Album Review: Cherry Ghost - Herd Runners

Given the stadium-filling appeal of Coldplay, U2 and James Blunt over the past decade, it's always interesting to see who's coming up through the ranks of the male-fronted pop-rock bands (I'm sure there's a better name for this genre). Simon Aldred is the driving force of Cherry Ghost, and the English singer-songwriter gives an earnest crack at stepping up to the plate on this, his third album under the moniker (he's recorded under other guises recently as well). Herd Runners is a mixed bag. At its best, it recalls Doves' The Last Broadcast. At its worst, it sounds like a lesser U2 or even, *gulp*, Travis.