Track Listing

1. Vertigo
2. Death On The Stairs
3. Horror Show
4. Time For Heroes
5. Boys In The Band
6. Radio America
7. Up The Bracket
8. Tell The King
9. The Boy Looked At Johnny
10. Begging
11. The Good Old Days
12. I Get Along

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12437 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-21
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
Can Up the Bracket, the debut album from London dandies The Libertines live up to the hype? Sure, they walk the walk: it's hard to see how four doe-eyed indie dreamboats with greasy hair, cider-stained leather jackets and a wide-eyed mythology that places them as chivalrous defenders of Old Albion could fail to capture the attention of a nation of students dead-set on aping the Strokes' sense of louche retro-cool.

Certainly, though, there's some fine pedigree to Up the Bracket. 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 phlegmy first-gen punk classics. But like the Strokes, The Libertines manage to imbue snotty garage-rock with a sort of wistful romanticism--an effect that adds genuine soul to their raucous clatter. Although there's no sign of "What a Waster", the snotty single with which the group made their name, there's no shortage of excellent tunes here: "Boys in the Band" is an affectionate hymn to the 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 behind their shambolic veneer these boys have an eye for a tight, nervy but undeniably classic songwriting style that pricks memories of the Jam or the Buzzcocks. Very, very promising. --Louis Pattison

CD Description
This is the debut album by the East London four-piece indieact whose music has been compared to that of The Smiths andThe Strokes, amongst others. 'Up The Bracket' was produced by ex-Clash guitarist, Mick Jones. Included is the single, 'Up The Bracket', and the double A-side tracks 'I Get Along' and 'The Boys In The Band'.

Customer Reviews

Do you have to ask...
So, i decided to see what all the fuss was out....Boy, it was worth it. The first Libertines CD i heard was the brilliant self-tilted album, and that was probabaly just as well, as its a great album to introduce you to their great grasp of brit rock and fast punk. After enjoying the self-tilted, i decided to try the debut. I wasnt expecting much, but WOW. What an album. From start to finish this CD is pure genius. Songs like "Death on the Stairs", "Horrorshow" and "The Good old days" are timeless classics and the beatle-styled "Radio America" is just stunning.Its one of those albums where your favouite tracks change every time you listen to it. At the moment im currently loving "Tell the King" and "Time for heroes". The real shame is that Petes now suffering from all his problems and this caused the band to quit. However they left us with 2 astounding albums, proof; just listen to this album. Up the bracket is never off my CD player, and im currently onto my 2nd copy (my 1st broke!). Brilliant album. Get it.

London's FINEST
This is the first Libertines album. If you have neitehr albums then I suggest you by this first. In my opinion it is slightly better tahn the second, as the strain is showing on the second with the rift between the two front-men, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat. I can't really explain how they make their music so good. the riffs and chords are so loosely put together, and in theory it shouldn't sound good, but it sounds amazing when you listen to it. The songs really do grow on you though. If you're not keen on them at first, persevere and you'll love them.

Up The Albion
After the most promising debut single since 'Supersonic' and a truly legendary gig at the 100 Club in London, much expectation was heaped onto The Libertines' shoulders; many critics saw them as a revolutionary Jam and many fans of the new wave of music discovered that a new set of heroes had arrived on the scene.

'Up The Bracket' is quite simply breathtaking. An album that never sits still, it clocks in at just over 35 minutes but in that time simply re-writes the new rock revolution rule book. Here at last is a British band that has the iconic status we were all looking for and fantastic songs to boot.

Every time this album is played, something new will arise; songs as good as 'Up The Bracket' and 'Time For Heroes' simply never get boring. The re-recorded 'I Get Along' is possibly the greatest song in the last 5 years. Every nook and cranny of the album deserves your attention, for there is simply not a duff track.

This is why the Libertines are so fresh and - yes - revered by their fanbase; not since the Dawn of Oasis has Britian had a band with so much passion and attitude to admire. For the last few years we've had to put up with the likes of Travis singing about flowers in a window - now we have The Libertines screaming about heroin ('Horrowshow') and punk heroes ('The Boy Looked at Johnny') with a rage that defines their existance.

There is a downside, however; this may be the only album they record. And this is the greatest of all tragedies, because you just know The Libertines will not last long. A band prone to self-destruction. You can only hope that they gets back on the straight and narrow soon because otheriwise we shall be watching yet another talented band falling by the wayside.

Already, this album (originally released to indifferent reaction) is slowly growing into a cult favourite. My guess is that it will repeatedly make the top 100 albums lists in the coming years as people realise just how special the record is. Remember when 'The Stone Roses' was released? Exactly.

If these boys continue to make albums and singles of this calibre, they shall be superstars. A classic in every sense of the word (and remarkably similar to The Sex Pistols' debut in terms of length and quality), here is hoping that Doherty will get back with his former band to carry on what they have started here. A lot of people will be watching intently.

10/10