The Libertines, The Libertines (The Libertines - Libertines)

Member Name: StrongSide

Product:	The Libertines - Libertines
Date:	20/09/09 (21 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique sound, brilliant lyrics and vocals, some real gems

Disadvantages: Their second and last album together

Also posted on ReviewCentre.com under my username of "coldrunner":

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 would definitely lack a vital element of their sound.

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, raw style, to 'Up the bracket'. If you enjoyed the exceptional gift 'Up the bracket' contains, this album won't be a disappointment. The prominent vocals really do it for me, they stand out over the the instrumentals and you appreciate 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 recognisable 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 rather almost like an encore. Myself, like the huge army of fans The Libertines have, 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.





Track listing:

"Can't Stand Me Now" (Peter Doherty, Carl Barât, Richard Hammerton) - 3:23
"Last Post on the Bugle" (Doherty, Barât, Michael Bower) - 2:32
"Don't Be Shy" (Doherty, Barât) - 3:03
"The Man Who Would Be King" (Doherty, Barât) - 3:59
"Music When the Lights Go Out" (Barât) - 3:02
"Narcissist" (Barât) - 2:10
"The Ha Ha Wall" (Doherty, Barât) - 2:29
"Arbeit Macht Frei" (Doherty) - 1:13
"Campaign of Hate" (Doherty) - 2:10
"What Katie Did" (Doherty) - 3:49
"Tomblands" (Barât, Doherty) - 2:06
"The Saga" (Barât, Doherty) - 1:53
"Road to Ruin" (Doherty, Barât) - 4:21
"What Became of the Likely Lads" (Doherty, Barât) / "France" (Barât) (Hidden track) - 5:54

Summary: A troubled band which ironically made and broke them