The term Adult Orientated Music is a shite way to describe artists who can't shift singles like a pimp shifts women on a dim lit St Kilda street. Nothing wrong with the tunes at all, just that radio programmers can't see how they can extract SMS funded cash from teenagers by playing something approximating good music.

As a result, great artists like Mark Seymour, James Reyne and Michael Spiby find themselves unable to generate interest in their new material because their isn't a platform available to promote it. If you think it is tough going for established acts, spare a thought for a gent like Steven Jaymes.

New album Black 17 just happens to have a tune or two that begs to be heard by the wider public. Recorded in rapid fire time (a matter of hours according to Jaymes) the end result is a surprisingly slick album filled with intelligent pop songwriting and the world weary vocals of Jaymes.

First single and opening salvo 'Don't You Know' is an atmospheric mid-tempo ditty that has radio written all over it while the title track keeps the mood going with a sly nod to a good tip at the gambling tables and life in general.

Elsewhere, the pretty ballad 'Can't Remember To Forget' wouldn't be out of place on a modern country record. The song is helped along by some nice female backing vocals by Cindy Connell and Mel Jones (who can be heard throughout the album). Finally, the 60s pop of 'Heaven Help My Heart' is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and is criminally pushed down the bottom of the playlist.

The only thing that doesn't sit well is the three cover songs that adorn the back end of the record. Nothing it seems is gained from a version of Paul Simon's '50 Ways To Leave Your Lover' or a stripped back version of Dragon's 'April Sun In Cuba' though the bluesy reworking of 'One For My Baby', one concedes, is worth a shot (or two as it seems).

Above all, Black 17 is an album delivered with sincerity and honesty. With that on Jaymes' side, it is worth a bet.