The Libertines - Anthems For Doomed Youth (Virgin EMI
Records)
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| The Libertines - Anthems For Doomed Youth |
Release Date: 4th September 2015
I have to admit that, much like
the Smiths, I never really got all the hype around the Libertines. A couple of
good tunes and some eccentric behaviour, sure, but nothing to suggest the kind
of living legend status they've been afforded. Still, they are one of the most
enthralling bands of a generation so a new album will always be met with a
certain sense of excitement and expectation. The return is heralded by the
opening tune 'The Barbarians' which has those signature rolling drums,
atmospheric guitars, gang harmonies and 60s chord progressions. Recent single
'Gunga Din' is up next and takes a slower run up at that Libertines sound and,
dare I say, a slight cod-Reggae vibe which is thankfully overridden by a more
standard indie chorus. It is on 'Fame And Fortune', however, that Carl, Pete
and the rest really return to form with London running through the centre of
the song like a black tie against a crisp white shirt as the quirky guitars
duel with Albarn, Suggs and Dury inspired lyrics.
Album title track of sorts
'Anthem For The Doomed Youth' sees the band casting a lonely, disconsolate
shadow while they compare Cromwell and Orwell for lyrical convenience and croon
as though it's the end of a Brit flick about the end of some era. The piano
opening to 'You're My Waterloo' could come from the smoky backroom of a
prohibition bar after hours but that voice is unmistakable in all its fractured
glory as they name check Tony Hancock and sing like there is nothing left to
hope for. Things pick up on 'Belly Of The Beast' as the military drumming of
Gary Powell soon gives was to a skiffley scuffle and lyrics mumbled from behind
a coat collar with a half smoked fag loitering between those lips. There is a
pent up energy that is almost restrained, held back on this album and you want
it to explode but maybe they're keeping that back for the live shows.
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| The Libertines - flag hags |
'Iceman' starts slowly with a
dirty acoustic riff emerging from the shoreline of a murky city river and
stumbles on to a city street to bump in to all the workers heading to their towers
of high finance while 'Heart Of The Matter' is a typically fast paced ramble
through and indie disco stomper. Track of the album for me is 'Fury of
Chonburi' which has the beef and menace that is a little lacking on the rest of
this collection as John Hassall's popping but dirty bass keeps the tempo
relentlessly high throughout. The mellower approach to 'The Milkman's Horse'
(possibly a euphemism, not sure) shows a side of the band that perhaps nods to
another direction while the intriguingly titled 'Glasgow Coma Scale Blues' is
the bastard son of the Kinks and the Stones being looked after by Josh Homme
for the afternoon.
The album closes up with 'Dead For
Love' and that smoky piano is back again to create a more epic backdrop than
the Libertines have any right to provide for a song as it approaches Bond theme
proportions if they ever filmed a Bond film in the East End with Ray Winstone
as the villain. This is a good album, there is no disputing that, there are
some cracking tunes and lyrically there is a lot to give. What I'm not sure of
is whether this is a great album or even an album worthy of existing under the
shadow of the Libertines legend. It'll still shift mega units though and there
a few songs here that will fit nicely between the classic anthems during the
live shows.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/thelibertines?fref=ts
Live Dates:
6th September - O2 Academy, Glasgow
7th September - Rock City, Nottingham
8th September - O2 Academy, Bristol
10th September - Electric Ballroom, London
11th September - Ritz, Manchester
6th September - O2 Academy, Glasgow
7th September - Rock City, Nottingham
8th September - O2 Academy, Bristol
10th September - Electric Ballroom, London
11th September - Ritz, Manchester
12th September - Tempelhof Airport Lollapalooza, Berlin
21st November - Festival Corona Capital, Mexico