The Libertines
albums
an attitude that is as good as either. Formed in the early 00's, the band consists of two leaders, Carl
Barat and Pete Doherty. Doherty is the troublemaker; he has been in and out of jail and caused more
headlines of trouble than some of the most reckless rock stars in the bands first three years of existence.
The band is good though, because they have carved out their own niche in punk music, and though their
influences are as obvious as 1-2-3, their music is often unpredictable, and can lead to great albums such
as their debut. Whether or not they will continue making great albums, we shall see, their story is looking
up since addition of new guitarist Rossomando to replace Doherty, who is maybe too unpredictable for
his own good, but perhaps he was necessary to the band's sound.
Band Members: Carl Barat - Guitar, Vocals
Pete Doherty - Guitar, Vocals
John Hassal - Bass
Gary Powell - Drums
Anthony Rossomando - Guitar, Vocals (2004 tour)
Best Album: Up the Bracket
Biggest Influences: Supergrass, The Clash, The Buzzcocks
2002
Up the Bracket - 7/8
Every once in a while, a band comes along and makes one of those great debut albums that throw
everyone in the music world for a loop. The Clash, The Modern Dance, Good, Funeral, to some degree,
Is This It, are all examples of amazing debuts. This album is a great debut, but it is not enough on its
own terms to be compared to other perfect debuts like it has been. For example, the cover is obviously a
comparison to The Clash, and Mick Jones produced this record for goodness sakes! None of this
matters if the songs are up to snuff, and there are plenty of great songs here. "Death on the Stairs",
"Tell the King", "I Get Along", and "Up the Bracket" are all great, energetic songs that mix The Strokes
with The Clash in a very sloppy way. "Time for Heroes" especially is great, mixing melody with fury. Some
songs 'get along' (haha) mainly on energy, "Horrorshow" and "The Good Old Days", are these. So there
are few follies, maybe "Radio America" and "Begging" being the weakest songs, but even those two are
not that bad. What this album turns out to be is a throw back to many different styles in punk and lo-fi
rock, that does not create any of its own. Despite what the band acts like in their personal lives, which
seems to be the topic of most reviews on this album, Up the Bracket is a great, fun album that is great to
party to, and will stand up among its contemporaries for years to come. It may not be The Clash as much
as it wants to be, but it's as good as any album their other large influence, Supergrass, has done. Who
cares anyways? It's a blast, and there should be more albums carefree as this. - Trevor e.y.
1.vertigo- 4
2.death on the stairs- 4
3.horrorshow- 3
4.time for heroes- 4
5.boys in the band- 4
6.radio america- 2
7.up the bracket- 4
8.tell the king- 4
9.the boy looked at johnny- 4
10.begging- 2
11.the good ol days- 3
12.i get along- 4
(13.what a waster- 4)
2004
The Libertines - 4/8
The continuation of the band is a question with their second record, a mess up of sorts. Messy in style
like the first, but instead of throwing back and mimicking older bands, they are imitating themselves. That
is not good, and makes he band sound like it is out of ideas. Like I have said before, it matters not about
the bands personal lives because that will all fade, what matters is the music. There ain't many great
songs here, and almost half of the record is even worth one's time. But oh well, the songs it gives us
prove that the band is still capable of rocking with "Last Post on the Bugle", being sarcastic with "Can't
Stand me Now", and creating ballads with "Music when the Lights Go Out". The rest of the songs are
pretty standard, and not really worth talking about. It should be noted that "The Man who Would be King"
is a throw back to their own "Tell the King", and "Campaign of Hate" and "Road to Ruin" signal Television
through a new filter, but both of those latter songs are not that good. Maybe they will get it right next
time, or there may not even be a next time. We shall see, but I no longer hear the music.
- Trevor e.y.
1.can't stand me now- 4
2.last post on the bugle- 4
3.dont be shy- 2
4.the man who would be king- 3
5.music when the lights go out- 4
6.marccisist- 2
7.the ha ha wall- 3
8.albiet macht fie- 1
9.campaign of hate- 2
10.what katie did- 2
11.tomblands- 2
12.the saga- 2
13.road to ruin- 1
14.what became of the likly lads- 2
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