Babyshambles – Down in Albion – Reviewed by ESM

Let me start by saying that I didn’t really want to review this album as I felt my pre-conception of Mr Doherty, would make it hard for me to write an even handed ‘critique’ of his latest work, but, we’ve recently just scene a flawed genius of the football world pass away, someone who for all their talent, will be remembered by most for being front page news for all the wrong reasons. To associate the word genius with Pete Doherty maybe a little strong to say the least, he still managing to press all the right buttons to gain himself the same iconic status within certain sections of the music industry, as George Best enjoyed in football, without singing a note.

It’s a wonder in it’s self that this album ever made it out of the studio. Production delays, arrests, rehab, drink, drug abuse and a super model girl friend, all seemed destined to stop this album, (all 16 tracks of it!), ever making it into the shops.

It’s hard to pigeon hole this album as being in one particular style. You’ve got light, melodic tracks such as the opener, ‘La Belle Et la Bete,’ tracks like ‘Fuck Forever’ and ‘What Katy Did Next’, where Doherty lets us have a peek inside his mind with lyrics such as “! Can’t tell between death and glory” and “I will never learn and never know”. There is a definite feel of The Smiths on tracks like ‘Arebours’, you then move into a groovy 60’s feel on ‘The 32^nd of December’, and ‘Loyalty Song’ could have come straight out of the Bob Dylan song book. There’s even a tip of a hat to Reggae, with the mid-tempo beat behind ‘Sticks & Stones’, and as for ‘Pentonville’, this track could have been recorded on the back streets of Kingston Town itself.

Where the band really excel, is when they revert to the Indie rock, and urban punk that you would normally associate with Babyshambles, and Pete’s previous band, The Libertines. Tracks such as ‘Pipedown’, ‘Killamangiro’, and in my opinion one of the stand out track on the album, ‘8 Dead Boys’, really get the head nodding. The real gem to my mind is the title track ‘Albion’. Cracking heart felt patriotic lyrics, with a real anthemic feel to it.

So is this album worth the wait? from a musical point, no doubt. The bass and drums courtesy of Drew McConnell and Adam Ficek, are solid and crisp, and keep things moving in the right direction. Patrick Walden on guitar is a real find. This guy can help change the mood, speed and direction of a track with ease, and gives the album the same sort of lift that Johnny Marr did for The Smiths to such effect. As for Mr Doherty? Well, we know he can sing, just listen to his sublime vocals on his collaboration with his mate Wolfman on ‘This is for Lovers’. On this album, he chooses to mumble, screech and whine, sometimes he sounds like he’s heavily under the influence of a ‘substance’, but it works a treat.

In summary, I really enjoyed this album, something I was sure I wasn’t going to do. Yes it’s too long, but it’s hard to pick out the tracks that should have been left in the editing suit. My only criticism is because I’m an old fart, I like to listen to lyrics, and from what you can make out, they sound interesting, I’ll have to get hold of a song sheet. My advice is not to do what I did, and don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Doherty maybe a bit of an arse, but he can certainly deliver a good tune. Give it a go.

8/10

Record label: Rough Trade Release Date: 14^th November 2005

ESM (08/04/2008)

Benny (08/04/2008)

MrsWeaverToBe (08/04/2008)

Danny's Studs (08/04/2008)

Album reviews...Arctic Monkeys anyone Whistling

Didnt you do Babyshambles as well ESM?

Someone really ought to be digging these out and posting them...

BigGrin

Babyshambles – Down in Albion – Reviewed by ESM

8/10

Record label: Rough Trade Release Date: 14^th November 2005

Bert's gonna knack you. Nice review tho. BigGrin

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