BEING an NME-lauded band has its pros and cons.

Latest favourites The Young Knives prove that point.

The trio - from not-very-fashionable Ashby-de-la-Zouch - with their National Health specs and a bassist called The House Of Lords, are one of those bands that have risen to the top echelons of the chart with speed.

But is it all on the back of hype, or do they have the tunes to carry them there?

On the merit of their sold-out Fibbers gig, it would seem that it's a bit of both.

The crowd - mainly students - was expectant, and, sporting balloons (a band gimmick, perhaps?), were partly satiated by Australian support act, The Grates, with their energetic and pretty lead singer, who whooped, yelped, sang and pogoed her way around the stage.

The Young Knives were less energetic physically, but with urgent vocals, jangling guitars and driving drums and bass, the energy flowed from their music.

The first 20 minutes of their hour-long set were entertaining, with a blend of disco-punk reminiscent of The Futureheads and echoes of Franz Ferdinand.

But that's when the realisation set in - the next song starts to sound the same as the last, or like many bands that have ridden the new wave of new wave before them.

Those songs that did stand out - Darling Darling, with its staccato harmonies, In The Pink, with its incessant thumping rhythm, and single The Decision - were catchy enough, but The Young Knives are in danger of becoming a bit of a one-trick pony.