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Product Description
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
Review
Up the Bracket is the assured debut of the most debauched newcomers on the rock scene for some time: the Libertines.
The Libertines are as English as the Sid James dialogue they quote in their lyrics. Not for them the trappings of nu metal or modern rock. Instead they play it fast and tight and scruffy round the edges. The result is charming: twelve short, funny, fast songs about English life with fuzzy guitars and good tunes. It could have been made in 1966 or 1977.
But they don't sound particularly nostalgic or sentimental. The "Good Old Days", name checking Queen Bodecia, denies that the good old days were any good and demands that they have their own time. They aren't straining hard to recapture a beat group ambience or recreate a classic sound. They just get on with telling it like they see it. And what they see includes riots as well as bare bottoms, blood and class war as well as romance, ("Time For Heroes"). They're witty with a healthy streak of vulgarity.
It's the intelligence and the energy that makes this album work. "Horrorshow", a song that touches on heroin use, features a suitably twisted vocal. Sometimes they're sarcastic but always fun and with a high proportion of tunes that stick in your head ("Boys in the Band"). They're having a laugh but they are not trying too hard to entertain us.
Rough Trade are unlikely to sell as many copies of this as they did of the Strokes debut. The Libertines are not cool or fashionable enough. Instead they are casual and rough and ready. But they do share a back to basics, song driven approach and they convince.
Like This? Try These:
Foo Fighters - One By One
Graham Coxon - The Kiss Of Morning --Nick Reynolds
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing,
This review is from: Up the Bracket [CD + DVD] (Audio CD)
As a hardened music fan with over 25 years listening to, nay devouring music, I'd recently found myself becoming cynical to what was being pushed at me, rarely finding anything to set my pulse racing and near enough never finding anything to excite me to the levels that existed in my younger years. That was until Up The Bracket landed on my mat courtesy of Amazon. I put it on the CD player and 2 weeks later it hasn't been removed, despite having a number of other albums bought around the same time (including The Strokes, Travis and Starsailor's latest) demanding my attention.I can honestly say I haven't been as in love with an album like this since The Stone Rose's released their debut. Outstanding in every way it grows better and better with every listen (and there's been quite a few of those so far). It's impossible to nominate outstanding tracks as they are are all outstanding and my favourite changes daily. The Libertines combine the current New York cool of The Strokes with the old UK punk cool of the Clash, whilst chucking in a smattering of The Jam and The Buzzcocks and an understanding of English Folk (yes FOLK). The lyrics are oh so British which just adds to the appeal; intelligent, witty and so to the point. Instant identification. Things just don't get much better! I hope the band get over their much publicised problems and record again because if they don't it will be a criminal waste of talent. And for all you undecided out there, if you like the current New York scene or have a soft spot for the punk/new wave scene of the late70's/early80's, or if you just like intelligently written pop/rock, do yourselves a favour and buy this album. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
NME's best British band, and it's not hard to see why,
By A Customer
This review is from: Up the Bracket [CD + DVD] (Audio CD)
This band has had everything in 2003, from their lead singer being banged behind bars, with an emotional comeback, to producing some of the best truly British rock/punk music for years.The best songs for me are Death on the Stairs, Boys in the Band, Up the Bracket and What a Waster, but there isn't a single bad song on the album. Don't ask me to pick out a single song to go as my favourite, because it's impossible. They are all too good. It's a rarity that any band will produce an album in which you can agree with every single song, but this is certainly something you can listen to all the way through without being disappointed, other than the fact that the album ends somewhat quicker than anyone would ever wish. Pete and Carl have to be one of the great frontmen pairings of the current indie/rock/punk scene. Their guitar and singing techniques are like none other from any of the current selection of bands, only Eastern Lane come anywhere close but they still lack in many areas. Overall, it is simply impossible to sell this album to any budding buyers properly without saying just have a listen, you need to hear it to believe it basically. Oh, and the intro to "Up The Bracket" is the best intro to any song ever in my view!! The Libertines rule, forever...
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Authentic, Magnificent British Band,
By
This review is from: Up the Bracket [CD + DVD] (Audio CD)
I had to laugh at another reviewer saying that this band were a rip off of The Jam. Sure there are some similarities - stance and aggression - raw energy and power, but the overall sound is not that similar.Make no mistake about it, The Libertines have a sound of their own, a style of their own and a charisma that has been lacking from British music for many many years. They are young, passionate and absolutely the real deal. The music is wonderful. Clever lyrics, sharp melodies, punchy riffs, great production, and the devil's own ear for a hook line make this band the best young band I have heard in many a year. Some of us recall The Jam and The Clash in their heyday and a lot of pretenders to their crown have come along in the meantime, but until now I have always laughed at their challenge. The Libertines are contenders...........bring on the second album. Highlights on this? Just sit back and listen from start to finish and appreciate them while we still have them. Magnificent.
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