The Libertines

1. Can't Stand Me Now

2. Last Post on the Bugle

3. Don't Be Shy

4. Man Who Would Be King

5. Music When the Lights Go Out

6. Marcissist

7. Ha Ha Wall

8. Arbeit Macht Frei

9. Campaign of Hate

10. What Katie Did

11. Tomblands

12. Saga

13. Road to Ruin

14. What Became of the Likely Lads

15. France [Hidden Track]

Tracks:

Vertigo
Death on the Stairs
Horrorshow
Time for Heroes
Boys in the Band
Radio America
Up the Bracket
Tell the King
Boy Looked at Johnny
Begging
Good Old Days
I Get Along
What a Waster [*]
Mayday [*]

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece.......2007-03-24

Wow, this album, is just so great, such great songs, it opens with a killer trio that will leave you wanting for more, key tracks on this album are:Horrorshow,Vertigo,Time For Heroes,I Get Along,Up The Bracket,and The Good Old Days

You need this........2007-03-09

I absoutely adore this album. It's intelligent, witty and overall a very good time. I say, buy it now.

Ups and downs.......2005-04-09

The Libertines are a band that would have fitted in perfectly in the golden days of rock'n'roll, and it's only a shame that they have yet to really reform. In their debut album, "Up The Bracket," this London band churns out catchy, gritty rock'n'roll with a Britpop twist.

The album starts on a strong note with "Vertigo," a catchy garage-rocker that alternates between Pete Doherty's slightly slurred singing, and combustive short basslicks. "The rapture of vertigo/And letting go/Me myself I was never sure/Was it the liquor/Or was it my soul?" Doherty asks. His irreverent edge takes away any softer sentiments.

That style carries over to the yowling "Horror Show" and and sizzling "Boys in the Band," and drapes itself over the entire album like a worn leather jacket. There are a handful of lower-key guitar rockers, like the simmering "Begging" and the smooth "Tell the King," as well as the strummy and slightly surreal "Radio America."

The Libertines have only made two albums, but their kinetic sound has made them a musical presence on both sides of the pond. What's more, it's just fun to listen to -- their music has the rare quality of being genuinely catchy, energetic, rough and well-written. It's difficult enough to find one of those qualities, so finding one with all of the above is a rarity.

Pete Doherty, now out of the band, does pretty good service as a frontman. His vocals are strong if a bit slurred; he can raise his voice to a scream, or lower it to a seductive little chant. But surprisingly, the more you listen to this, the more it becomes obvious that the other Libertines are just as important to their sound.

Doherty and Carl Barat do exceptional double-duty as guitarists, all punk riffs and deliberately sloppy edges. And it's all wrapped around strong, lyrics about drinking, groupies and being bad-boy rockers is some good music. If Doherty doesn't shoot himself up into the grave, he will undoubtedly be regarded as a masterful rock writer.

In places, they sound like a band about to disintegrate, but that only adds to the punky-laddish flavour of "Up The Bracket." Whatever happens to the Libertines next, their debut is a must-have.

Average customer rating:

One of the Greatest British Albums of the 2000s
Excellent punk rock album
Yawn...
Rock isn't dead after all
If you've lost your faith in love and music oh the end won't be long

Up the Bracket
The Libertines , and Libertines
Manufacturer: Rough Trade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Libertines
Down in Albion
Waterloo to Anywhere
For Lovers
Favourite Worst Nightmare

ASIN: B000089RVY
Release Date: 2003-03-18

Tracks:

Vertigo
Death On The Stairs
Horrow Show
Time For Heroes
Boys In The Band
Radio America
Up The Bracket
Tell The King
The Boy Looked At Johnny
Begging
The Good Old Days
I Get Along
What A Waster

Amazon.com

Can the debut album from London dandies the Libertines live up to the hype? With the Clash's Mick Jones at the production helm, gravelly tracks such as "Horror Show" and "The Boy Looked at Johnny" rattle along like first-gen punk classics. But like the Strokes, the Libertines manage to imbue snotty garage rock with a sort of wistful romanticism that adds genuine soul to their raucous clatter. Although there's no sign of "What a Waster," the single that made their name, there's no shortage of excellent tunes here. "Boys in the Band" is an affectionate ode to a groupie, with frontmen Pete Doherty and Carl Barat hollering: "And they all get 'em out / For the boys in the band." "I Get Along" proves that these boys have a knack for penning tight, nervy songs that evoke the Jam and the Buzzcocks. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews:

One of the Greatest British Albums of the 2000s.......2007-01-27

There are very few albums of the 2000s that look like they'll be viewed as "classics" in years to come; the kind of albums that change the way people view music, maybe even inspire them to start bands of their own. This is definitely that kind of album.

What is it about it that makes it so good? Though this may seem like a digression from the main point of the review, the band's history is inseparably intertwined with their music. The Libertines is a band that ended up attracting a very devoted, loyal fan-base in the UK. The songwriting partnership of Pete Doherty and Carl Barat appears unlikely from a technical aspect, since they are actually quite different (both music and personality-wise). However, their varied vocal and lyrical styles complement each other rather harmoniously. Besides, they had the same objective: to play music, get it heard, and get signed!

The popular British music magazine, NME, heavily promoted the band from their early days up until their demise. The success of The Strokes, a successful American band at the forefront of the "garage rock revival", helped open the door for The Libertines to get signed to a record label (Rough Trade). Over time, The Libertines became well-known for their intense, impassioned live shows, including performances held for fans at their own house! They popularized a "mythology" of the band in some of their song lyrics and interviews: The Libertines were hypothetically "sailing the good ship Albion (also an archaic name for Britain) to Arcadia", a utopian land without rules or authority. This notion has been particularly important to Pete, as he has continued these references in his subsequent band, Babyshambles. It embodies the poetic spirit of The Libertines very well, as it is a metaphor for Carl and Pete's 'quest' to revive a sort of British romanticism in music.

The Libertines' style is mainly reminiscent of 70s British punk-rock bands (especially The Clash). Then again, there are a few slower and heartfelt tracks, like "The Good Old Days", "Tell the King", and "Radio America", which show the more literary side of the band, as opposed to the cocky, modern tone of tracks like "Up the Bracket", "The Boys in the Band", and "I Get Along". The whole album is varied enough to be interesting and enjoyable, and the band's incredibly distinctive style is a result of Pete and Carl's mixed influence of music and literature alike. The Libertines' debut, " Up the Bracket", has made quite an impact on contemporary British music and will (hopefully!) continue to affect music overall for many years to come.

Excellent punk rock album.......2007-01-04

How could they part their own ways? This two vocalists went over to form the Baby Shambles and Dirty Pretty Things. For footage of them and similar groups buy Later with Jools Holland....cool Britania 1 and 2. Excellent band and cd by the way...

Yawn..........2006-08-19

Having grown up in London in the 70s and 80s, I actually saw the Jam, the Buzzcocks,and a host of other like bands so it is hard for me to appreciate this album; it is derivative to the point of plagarism. If you want to hear this sound, go back to the origionals plus when Paul Weller was in the Jam, he was never an uber-tosser like Pete (of course, even Weller succumbed to the inner-wanker when he formed the Style Council but I suppose one should forgive him for that.)

Rock isn't dead after all.......2006-08-03

Did you lose interest in new rock in the past several years because all those loud songs on the FM station sound about the same? Maybe you noticed one song in there somewhere that had memorable hooks and interesting lyrics among the crunching guitars? The Libertines are - or at least were - one of those diamonds in the rough.

Their raw, loud style is closer to punk than any other genre, but most of their songs are more well-developed than that suggests and might even appeal to classic rock fans. Make no mistake, though, this is a loud album. With the exception of the oddly balladish "Radio America," it's a pretty steady sonic assault, and the lyrics are mostly somewhere between "Louie Louie" and live Dylan on the intelligibility scale. What can be understood is more erudite than you'd expect, though. "What a Waster" is a frighteningly vivid look at drug addiction, "Boys in the Band" is the best groupie song I've heard in a long time, and "The Good Old Days" actually reveals a touch of sentimentality just under the power chords. Decipherable or not, most of the other songs are at least very catchy. The whole collection is a nice balance between aggressive style and memorable songs that has been all too lacking for a long time now.

If you've lost your faith in love and music oh the end won't be long.......2006-07-21

Hype is a strange beast. It can build reputations that are founded on nothing more than rhetoric and commercial ambition. Or it can turn opinion viciously against genuine talent and smother it before it ever has time to blossom. Greatness exists on a different plane than hype, yet it takes more than greatness to flourish in hype's shadow. Different roads lead to different destinations: take Oasis for example. Long ago they became a parody of the snarling, visceral rock n roll band that briefly set them head and shoulders above their peers. On the other hand Radiohead got lost in introversion and obscure electronica, while The Stone Roses went AWOL for five years, eventually reappearing as a chronically dysfunctional shell of the zeitgeist definers they once were, before quickly falling apart.

And so The Libertines emerged in 2002 swathed in rumours of drug-addled excess and promises that they had inherited the true spirit of rock n roll. Early interviews with Pete Doherty and Carl Barat saw them outlining The Libs' blueprint of recreating a mythical `Albion' peopled by poets and troubadors, Eritrean maidens and men who would be kings. Early live shows witnessed unbridled exuberance and glorious melodies, the birth of guerilla gigging, run-ins with the police, and some of the most ramshackle, unpredictable and electrifying performances by any band in years. The Libertines were as tight-knit a gang as all the best bands ever have been, yet Doherty and Barat's relationship bordered on more than being best mates: there was a sense of brotherhood and platonic love that added to the romance and engendered a myth. What they needed to do was to match the hype that went before them with a great debut album - and boy did they pull that off.

`Up the Bracket' was released in 2003 to generally positive acclaim. The roughness of Mick Jones's production (the band had recorded debut single What a Waster with ex-Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, whose more polished approach was seen as out of kilter with the Libertine ethos) had some critics questioning its quality. But as with many classic records, `Up the Bracket' initially seemed out of step with the current music scene - only taking its rightful place in the pantheon of great rock n roll albums once its influence had had time to gestate. And its influence on the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys was huge. Without `Up the Bracket' the British musical landscape post 2003 would look entirely different. But where did the Libertine's sound originate? It certainly owed a massive debt to The Strokes, but also borrowed from the bloodline of classic British rock bands - the likes of Mick Jones's old band The Clash, The Buzzcocks and Supergrass. Jagged, ragged guitars and spectacularly unpolished vocals - especially from Doherty - infuse `Up the Bracket' with genuine energy and charm. Lyrically it is razor sharp, a 21st century rake's progress through fights and riots, encounters with groupies and various other questionable characters. Vertigo initiates proceedings tremendously, a call to all romantics to serenade the object of their affections by shinning up a drainpipe - fear of heights be damned! Death on the Stairs and Horror Show (with its reference to a much loved Doherty subject - heroin) then usher in the brilliant Doherty-penned Time for Heroes, boasting one of the great rhyming couplets of recent times - "there are few more distressing sights than that/Of an Englishman in a baseball cap" - together with some inspired guitar duelling from Pete and Carl. Boys in the Band is another Libs classic, a raucous, testosterone-fuelled tale of fighting and groupies who "all get them out for the boys in the band/they scream and they shout for the boys in the band" (Kate Moss take note...). The album's title track is another belter, Pete's strangled cry a rather alarming intro into another tale of dodgy dealings with shady characters, while The Good Old Days, with its chord sequence lifted straight from Iggy Pop's The Passenger, exhorts us not to hark back to a time that never really existed, instead pointing out that "the Albion sails on course".

So where, inevitably, did it all go wrong? Like The Stone Roses before them, a brilliant debut was followed by an underwhelming second album and then a very messy - and very public - break up. Subsequent events in the extraordinary life of Pete Doherty (increasing drug intake fuelling increasingly erratic behaviour, thrown out of the band on the eve of a European tour, burgling Carl's house, incarceration, new supermodel girlfriend catapulting him into the gossip columns, eventually to become a tabloid pariah) have only added to the myth of The Libs as one of the great unfulfilled talents in rock n roll history. Rumours of a reunion remain rife, but it seems unlikely given the emergence of Doherty's Babyshambles and Barat's Dirty Pretty Things. Perhaps it is best to draw a line under a brief but brilliant career and let The Libertines' legacy remain untarnished by cash motivated, headline grabbing reunion tours. `Up the Bracket' distills their early promise perfectly and captures The Libertines in all their ragged glory: a snapshot of a band hungry for success and notoriety, certain that they have the talent and charisma to pull it off, and above all filled with songs that we'll be singing decades from now.

Average customer rating:

Decent but disappointing
And The World Kicked Back...
The Prelude to a Great Band's Demise
Could have been an EP
Better then the debut

The Libertines
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Up the Bracket
Down in Albion
Up the Bracket
Waterloo to Anywhere
What Became of the Likely Lads

ASIN: B0002L581I
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Tracks:

Can't Stand Me Now
Last Post On The Bugle
Don't Be Shy
The Man Who Would Be King
Music When The Lights Go Out
Narcissist
The Ha Ha Wall
Arbeit Macht Frei
Campaign Of Hate
What Katie Did
Tomblands
The Saga
Road To Ruin
What Became Of The Likely Lads

Amazon.com

Rock'n'roll can pretty much burn off pure mythology alone, but what happens when the soap opera of drug abuse and broken friendships threatens to overwhelm the music? That's the problem the Libertines' eponymous second LP must face up to--and while it sometimes struggles to live up to the magic of its predecessor, 2002's Up the Bracket, it's still peppered with enough inspiration to explain why people still care about this band. Co-frontmen Carl Barat and Pete Doherty tackle their problems head on with the opening "Can't Stand Me Now," an anthemic, harmonica-accompanied number with echoes of the Cure's "Lovecats," that sees Barat sum up The Libertines' troubled history in the album's most quotable line: "The boy kicked out at the world/ The world kicked back a lot f***ing harder." Further rollicking moments come on the Barat-sung "Narcissist" and knockabout closer "What Became of the Likely Lads?" But there's some workmanlike moments, and almost inevitably, they feature Pete at the helm: see the hoarse, off-key "Don't Be Shy." All told, a merely good record. If the Libertines truly want a place in rock history, they'll have to prove they have the discipline to channel their undeniable inspiration. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews:

Decent but disappointing.......2007-04-20

I expected more from the Libertines - but that's what I get for putting my hopes on a heroin junkie. I like Doherty's voice and the CD has some pretty good tunes, especially the opening track, "Can't Stand Me Now". But it's like they're still trying to find themselves, and most of the songs don't hit the mark. But it's worth a listen now and then.

And The World Kicked Back..........2007-03-29

If the title of the first Libertines album came from 'Hancock's Half Hour' there would be no comedy the second time around. A fist fight between Doherty and Barat on the first day of recording in the studio, security guards sent in by the record company for the rest of the recording sessions and the lawyers still arguing about who wrote what (this is the only album I own where there are no songwriting credits).

It all starts pretty much perfectly though. 'Can't Stand Me Now' has Barat laying into Doherty and then Doherty's version of events in a call-and-response classic for the indie scene. Doherty sounding particularly troubled: "No, you've got it the wrong way round/You shut me up and blamed it on the brown/Cornered the boy kicked out at the world...". The talk of keeping it together and the assertion of "I'm still in love with you" sounds so much like wishful thinking though and something like what might have been. Great harmonica.

'Last Post On The Bugle' follows in typical infectious Libertines fashion. Crystal clear production courtesy of Clash legend Mick Jones. If anything the production values here are stronger than on 'Up The Bracket'.

'Don't Be Shy' is the shocker though. A most focused start, all tight and controlled although Doherty soon loses the melody and the plot. Any semblance of the song retaining its shape and structure soon goes and the listener is left with...well, a most addictive mess. The song unravels, sure, but at the same time its fascinating. The disintegration is compelling somehow and leaves me wanting to go back to it. Mmmm...

Similarly, the nod to 'Golden Brown' by The Stranglers at the end of 'The Man Who Would Be King' draws you in but this time in a knowing way. It's all good.

Except it isn't unfortunately. Clearly much of this is touched by the hand of God but it cannot quite rise to the heights - the sustained heights - of 'Up The Bracket'. And there's the problem. If there is one. To talk of low points on a Libertines album shouldn't happen and yet here we have 'Arbeit Macht Frei', the too-obvious if nicely frenetic 'Narcissist', the ordinary-sounding 'The Saga' and 'Tomblands' which is great but too reminiscent of 'English Civil War' by...The Clash.

If all this seems unecessarily harsh then yes, I accept that but it's all borne of an idea that The Libertines were destined to be among the all-time greats. Something to do with the legend and the perverse perfection of releasing two all-time classic albums and then (in whatever circumstances) splitting up. Think Joy Division. And this album is just missing something, something that could have sealed the myth forever. As it is we're left with one great album and one very nearly great one...There is nothing much wrong with almost all of this in reality. And it is clearly music for the ages.

So what will become of the Likely Lads? Well, it already seems to be turning into a story of diminishing returns and a story of something like alchemy being mysteriously missing.

The saddest thing about this album, this band, is the sincerity with which Doherty sings "It's important to me..." as the album draws to a close...save for the secret acoustic track with its lament of "Nothing but memories...". Indeed.

The Prelude to a Great Band's Demise.......2007-01-27

Given the circumstances, it is surprising that The Libertines were actually able to complete recording their second, and final, studio album. During and after their tour for their debut album ("Up the Bracket"), Pete Doherty had begun to steadily increase his indulgence in drugs and associate with an unsavory crowd. Barat and Doherty went to the U.S. in 2003 to promote The Libertines and work on new material. In New York, Pete and Carl both got tattoos of the word "libertine" on their arms, signifying their commitment to the band. However, Carl grew tired of Pete's addiction and dropped out of their recording sessions (which Pete continued by himself). Pete began to play more gigs separately from the band and refused to play with The Libertines on their tour of Europe. A whirlwind of unfortunate instances occurred afterwards, eventually leading to Pete breaking into Carl's apartment and stealing several items. Pete pled guilty to burglary and was sent to jail, but ended up being released after a fairly short amount of time due to judges' decisions and making amends with Carl. The same day he was released from Wandsworth Prison, Carl and Pete played a gig at a pub and they then began to work on new material for their second album.

The recording process of their self-titled follow-up album was chaotic and unpredictable, as Pete's further descent into addiction and tensions between band-mates threatened The Libertines' stability. Pete wavered between being in and out of rehab and also began to form another band, Babyshambles, around the same time. The Libertines played their last show on December 17th, 2004 in Paris, France, without Pete. Afterwards, The Libertines dissolved and the members have gone on to separate bands; Pete remained with Babyshambles, Carl formed Dirty Pretty Things with Gary Powell (and a new bassist, Didz Hammond, as well as Anthony Rossomando, who had been a replacement guitarist for Pete in The Libertines), and John Hassall went on to form a band called Yeti.

While "Up the Bracket" had a lot of firey, Clash-like energy, "The Libertines" is much darker and more introspective. Both "Can't Stand Me Now" and "What Became of the Likely Lads" are about Carl and Pete's love/hate relationship. Even though there are songs that don't seem to be directly about the two of them (like "Narcissist" and "Tomblands"), the prevailing mood of the album is much more somber than anything off of "Up the Bracket". Certain tracks that feature Pete as the main vocalist, like "Don't Be Shy" and "The Ha Ha Wall", are sloppy and sound a bit improvised. Though Pete and Carl tend to have a slurred, thick-accented tone in their voices as it is, these tracks are unfortunate testaments to the fact that the band was steadily falling apart.

Could have been an EP.......2006-07-26

This album would have been better as an EP, as all the tracks aren't superb. As the Libertines exclaim in Can't stand me now, "Have we enough to keep it together?" They sound like the current Oasis, even with side projects Babyshambles and Dirty pretty things. I haven't picked up either of these releases, and I'd wait on another libertines release if they haven't officially broken up yet. Quit the drugs and encourage the drinking as they did shots at a show in Boston. Both albums together probably have sold less then the combined sales of this album, so make another Libertines release. The emotion is far from drained, and the liquor is strong. They could both be kings if they made another album like Up the Bracket, which is still in my player to date or even a release combined sound of Up the Bracket and this album. But even with all the drama and controversy, there is not another group of songwriters, let alone Bright Eyes, that compare to Dorehty and Barat.

Better then the debut.......2006-07-26

Maybe it's just me, but I really like this album more then Up the Bracket. Almost every song on the CD is great, Can't Stand Me Now, Last Post on the Bugle, The Man Who Would Be King, What Happened to the Likely Lads, The Ha Ha Wall, What Katie Did... not to mention the beautiful ballad Music When the Lights Go Out. I have only few albums which I can listen from the title song till the last one and this album is definitely among them.

Average customer rating:

Libertines At Their Best

What Became of the Likely Lads
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Rough Trade Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Can't Stand Me Now/Never Never/All at Sea
Can't Stand Me Now/Cyclops/Dilly Billy
Up the Bracket
The Libertines
Don't Look Back

ASIN: B0007KUIVY
Release Date: 2005-03-07

Tracks:

What Became Of The Likely Lads (Reworked Version)
Skag And Bone Man (Live Brixton Sat 6/3/04)
Time For Hero's (Live Brixton Sat 6/3/04)
The Delaney (Live Brixton Sat 6/3/04)
Boys In The Band (Live Brixton Sat 6/3/04)
Don't Look Back Into The Sun (Mick Jones Version)
What Became Of The Likely Lads (Album Version)

Customer Reviews:

Libertines At Their Best.......2006-03-23

This is a wonderful CD! I'd give it six or seven stars if I could.

Four of the tracks are live, and capture the utter abandon of this London band. The title cut and "Don't Look Back Into the Sun" are two of the most melodic songs the group recorded, and are a reminder what a musical treasure the Libertines were.

Even if you have the band's two official CDs, this EP is worthwhile for the live tracks and alternate takes.

Average customer rating:

DAMN GOOD ALBUM CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES
The DVD is worth getting

The Libertines
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk Revival | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Up the Bracket
Down in Albion
Up the Bracket
What Became of the Likely Lads
The Libertines

ASIN: B0006U3U1A
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

Can't Stand Me Now
Last Post On The Bugle
Don't Be Shy
The Man Who Would Be King
Music When The Lights Go Out
Narcissist
The Ha Ha Wall
Arbeit Macht Frei
Campaign Of Hate
What Katie Did
Tomblands
The Saga
Road To Ruin
What Became Of The Likely Lads

Customer Reviews:

DAMN GOOD ALBUM CONSIDERING THE CIRCUMSTANCES.......2005-09-27

This album is a definite classic, taking into consideration that Peter Doherty is a sloppy junkie at the time this is recorded. Wonderful melodys and punk....as in punk rock kiddies.

The DVD is worth getting.......2005-01-12

This was one of the best albums of the year 2004. It's surprising that The Libertines made it through the year and that Pete Doherty is still alive. Even though this record seems like a reflection over the past two years of the band, this record is more relaxed than its predecessor. The first single "Can't Stand Me Now" is almost as good as "Don't Look Back At The Sun."

Other songs like "Narcissist" and "Campaign of Hate" are about the media fascination with The Libertines. There are not a lot of outright rockers like "I Get Along" but there is one hardcore punk song. There are zydeco and rockabilly influences. Most of this album is an exploration of The Libertines' sound. Once again Mick Jones (of The Clash) is back as a producer. I am not sure if this is their "Give Em Enough Rope" or "London Calling." It is a thrilling album throughout.

Now re-released with the DVD, it is even better. The DVD is really Pete Doherty centric. The Libertines did tour half the of the year without him. There is footage from 2002 and 2003. Five songs from a Japanese gig. One song in Spain. Then there is a bunch of footage of Pete and Carl playing songs in Filthy McNasty's in London. A video of "Can't Stand Me Now." A documentary is pretty good but adds nothing to the myth. The menus are exciting. This is a must have item.

Average customer rating:

Can't stand me now

The Libertines
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Rough Trade Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Up the Bracket
Waterloo to Anywhere
Favourite Worst Nightmare
What Became of the Likely Lads
Soviet Kitsch

ASIN: B0007M7O64
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

Can't Stand Me Now
Last Post on the Bugle
Don't Be Shy
Man Who Would Be King
Music When the Lights Go Out
Marcissist
Ha Ha Wall
Arbeit Macht Frei
Campaign of Hate
What Katie Did
Tomblands
Saga
Road to Ruin
What Became of the Likely Lads
France [Hidden Track]

Customer Reviews:

Can't stand me now.......2005-04-08

The Libertines were a tempestuous band, to say the least. Divided by drugs and personal problems, they never sounded as ticked off as they do in their self-titled album -- an album about fractured, dysfunctional relationships. It's a bit sloppy around the edges, and weirdly engaging. Just hope it isn't their swan song, because there is clearly so much more they could do.

It opens with the rollicking "Can't Stand Me Now," before heading into the grittier rock turf. The Libertines sound tense and a bit taunting as they sing songs like the weird "Last Post On The Bugle" and the punky "Man Who Would Be King." They break occasionally from the "theme" of the album, like in the thrashing "Arbeit Macht Frei," but the overall sound is of strife in a friendship or relationship.

When listening to the Libertines' latest, it's hard not to hear the stories that lie under the music -- as UK tabloids delight in repeating, frontman Pete Doherty got kicked out for heroin use, meaning that the Libertines may be permanently done for. Hopefully not, because their sophomore album has the same cheeky, punkish spirit that got them fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

"The Libertines" itself seems to be an ode of love and hate to Peter Doherty -- "Can't Stand Me Now" seems like a sneer in his direction, while "Road to Ruin" is a plea for him to clean up his life. It ends on a wistful note, with the lament of "Oh what became of the Likely Lads/What became of the dreams we had?/Oh what bcame of forever?" Only "What Katie Did" really fails, with Doherty constantly singing "Shoop shoop, shoop de-lang de-lang." What? Huh?

Pete Doherty was apparently shuffled into the studio whenever he could manage to sing, and he has laddish charm that you can hear even without seeing him. He always sounds a bit drunk, too -- considering the amount of drugs this doomed man ingests, it's not surprising that he sounds a bit off.

Fortunately, his occasional vocal shortcomings are easily glossed over by the brilliant slabs of rock'n'roll that frame his singing. This is Britrock, pure and simple. Backing him up are some brilliant guitar solos, touched with organ, trumpet and even harmonica -- good stuff.

Whether the Libertines regroup or sink into rock history, their self-titled sophomore album is the sound of a potential tragedy in the making. Rough, catchy, melancholy and yet charming, this is definitely a must-buy.

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Knockout EP
mayday!
A sampler of songs

I Get Along
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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What Became of the Likely Lads
Can't Stand Me Now/Never Never/All at Sea
Don't Look Back
Can't Stand Me Now/Cyclops/Dilly Billy
For Lovers

ASIN: B0000AC8P0
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Tracks:

I Get Along
Don't Look Back into the Sun
Delaney
Mayday
Skag & Bone Man

Customer Reviews:

Knockout EP.......2005-12-28

This CD was my intro to the Libertines. I'd read about their guerrilla concerts and their lack of interest in signing with a big corporate label. They weren't exactly a household word in SF, but I figured they were worth a few bucks for a five-song EP.

The recording faced heavy competition -- my CD player has been dominated by PJ Harvey and Radiohead lately. But the Libertines held their own.

I haven't tracked the words on the EP -- it's the music that hooked me. It explodes out of the speakers. Like the Sex Pistols or the early Grateful Dead, the Libertines careen along the edge of musical disaster, always on the edge of a most un-musical breakdown. But in these five recordings, they dodge disaster and pull off some of the wildest rock and roll ever.

This EP is available used for rock-bottom prices -- no excuse to miss it.

mayday!.......2005-10-30

although i hated The Libertines second album (first one was ok), this little ep is a nice slab of their shambolic, messy, upbeat Clash-lite style of punk. the production is unique and full of little audio surprises (which kind of remind me of that underground lo-fi band Beatnik Filmstars), and these songs have a well written and well performed quality. it always amazes me how totally drunk and trashed that The Libertines sound on record. makes me wonder how much a mess it must really be to witness the band live in all their ragged glory. pretty cool.

A sampler of songs.......2004-07-01

I bought this awhile back. I had heard of the Libertines through friends and downloaded one song, which I fell in love with. This cd has 5 great songs on it. It's great way to be introduced to this band. The songs are clever and memorable and will have you singing along. But that doesn't mean this band doesn't rock hard.

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Must-Have Libertines Single

Can't Stand Me Now/Cyclops/Dilly Billy
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Rough Trade Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Can't Stand Me Now/Never Never/All at Sea
What Became of the Likely Lads
I Get Along
The Blinding EP
Up the Bracket

ASIN: B0007MSVFW
Release Date: 2005-01-25

Tracks:

Can't Stand Me Now
Cyclops
Dilly Boys

Customer Reviews:

Must-Have Libertines Single.......2006-09-02

The Libertines probably set a record for releasing the most singles containing the fewest title tracks of any band in rock history. There are at least four different disks containing "Don't Look Back Into the Sun," and three featuring "Can't Stand me Now."

Most of them are good. Don't miss this one. "Dilly Boy" is a romp, well worth the couple of bucks this disk will cost you. And I can never hear the title track too many times.

While you're at it, pick up the single/EP disk titled "I Get Along," which features four other non-album tracks.

Hopefully someone will compile all of the B-tracks from this incredible band -- there are enough to make up a great post-mortem album.

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Up the Bracket
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Rough Trade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Time for Heroes 2
Don't Look Back
Time For Heroes [SINGLE]

ASIN: B00006IGRA
Release Date: 2002-10-07

Tracks:

Up the Bracket
Boys in the Band
Skag & Bone Man

Album Description

Second single for London rock 'n' roll outfit, taken from their Mick Jones (The Clash) produced 2002 debut album of the same name. Includes the title track, 'Boys In The Band' & 'Skag & Bone Man' (non-LP). Rough Trade.

Album Details

Produced by Mick Jones (The Clash).

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Ups and downs

Up the Bracket
The Libertines
Manufacturer: Spunk
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00007G73D
Release Date: 2002-11-18

Tracks:

Vertigo
Death on the Stairs
Horrorshow
Time for Heroes
Boys in the Band
Radio America
Up the Bracket
Tell the King
Boy Looked at Johnny
Begging
Good Old Days
I Get Along
What a Waster [*]
Mayday [*]

Album Description

Recorded by none other than the legendary Mick Jones of the Clash, The Libertines debut record has been hailed as a genius debut. The even better news is this little wonder comes with two bonus tracks, 'What A Waster' & 'Mayday'. Rough Trade. 2002.

Album Details

Produced by Former Clash Man Mick Jones, this Australian Exclusive Version of "up the Bracket" features the Band's Debut Single (And Its B-side) as Exclusive Bonus Tracks. Bonus Tracks ("What a Waster" and "Mayday") were Produced by Former Suede Guitarist/Songwriter Bernard Butler.

Customer Reviews:

Ups and downs.......2005-04-17

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