THE BIG ALBUM: The Libertines

Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 
Friday 3rd September 2004

(Rough Trade)
To look at the lank-mopped amphetamine-honed pallour that glowers from the sleeve of this follow-up, or to read any of the fawning music press praise for this 'British Strokes', you might think that London quartet The Libertines had bottled rock'n'roll's greasy essence on their second album. The departure of guitarist Pete Doherty to tackle his drug addiction only adds to the impression, but without the backdrop of punch-ups and on-stage shambles (thankfully absent from their disciplined Leeds Festival performance last week), their recorded music has developed into an uncontroversial and surprisingly palatable take on British new wave pop, owing as much to The Smiths or XTC as it does to their ramshackle debut. Doherty and remaining vocalist Carl Barat tackle their problems head on in the anthemic, harmonica-rasping album opener Can't Stand Me Now but other tracks, predictably the Doherty-led Don't Be Shy, are workmanlike and lack spart. Perhaps the saviours of British rock'n'roll should focus on the music rather than the offstage soap opera? 

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