(Virgin Records)

Following up a Mercury-nominated debut was always going to be difficult. Yet two-and-a-half years later Jamie Treays has managed to polish up his act with a more mature, sharper sound, while still remaining true to his gutter poet, punk-storyteller roots. Proving himself to be far from a one-trick pony, Kings and Queens mixes polished, thought-provoking ballads with ska-inspired raps about life on the streets of London. ‘Sticks’n’Stones’ is stand-out classic Jamie T and the album highlight – if only to applaud a man with the ability to rhyme ‘Hampton Wick’ with ‘lightweight prick’.