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The Libertines
ReleaseProduct
The Libertines
Artist
The Libertines
Label
Rough Trade
Catalogue Number
RTRADDA166
Release Date
August 30, 2004

‘Up The Bracket’ launched Peter, Carl, John and Gary, spewing crazy tales of Albion and Arcadia to a bemused and baffled public. Like its predecessor, this album is obsessed with dreams and fantasy. But where ‘Up The Bracket’ was English lawns, gin in teacups and the Beano, this time round the real world keeps intruding in all its gory glory. During the brittle and honest ‘The Saga’, the careering new-wave clatter pauses and Pete mutters, with a junkie’s sly self-delusion: "No, no, I ain’t got a problem. It’s you with a problem". In the rest of the song he appears to grasp the gravity of the situation ("When you lie to your friends/And you lie to your people/And you lie to yourself/And the truth’s too harsh to comprehend/You just pretend there isn’t a problem"). It’s suddenly obvious why bandmate Carl wouldn’t talk about this song for NME recently. Although you only have to wait a moment for Carl’s acerbic reply as the song segues straight into ‘Road To Ruin’: "How can we/Make you understand/All you can be/Is written in your hand?”

Whatever happens, this an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime album, proving The Libertines are both the stuff of revolution and aesthetic princelings among the (very) lumpen indie proletariat. We won’t see their like again.

The Libertines on Spotify
Listen on Apple Music

Digital Tracklist

  1. 1 Can't Stand Me Now 3:23 Buy

    Can't Stand Me Now

  2. 2 Last Post on the Bugle 2:32 Buy

    Last Post on the Bugle

  3. 3 Don't Be Shy 3:03 Buy

    Don't Be Shy

  4. 4 The Man Who Would Be King 3:59 Buy

    The Man Who Would Be King

  5. 5 Music When The Lights Go Out 3:02 Buy

    Music When The Lights Go Out

  6. 6 Narcissist 2:10 Buy

    Narcissist

  7. 7 The Ha Ha Wall 2:29 Buy

    The Ha Ha Wall

  8. 8 Arbeit Macht Frei 1:13 Buy

    Arbeit Macht Frei

  9. 9 Campaign Of Hate 2:10 Buy

    Campaign Of Hate

  10. 10 What Katie Did 3:49 Buy

    What Katie Did

  11. 11 Tomblands 2:06 Buy

    Tomblands

  12. 12 The Saga 1:53 Buy

    The Saga

  13. 13 Road to Ruin 4:21 Buy

    Road to Ruin

  14. 14 What Became of the Likely Lads 5:54 Buy

    What Became of the Likely Lads

The Libertines

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