Certainly NOT your average frat-boys with low-slung jeans and a moody middle-fingered attitude, Gym Class Heroes are a hybrid of turntable-scratches and hip-hop beats, plus a cheeky line in videos - their take on Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" actually worked a few years back and their recent single, "Stereo Hearts", has put the pop back into hip-hop. OK there's no deep and meaningful social commentary involved, for the most part, because it's all about 'fun'.

The lads are back with a new album, featuring the aforementioned single (which you can watch by clicking on the video above) and the vocals of Maroon 5's Adam Levine. "The Papercut Chronicles II" isn't a direct follow-up to volume one (issued in 2005), but a nod to the success of that release - kind-of a hark back to the 'essence of Gym Class Heroes', according to frontman Travis McCoy.

You can expect high demand for their first UK dates in three years - they will play Birmingham on 29th September, followed by stops in Leeds, Manchester and London. We've spotted a nice four-day gap between the last two shows - which might mean more tour-dates, or a prolonged spell sunning it up on Brighton Beach! Tickets went on sale this morning, priced at £12.50 (£14 for London).