I'll start off this review with a short history of the band. They are a four piece indie-punk-rock'n'roll band from London, and so far have released one album, this one. They are fronted by Carl Barat and Peter Doherty, who also write the songs. On Bass is John Hassall and on drums is Gary Powell. they have had a turbulent career thus far, with Pete Doherty being in prison and rehab where he currently is now, for heroin addiction. They were voted best UK band at this years NME awards, which considering they only had one album to their name, is quite an achievement. Musically they have been compared to The Clash, whose guitarist Mick Jones produced the album, while lyrically they cite The Smiths as a big influence.
I am going to do a track by track review, in the order they appear on the CD:
1) Vertigo - This song is a fine intro to the album with scattered guitar riffs and a lazy singing style which suits the song perfectly. Carl is on vocals for this sog.
2) Death On The Stairs - This is a beautiful song, with the vocals impressing. The two frontmen sing a verse each, and pull it off well. On this song there is some exemplary guitar work, and the drumming is constant, suiting the pace of the singing and the tune.
3) Horrorshow - A raw, ballsy, outright punk circa 1977 garage anthem. It is incredibly energetic and the hysterical vocals, about heroin addiction (
the horse is brown/come on round ) fit in with the frantic guitar playing, and the usual background thumping provided by John Hassall and Gary Powell. One can only imagine how this sounds live.
4) Time For Heroes - The albums standout track. A true classic, with genius lyrics, a beautiful chord progression, and a stunning solo. It is about a Mayday riot Peter was involved in, and begins with the lyrics
did you see those stylish kids in the riot/shovelled up like muck set the night on fire?. It is an extremely emotive song, and the Libertines' passion shines through.
5) Boys In The Band - A dirty rock'n'roll song with a certain swagger. Its slow, winding guitar playing and slurred vocals about groupies combine to make this a great tune, embodying what a sleazy rock'n'roll song should sound like.
6) Radio America - After the onslaught of the opening 5 songs, this acoustic song provides the listener with some light relief. It is the only acoustic song on the record but is a very sweet, heartfelt, if a little ramshackle, song.
7) Up The Bracket - Like Time For Heroes, this is an absolute anthem. Starting off with a loud scream, it soon descends into some tight guitar playing. Lyrics about being chased around by London villains along with the punk sound, just brings home what it was like to be around it London 1977. It is a fantastic song, with an underlying theme of hopelessness.
8) Tell The King - A truly gorgeous song. The vocals fit perfectly, provided by Peter, and the guitar riffs in this song are fanastic. It somehow manages to remain soft-hearted and mellow despite the rocky musical direction the song takes. It finishes with a tear-jerking line, over layered guitars, sung at little more than a whisper:
Jack drinks and smokes his cares away/his heart is in a lonely place/living in the ruins of a castle built on sand
9) The Boy Looked At Johnny - After the melancholic Tell The King, this punk anthem, with its terrific sense of humour, revives the listener, remindinding them what this album is all about, rock'n'roll. Deranged vocals over the top of a din created by the other band members helps create a wild song.
10) Begging - After its building, Stone Roses-esque intro, the song erupts with Carl Barat screaming
all animals we are and culminates in a terrific chorus, a real sing-along tune. The layered guitars in this song work extremely well.
11) The Good Old Days - This is a reminiscent song, which brings a lot of The Libertines Clash influences to the fore. There is a slow, trippy verse which soon makes way for a powerful chorus, containing the immortal line
if you've lost your faith in love and music then the end won't be long . Genius.
12) I Get Along - An upbeat party tune, with Carl on vocals. The whole song moves at such a frenetic pace that if you blink you may well miss it. Again terrific lyrically, it contains a line which is a big two fingers up to the world :
i get along just singing my song/people tell me i'm wrong/F*CK EM!! .
13) What A Waster (not included on some versions of the CD) : This is an urban tale, with a lovely chord sequence running all the way through it. Contains a lot of expletives though so it is wise not to play this song to your younger family members!! A very good song nonetheless.
Overall I can't recommend this album highly enough. It is the best rock'n'roll album that has been released for a long time in British music, and it will go on to be regarded as a true classic. It combines a late 70's clash-punk sound with mod influences and also a tinge of britpop. A truly terrific record.
5 Stars
