The Libertines Album: “Up the Bracket”

Although I do not yet have the CD for these guys, I did just see them in concert, and all I can say is WOW!! They opened for Morrissey, and blew the crowd away. It was like seeing the Ramones for the first time. I hope this is the start of a new musical renaissance, which sees boybands and manufactured music fade, and a livelier music scene happen, with original sounds and high energy lyrics! If you like your music rebellious, in which you can ride along the tide of rebellion with the band rather than having it thrust in your face, this is your scene! Put this music to the test if you are about to hit the highway, the powder in the mountains, or bike through a canyon of double-decker buses! The party has begun-grab your leather jacket and hightops, and jump into the crowd!

This CD has hardly left my CD player for the past month. After a month of the musical doldrums brought on by Joe Stummer's untimely death, the music of the Libertines has lifted my spirits. Their music has tremendous energy that recalls The Clash's London Calling era and The Jam. Produced by Mick Jones, he has left his mark all over it. If we can't have the Clash, at least they left some great followers in the Libertines.

Ah, the Libertines. Like the Santa Ana winds blew the stale smell of cigarettes and greasy chips in my face while watching episodes of "The Young Ones" in my bedroom adorned with old Jam posters. Ok, I was trying to get a vibe across. If you need it in spoon fed pap form...think Supergrass meets The Strokes produced by Paul Weller back in the Jam heyday. I got this cd in Tokyo and man did a big painful smile come across my face. From track one "Vertigo" all the way to track 12 "I get Along" which really busted me up since that track was also on their debut single "What a Waster". Although I loved Waster, I really thought "I get Along" was the killer track. Here, it has been slightly redone and has never sounded better. I can see how people might write these guys off as Jam rip-offs etc. But I see them as being more clever and cheeky for that. The lyrics are way better than they need to be and the craftsmanship is apparent in it's rawness and clarity. nothing overdone and overdubbed. Simply perfect if you ask me and since you won't, get this cd and judge for yourself. If you like these guys and wanna expand your brit-rock horizons may I offer up these deserving bands...1. The Datsuns"The Datsuns" 2. V Twin"The Blues is a Mindfield" 3. The Coral "The Coral" 4. Radio 4 5. Ikara Colt 6. The Beatings

This album is fantastic. Mountains of raw energy are packed into nearly every single song. I can't think of any tracks I consistently skip on the entire record. For some, it may be a little much. I stumbled on this band who is apparently well known in Britain through a list the Arctic Monkeys influences page. If you're looking for something similar to their ridiculously catchy choruses and relatively fun atmosphere, you may not love the Libertines. Still, Up the Bracket does have some killer verses and lyrics, as well as some interesting and versatile choruses and hooks. Some of the songs boarder on reckless sounding, but I think the "raw" recording style is well suited for their sound. Highly recommended.