The Libertines - "Libertines"

Leighton Buzzard Observer and Linslade Gazette 
Tuesday 24th August 2004

ALBUM of the week
Musical album reviews by John Howlett

SOMETIMES the mythology can obscure the music. With talk of drug addiction, punch ups, therapy and imprisonment there was very real fear that this record would never materialize. Produced, as was their debut album, by Mick Jones (of Clash fame) this is as shambolic and ramshackle as you'd hope and expect. 
 Whilst contemporaries such as Razorlight and The Ordinary Boys have recently produced good records in the same vein neither show an ounce of that spirit and creativity here. 'Last Post on the Bugle', 'Can't Stand me Now', and 'The Saga' are the rag back rock and roll of the first album, while elsewhere the sound varies from shimmering sixties pop ('What Katie Did') to acoustic ballad ('Music when the Lights Go Out'). In a year of so far below-average records, this is the first essential one. 

10/10.



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