The Libertines

Description

Recorded over a period of intense media scrutiny due to weakening relationships between main-men Barat and Doherty the band re-recruited ex-Clash guitarist Mick Jones to produce their follow up to 2002's 'Up The Bracket'. With lyrics openly discussing the band's personal problems the band stay to the format set on their debut. This time there is more of a nod towards 70's punk, but the band retain their huge sense of melody throughout the record. The album contains the single 'Can't Stand Me Now'.

Editorial Review

The huge attraction of their debut revolved around a simple raw majesty of music. It was like opening a hidden vault from the early 80’s and finding a new Sex Pistols / Buzzcocks / Jam album, but with a deep feeling of the unsettling present. So any successor to ‘Up The Bracket?will be a tall order. But even having a duff self-title shouldn’t put you off. This is a monster of a follow-up which steams through 40 minutes of kick-out brilliance.

But unfortunately, The Libertines are not just about music. The troubles of wildcard front man Pete Doherty are well known. His seemingly irreversible drug habit, and then his various attempts to prove that isn’t so. He even tried a trip to a Thai drug rehab centre, but left whilst the cold turkey was still luke warm. He’s robbed his mates, been through depths of despair, and self-inflicted wounds have put him through the wringer more than once. Sure such actions are prevalent in rock ‘n?roll, but nobody wants another Kurt Cobain situation where true talent is snuffed before its prime.

So it is genuine relief that this album has actually made it out at all, as it is all about what they do so uniquely well. The over riding brash ballsiness, but then other times of disheartening insight where you just want to give them a big hug. The erstwhile innocent charm of “The Man Who Would Be King? infectious 60’s guitar feel on “Road To Ruin?whilst “Last Post On The Bugle?is a huge two and a half minutes. Perhaps there are some moments of immediacy missing, that were glowing on the last album (the title track, or the mind blowing “Time For Heroes?, but that occasional zeal has been traded in for more consistent quality.

Plus when they are up, it is fun aplenty. “The Saga?is briefly fantastic, whilst the 75 seconds of “Arbeit Macht Frei?is just a big buzz. “The Ha Ha Wall?sounds vintage Libertines, and “Narcissist?is when they just let it all freefall. But the lack of blow-out musical excesses is down to former Clash guitarist Mick Jones again, who has kept the production perfectly underdone and just below boiling point.

They play with their lyrics well. On “Music When The Lights Go Out?not only are the images vivid, but lines like “confess to all of my sins / after several large gins?can only raise a been there / done that wry smile of drunken memories. You shouldn’t expect top-notch quality vocals, as this is an album of passion not technical excellence. “Don’t Be Shy?sounds like it has been delivered when intoxicated - which it probably was. Any band (who isn’t the Bay City Rollers) that incorporates “shang-alang?in music is going to face more than a little ridicule, but Carl and Pete carry it off just fine on “What Katie Did? It’s silly, fun, and disposable - which is just what pop should be all about.

The Libertines ooze that indescribable X-factor of brilliance. They drip with potential of real greatness, along with the far easier option to implode still further. If Docherty cleans up his act just a fraction, then the road ahead is glorious. At the moment though, those pot holes are just bigger daily man traps on the famed downward spiral of self abuse.

The depressing odds are that the group will disintegrate, as Carl Barat has already said that without his life-long friend, then there really is no point in continuing. How many more chances Docherty has to be a part of that entity depends on how much you want a happy ending to the story. At the moment, this is likely to be a scintillating full stop album from a band that has simply made music worthwhile again.

Neil Chase
Music Editor

Review

• NME (07/08/04, p.46) - 9 (out of 10) - "The Libertines' second album is a masterpiece of life changing rock 'n' roll"

Contributors:

• Libertines (UK 00's)
• Bill Price
• Mick Jones

Additional Info

• Label: Rough Trade
• No of Discs: 1
• Recording: STEREO
• Format: Single Case

Tracklisting