Maybe I'm simply wrong then.
I do think he wrote a few good songs, but he was never consistent enough in my opinion.
Compare him to the likes of John Bramwell (I Am Kloot) and there's a big difference. Bramwell's a better writer, IMO, seems to be alot more prolific and has been consistent enough to get 4 cracking albums done with IAK. Yet, there's quite a few people who haven't heard / seen IAK, due to a lack of coverage in the press (well, outside of Manchester anyway)....
Doherty's music just seems to be an aside from his wayward lifestyle and I think that the hype sometimes covers up what is, IMO, fairly average indie.