- Vinyl (18 Mar 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Sanctuary Records
- ASIN: B00008L42N
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (86 customer reviews)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Vertigo |
| 2. Death on the Stairs |
| 3. Horrorshow |
| 4. Time for Heroes |
| 5. Boys in the Band |
| 6. Radio America |
| 7. Up the Bracket |
| 8. Tell the King |
| 9. Boy Looked at Johnny |
| 10. Begging |
| 11. Good Old Days |
| 12. I Get Along |
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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format: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
Format: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
Format: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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Most Recent Customer Reviews
More of the same
Endlessly jangly pop/punk crap ala any number of other noughties guitar bands - the strokes; hives' yeahs etc; so many I lose count - and so so the same I fall asleep with boredom.
Published 1 month ago by T. Ace
My favorite album
Maybe I am biased as when I hear this I am taken back to being sixteen, free and over excitable. Yet this is a great album, an all time great and most certainly not given the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Paula_87
What a waster!
If the music world has any sense at all, it will look back on this ramshackle collection of halfwit poetry set to the tuneless clatter of someone throwing the contents of a music... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Dawson Bells
classic
Right this is what you wnt to buy instead of any "best hits "Libertine albums. This has the best stuff and if you are lucky to be heading for Leeds or Reading and don't know the... Read more
Published on 14 May 2010 by Eileen
A Culture Shifter
In the early 2000's, it was very difficult to not pick up a copy of the NME or Q Magazine without catching some mention of The Libertines on the front cover, a band who really did... Read more
Published on 26 May 2009 by The Mancunian Candidate
before the crack took hold there was this...
This is simply one of the best debut albums of the last decade. Following The Strokes in America The Libertines helped to make guitars cool again this side of the Atlantic for the... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2009 by Sean Mahone
A surprisingly really good album and band
This type of music doesnt usually appeal to me cause i'm a metalhead but i borrowed this of my sister and it's brilliant very enjoyable to listen to every track is great. Read more
Published on 7 Jun 2008 by MrMetalheadO'Hagan
Simply Brilliant....
Not since the 'Clash' or 'Reservoir Dogs' has a debut been so good, seriously this album is near to perfection; something that has only been achieved by their self titled second... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2008 by Tom
Did you see the stylish kids..?
This is without a doubt the best album of the 21st century thus far. Doherty and Barat compliment each other so very perfectly, creating one of the all-time great raucous... Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2008 by Morrissey
A Must Have
The Libertines were really, really good. This, the first of their two albums, is loud, raucous and brilliant. Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2007 by Robbie Swale
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