BENEFITING from a Twitter publicity boost due to his witty comebacks to trolls who have attempted to make him a figure of derision, James Blunt proves why he should still be making music with The Afterlove.

The album makes a return to the disco sound Blunt did so expertly with 1973 with some tracks bringing a pulsating energy to the album like 2005 and California.

This was always going to be a collection on the receiving end of a sniffy response, but it’s not the critics who Blunt is trying to impress.

The faithful who helped make You’re Beautiful such a huge hit won’t be disappointed with the lyric on lead single Love Me Better -‘would have said ‘you’re beautiful’ but I used that line before’.

Blunt’s pal Ed Sheeran has penned some of the tracks, while a host of other time-served songwriters have also chipped in. The result is as polished as one would expect but it’s also a little uninspiring.

Although Love Me Better follows a new direction it was Blunt’s lowest charting hit only reaching 43, not stacking up to the quality of the ballads on the album - all unashamedly gushy and instantly memorable.

The Afterlove is a solid album with the ballads the top drawer attraction.

JOANNA DAVIS