Product Description

Recorded over a period of intense media scrutiny due to weakening relationships between main-men Barat and Doherty the band re-recruited ex-Clash guitarist Mick Jones to produce their follow up to 2002's 'Up The Bracket'. With lyrics openly discussing the band's personal problems the band stay to the format set on their debut. This time there is more of a nod towards 70's punk, but the band retain their huge sense of melody throughout the record. The album contains the single 'Can't Stand Me Now'.

Track Listing

1. Can’t Stand Me Now
2. Last Post On The Bugle
3. Don’t Be Shy
4. The Man Who Would Be King
5. Music When The Lights Go Out
6. Narcissist
7. The Ha Ha Wall
8. Arbeit Macht Frei
9. Campaign Of Hate
10. What Katie Did
11. Tomblands
12. The Saga
13. Road To Ruin
14. What Became Of The Likely Lads

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4952 in Music
• Released on: 2004-08-30
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Rock'n'roll can pretty much burn off pure mythology alone, but what happens when the soap opera of drug abuse and broken friendships threatens to overwhelm the music? That's the problem the Libertines' eponymous second LP must face up to – and while it sometimes struggles to live up to the magic of its predecessor, 2002's Up The Bracket, it's still peppered with enough inspiration to explain why people still care about this band. Co-frontmen Carl Barat and Pete Doherty tackle their problems head on with the opening "Can't Stand Me Now", an anthemic, harmonica-accompanied number with echoes of The Cure's "Lovecats", that sees Barat sum up The Libertines' troubled history in the album's most quotable line: "The boy kicked out at the world/ The world kicked back a lot fucking harder". Further rollicking moments come on the Barat-sung "Narcissist" and knockabout closer "What Became Of The Likely Lads?" But there's some workmanlike moments, and almost inevitably, they feature Pete at the helm: see the hoarse, off-key "Don't Be Shy". All told, a merely good record. If The Libertines truly want a place in rock history, they'll have to prove they have the discipline to channel their undeniable inspiration. --Louis Pattison

From the Label
In the late nineties in the East London squat scene, two troubadours and dreamers Peter Doherty and Carl Barat met and bonded over music and a common romanticism. They resolved to form a band with a name that reflected their attitude: a libertine is someone who is unrestrained by convention or morality. The Libertines are born.

Their songs have become anthems: "What a Waster", "I Get Along", "Up the Bracket", "Boys in the Band", "Time for Heroes" and "Don't Look Back into the Sun". They sing and play and live this life that sits in the previously unexplored point halfway between the urban assault of The Clash and the arch romanticism of The Smiths. The new album is produced by Mick Jones and engineered by Bill Price (who worked on London’s Calling, and with Guns n’ Roses).

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Album
i didnt used to know much about the libertines, but when i finally got into them (after the split unfortunatly) i loved them.

Every song on this album is great, although 'campaign of hate' has rather repetitive lyrics, and anyone who has heard it will know what i mean.

To conclude, a must have album, but get 'up the bracket' aswell, because many people see that as even better than this one.

Libertines Never Die
How do you beat perfection? Up The Bracket was always going to be a tough act to follow but with the Libertines lyrical powers they manage to clear that very high bar.

The Libertines as a group were already in deep turmoil when the album was being made and had split by the time it had been released but nothing was going to stop this album being great.

Songs like Can't Stand Me Now, Music When The Lights Go Out and What Became Of The Likely Lads all point towards the band's falling apart but they are without doubt some of the best songs of the past 10 years. Another highlights are What Kate Did, The Man Who Would Be King, Campaign Of Hate and Tomblands. This album is far too good to be ignored, it is a stunning album from a group who are sorely missed.

It is a five star album without question. Simply stunning.

Can't stand me now
The Libertines were a tempestuous band, to say the least. Divided by drugs and personal problems, they never sounded as ticked off as they do in their self-titled album -- an album about fractured, dysfunctional relationships. It's a bit sloppy around the edges, and weirdly engaging. Just hope it isn't their swan song, because there is clearly so much more they could do.

It opens with the rollicking "Can't Stand Me Now," before heading into the grittier rock turf. The Libertines sound tense and a bit taunting as they sing songs like the weird "Last Post On The Bugle" and the punky "Man Who Would Be King." They break occasionally from the "theme" of the album, like in the thrashing "Arbeit Macht Frei," but the overall sound is of strife in a friendship or relationship.

When listening to the Libertines' latest, it's hard not to hear the stories that lie under the music -- as UK tabloids delight in repeating, frontman Pete Doherty got kicked out for heroin use, meaning that the Libertines may be permanently done for. Hopefully not, because their sophomore album has the same cheeky, punkish spirit that got them fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

"The Libertines" itself seems to be an ode of love and hate to Peter Doherty -- "Can't Stand Me Now" seems like a sneer in his direction, while "Road to Ruin" is a plea for him to clean up his life. It ends on a wistful note, with the lament of "Oh what became of the Likely Lads/What became of the dreams we had?/Oh what bcame of forever?" Only "What Katie Did" really fails, with Doherty constantly singing "Shoop shoop, shoop de-lang de-lang." What? Huh?

Pete Doherty was apparently shuffled into the studio whenever he could manage to sing, and he has laddish charm that you can hear even without seeing him. He always sounds a bit drunk, too -- considering the amount of drugs this doomed man ingests, it's not surprising that he sounds a bit off.

Fortunately, his occasional vocal shortcomings are easily glossed over by the brilliant slabs of rock'n'roll that frame his singing. This is Britrock, pure and simple. Backing him up are some brilliant guitar solos, touched with organ, trumpet and even harmonica -- good stuff.

Whether the Libertines regroup or sink into rock history, their self-titled sophomore album is the sound of a potential tragedy in the making. Rough, catchy, melancholy and yet charming, this is definitely a must-buy.