Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kinsale revisited, 13 Nov 2005
Many years ago, I spent my summers in a place called Kinsale in Co. Cork. In those days we had a record player and a small bunch of records which we played until the stylus ploughed its way through to the other side. Bob Dylan, The Kinks, The Beatles, James Taylor, The Peddlers The Stones and sundry others. "If music be the food of love, play on!", said the Bard. Well, all that (Kinsale stuff) happened to me when I was younger than the youngest member of Babyshambles. I heard the Album in Tenerife (I live there now because Kinsale is too bloody expensive and my youth is too difficult to get hold of and Drew's brother presented me with a copy). That bunch (Babyshambles) are good. They are bloody good. Why? Because they have dragged my past into the present with a mixture of the stuff I love from 30 odd years ago, wrapped up in a modern-day package. "Steeped in tradition" (La Belle et la Bete) is about gin? Lovely! Tradition, surely, includes Batman and all that went with "Dinner, Dinner, Dinner, Dinner". I reckon the guys are playing with us. Who can say that "The 32nd of December" is not a serious reminder of "Pretty Flamingo"? (Remember Personfred Personn?) The "Pentonville" thing is out of context, but is magic. A lot better than the infamous "Revolution No. 9" on a rather well known double album from when I was young. I am getting old now. I am not capable of crowd surfing and all that stuff. But I do remember my halcyon days, when Jagger and Burdon were the "Bad Boys" and Rock stars were permanently on the brink of popping their clogs. Down In Albion brings it all back, albeit in a shambolic sort of way. Jesus, just listen. The trick is to listen.
|
|
|
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A muddled triumph, 14 Mar 2006
Having read all the negative reviews about 'Down In Albion' I decided with some trepidation to give the Babyshambles album a go anyway. I had really enjoyed their singles Killamangiro and ---- Forever and thought 'what the hell!'
Well i'm glad to report back that the album is no where near the disaster that other reviewers have suggested, in fact its a little gem and with a little tweaking it could have been a classic. By this I mean a couple of songs could have been shaved off such as Pentonville to give the album a bit more momentum and focus. Whilst the single versions of Killamangiro and ---- Forever should have been retained. That said Pete Doherty's talent is plain to see, the guy can write songs and there's a lot of strong tracks on here; The 32 Of December, Pipedown, Albion and Loyalty Song just some of them.
All in all this album has really grown on me, it is messy and raw but that's a refreshing change from a lot of over produced music thats around. There are lots of moments of inspiration that warrant this being part of your album collection.
One can only hope Doherty cleans himself up and manages to reach his full potentional as a brilliant musician.
|
|
|
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heard the promo album - its a blinder, 23 Oct 2005
I am fortunate enough to borrow a promo copy of this album from an associate of mine, and I have to say it is very impressive.Different and Suprising - the only way to describe this album. Being a Libertines fan from the start, I quickly turned to the babyshambles after their split. The babyshambles, although they have had their ups and downs are a band of quality and excellence, and this album prooves their worth. The opening track is an unusual mix of sounds and lyrics, quite different from the rest of the album. A mixture of different beats, fast and slow, a repeating "batman theme" style tune runs through the song. One other suprise on this track is the female voice which kicks in after a couple of minutes - kate moss? Track two f*** Forever - brilliant! a previous release from the babyshambles. Following that A'rebours is ok quite difficult to understand, and my least favourite track on the album. From the least favourite track comes the best track, the 32nd of December. An amazing song in Libertines style, surely will be a future single release. A bright, loud and lyriclly dark track - Stunning. A great blend of catchy riffs and instrumentals. Pipedown and sticks and stones are the next tracks, both very good in their own right. Sticks and stones is totally different from what I have ever heard. In a reggae style tune, only pete dohertys familiar voice links this with the band!. Other superb songs on the album include Killamangiro, completlly revampt to the single version on the album and down in albion, the forthcoming single, the best track to date. Overall, absolutlly fantastic, both lyriclly and musiclly. A sure hit and comes highly reccommended.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
~ Babyshambles
~ The Libertines
~ The Libertines
~ Babyshambles
~ Dirty Pretty Things
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home