The Libertines “Up The Bracket” (Best of the Decade)

In recent years I have—for whatever reason—become something of an anti-anglophile. Brit-rock music, especially that performed by bands that seem to get promoted to death by NME, has been the exact type of music that I cannot stand. This wasn’t always the case. There was a time when the Libertines were not only one of the biggest bands in England and the shining jewel in NME’s eye (I remember a point in time where they had one issue with separate covers for Pete and Carl to sell more copies), but they were also one of my favorite bands. Their debut album, Up the Bracket, was a staggering, drunken rush of melodic punk music. If it sounded a little like the Clash, it might have been aided by the fact that Mick Jones was behind the knobs working the boards (making sure it didn’t sound too polished) for the band during their recording sessions. While the band has since split, the combination of Carl’s sloppy but still precise guitar work and Pete’s devil-may-care attitude and strung out poetry made for an exciting trip. The songs were about girls, drugs and getting in trouble: things the band new about all too well. Their second (and last) album contained their best song (“Can’t Stand Me Now”) but didn’t live up to the consistent rush of their debut record. Maybe if we can find another band as exciting as the Libertines, my distaste for Brit-rock will subside.

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Also: Peter Doherty “Grace/Wastelands” Review