thirty Seconds in particular, it suffers from over egged production, its far too polished for an album written from the downtrodden heart of a disillusioned teenage poet. This Sporting Life however is a different story. Recorded in Abbotts home studio its not lo-fi but MiNI dOGs lean production suits the songs perfectly and the Northern Soul gives way to a more indie guitar sound. Of the ten tracks on -This Sporting Life my favourite by far is recent single -The Lonely Hearts of England a rallying cry for single men that reminds me of The Pogues -Sick Bed of Cuchulainn. There are plenty of other treats here too, -Voluntary Confinement is a dark, cautionary tale of alcohol addiction as he sings of the aftermath of another night on the lash.while -Hogmanay Heroes is a blistering and shambolic New Years Eve anthem is going to get those feet tapping whether you want to or not. The album ends on a down with another song about alcoholism (something of a theme here), the emotive and aggressive -Low Life which sees Abbott about the spiralling descent into despair of using alcohol to get through the day. Great stuff.