Libertines, The Libertines Reviews

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A honey-coated album for anyone with a sweet tooth for The Libertines. The second album by The Libertines, and unfortunately their last together. An emotional end to an emotional time the band went through when writing this album. Their debut was convincing and confident, wrapped in the spirit of their relationship, with the band, and of course each other. This album does give out a more sorrowful vibe, unlike the slightly willing and ebullient jazz to the first. However, this doesn't reduce my liking of the album, just proves what a magical, triumphant band they have created. Doherty keeps his quirky vocals, I think actually improves them, which adds that bit more to the band and the album. Without the group's front man, they wouldn't be described with the extra in extraordinary. Even though there is the matter of the drug addiction and the imprisonment of Peter Doherty, all is forgotten in a blink of an eye and a blissful forty minute listen. I'm pleased to say they have stuck with their same, but still very different and raw style, to 'Up the bracket'. If you enjoyed the exceptional gift 'Up the bracket' contains, this album won't be a dissapointment. The prominent vocals really do it for me, they stand out over the the instrumentalists and you apreciate the phenomenal lyrics as never before. I will be crucified for saying this but maybe even better than the debut, and still brimming with the unique style and reconisable sound, The Libertines have flowing through them. With the grand and the big all timer 'Can't stand me now', this band immediately spills what a confident, even though troubled, band they are. The main gem of the album; 'Music when the lights go out', touches on the topic of love and really makes you feel at home with the music, and even the band itself. The album couldn't end a better way with 'What became of the likely lads', one of my personal favourites, maybe even the best, they have produced to date; touching, sensitive and honest. This album isn't for the non-believers of The Libertines, but for the crowd, the people, the fans. Myself, like the huge army of fans The Libertines have, at their command, hope this isn't the last we will hear of the band, who created the sound, stirred the lyrics, and added a pinch of problems into their remarkable songs, resulting in a final product which moved that step further than special.

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The release of The Libertines eponymous second album has been somewhat overshadowed by the continued drug-addled-prison-drama-is-he-in-the-band-or-is-h e-out saga of Pete Doherty and his relationship with co-frontman Carl Barat. The fact that this album was ever finished is a testament to the band's bloody-mindedness, their love for their art and the peacekeeping skills of Mick Jones, who produced the record.

Fortunately for the fans, the album lives up to all the hype, and, if Pete can keep ...