"Jude": Julian Lennon's new - his 7th - studio album

When Julian Lennon re-emerged with a cover of Imagine in April this year, critics were quick to suggest this was the 59-year-old finally reconciling himself with his father's legacy.

Truth is, though, that John's first-born has rarely run away from dad's shadow. 1991 's Saltwater had a distinct Sgt Pepper vibe, complete with actual George Harrison guitar, while the video for 1998's I Don't Wanna Know was a comic gallop through the Fabs' history.

Given that Imagine cover and this album's Hey Jude-referencing title, you might be thinking this will be Julian's Flaming Pie; the record to see him fully commit to those Beatles sounds.

Except there's probably more of Tears For Fears' Orzabal and Smith than Lennon and McCartney on this, Julian's seventh studio album and first in over a decade.

Not that Lennon Sr isn't invoked here - "We pray for peace," sings Julian on the luxuriant, piano-powered Breathe, while on the muscular Every Little Moment he talks of "the sins of the father". Some pain, it seems, never heals.

Jude runs the gamut from post-Britpop rockers (Save Me, Lucky Ones) to acoustic balladry (Not One Night) to the lush Coldplay-isms of Love Never Dies. Though it lacks any clear stand-out, there are no obvious clangers either.