Product Description

Babyshambles' first full length release since signing to Parlophone is the follow-up to their 2005 debut 'Down In Albion'. Produced by Stephen Street (Blur, Kaiser Chiefs) and recorded in London, the album marks a return to form for Doherty, while maintaining the band's trademark ramshackle overallsound. A primarily upbeat collection of post-punk gems, 'Shotter's Nation' is a more focused work than its predecessor,and is a signal of a band finally realising their potential. Includes the single 'Delivery.'

Track Listing

1. Carry On Up The Morning
2. Delivery
3. You Talk
4. UnBiloTitled
5. Side Of The Road
6. Crumb Begging
7. Unstookie Titled
8. French Dog Blues
9. There She Goes
10. Baddies Boogie
11. Deft Left Hand
12. Lost Art Of Murder

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2196 in Music
• Released on: 2007-10-01
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced

Amazon.co.uk

Even Pete Doherty stoops to making records from time to time, and Shotter’s Nation might be the best chance he’ll ever have to convince the wider public that there’s more to him than his role as Britain’s favourite comedy junkie. Finally given a major label budget and a name producer, the eternally erratic Doherty can show that he didn’t peak with the Libertines early singles. Babyshambles’ murky sounding debut Down in Albion was patchy but had its moments, but thankfully the present line-up, bolstered by veteran guitarist Mick Whitnall, sound focussed throughout, producer Stephen Street absolutely nailing a classic if dated Brit rock sound. Doherty’s chaotic existence certainly generates plenty of material and what used to be called side one is cracking. "Carry on up the Morning", the punchy if mawkish hit single "Delivery" and the catchy "UnBiloTitled", a pretty song about seedy lives, are powerful and compelling. "Crumb Begging Baghead" is lyrically pitiful yet insistently memorable and "Unstookie Titled" appears to offer some unexpected self-awareness. The second half of the record is less strong, though veteran acoustic guitarist Bert Jansch appears on the maudlin closer "Lost Art of Murder" and the junkie business of "There She Goes" is amusingly sleazy if musically slight. Doherty is an unusual star, living a life no one could aspire to, and in his defence, he never glamorises it. But if fame is a state where one’s life is beyond one’s control, then it’s no surprise that a junkie should take to it so naturally. Shotter’s Nation almost justifies his status. --Steve Jelbert

Customer Reviews

Definitely better than their first one
Barcode: 5099950862023

I think like a lot of people, i really enjoyed the Libertines' carefree, catchy tunes - the music that really sparked off British Indie as we know it today. But when The Babyshambles' first album came around many were dissapointed by its shambolic cod-reggae mess-up sound.

I'm so pleased then that for their second album they came up with something so, so much better. 'Delivery' is a catchy, inspiring, heartwarming song where Pete's vocals sound on top form. 'You Talk', the second single is equally full of charm.

On a whole, the album sounds cohesive and you can tell the band put a lot fo effort into it and enjoyed themselves a lot while doing it. I'm not a big fan of the band and don't listen to their music often but Shotter's Nation has massively restored my faith in the band and raised my level of respect for them.

Far from a Shambles!
I've bought the Libertine albums and liked most of what they did. The first Babyshambles album though I steered well clear of and didn't take much of an intrest in, thats because of Mr Doherty's antics which everybody knows about. All I've heard about this album is that its far better than the first and there's a heavy Kinks influence etc, etc. I've got to say that this album is one of the best albums I've heard in a long time, yes their are hints of The Kinks, but their are also tracks sounding like early Bowie, Iggy Pop and even a track which sounds like something from The Cure. The whole album reminds me of the early Britpop era with melodic guitar rifts and classy drum beats. The drum intro in one track sounds a lot like Oasis's drum intro to Roll with It. I could go into fine detail all the good points about this album and I still wouldn't give it justice! All I will say is that very rarely does an album make me sit up and listen, don't get me wrong I wouldn't put it up their with the greats, but it comes damn close! If your a fan of The Libertines you'll love it, If you loved the Britpop era, you'll love it, If you want an album that's full of melodic guitars and great lyrics, which as an indie album is quite easy listening, buy it now!!!! You won't be disappointed.

Much Better.......
I must admit I quite liked Down in Albion. The production didn't put me off in the slightest, in fact I really liked the rawness in F*ck Forever, Killamangiro, 8 Dead Boys and 32nd of December. It just wasn't consistent however, and contained too many filler songs that just didn't need to be there (pentonville was a joke).

Now there is Shotter's Nation. A much cleaner, much tighter sounding album. It starts off triumphantly with Carry on up the Morning, a great way to start any album, in fact it's almost as good as Can't Stand Me Now as an opener. Then you have Delivery, the standard, yet catchy single breazes by.

What you have to do with this album to find its true gems is listen to it a few times, however once French Dog Blues, Unbilo/stookie Titled are in your head, they take over from the obvious choices for highlights like the incredibly infectious Death Left Hand and You Talk.

If you can put aside the its of filler on this album and search for the geniune pieces of quality, then Shotters Nation should easily place itself 2nd in the list of best Doherty creations (Up the bracket, obviously being the top dog).