STARSAILOR frontman James Walsh today urged his critics to concentrate on their own music rather than blasting him and his ever-rising band.

James, a Chorley-born 21-year-old, has been forced to endure criticism from several high-profile bands since Starsailor began their meteoric rise.

Their place in the fickle indie scene hall of fame could be complete within two months, depending on the success of their debut album Love is Here, due out in October, and their third single Alcoholic, scheduled for release next month.

The most controversial criticism has come from Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, who told NME in terms not repeatable in this newspaper that James, who attended St Michael's CE High School, would do anything to win awards.

James has so far kept a dignified silence about the comments, but when he spoke to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph last week, he parted a warning shot to any band who fancies taking a pop at him or his three band mates.

He said: "I don't criticise other bands because I would rather concentrate on improving our music and doing the best I can for our fans.

"I think the bands who have criticised us, and I know what they have said, should do the same rather than pick at us. "I try to ignore what they say and concentrate on Starsailor. That is they best way to keep your feet on the ground. As soon as you start reacting to what people say and believing what is written about you in the newspapers you lose the ability to see things sensibly."

James and the band have recently completed something of a world tour, introducing their music to audiences in America, Canada, Australia, Japan and several European countries -- none of which have been subject to the same level of media hype as British fans.

They returned to Manchester University on Wednesday as part of a British tour which also involves them taking in V2001 this weekend.

James said: "We are looking forward to V2001. It should be a good event for us. Sometimes I stand back and think how well we have done to get here, but I know we can do better as long as we don't get carried away with it.

"The album is now complete. We have worked with some excellent producers but we have always made sure the music is what we want it to be and we think our fans will appreciate that on the album."