It’s difficult to argue the toss over what exactly The Libertines really contributed in their short time together other than a thankfully short-lived military jacket fad, a handful of okay tunes and a quite tragic, boring narcissist in love with celebrity and self-mythology. The PR drive will no doubt glibly prattle on about ‘the voice of a generation’ or whatever but don’t be afraid to think for yourself on that one. We’ve been sold that lie one time too many by now, surely?
First though an admission, and a little concession. Ordinarily, I’m cautious of critiques that make use of the first person but upon being offered this particularly poisoned chalice, I figured I owed myself this one indiscretion. The Libertines never meant anything to me. Maybe I was too old by the time they were at the height of their powers (I’m 27 now) but to me they were little more than a media construct forced upon the public by clever folks with a vested interest in creating stars. Sure I heard their hits from time to time and while they weren’t exactly hateful, the cynic in me said they were a little more than a kiddie Oasis - at least in terms of their presentation, promotion, attitude and the fervour they whipped up, as opposed to any musical similarity. When they were busy saving rock ‘n’ roll I was far too distracted by bands like Shellac and Hot Snakes to give much of a shit anyway.
Now, no one reading this ‘review’ needs a Libertines history lesson – you all know how they sounded and the tumultuous dynamics that ultimately unravelled them, but the incredible fact that this Best Of follows just two full-length albums is an obvious but worthy point of contention. You have to wonder who really needs this collection in their life. Surely you could pick up each of their records at a discounted price for roughly the same as this? With other such silly season compilations at least there is the incentive of those all-important rarities and live recordings tacked on to fool completists into parting with their readies for a bunch of songs they already own. The only dangling carrots here are debut single ‘What A Waster’, the between-albums release ‘Don’t Look Back Into The Sun’, a re-recorded version of ‘Death On The Stairs’ and gloriously ramshackle, throwaway b-side ‘Mayday’. That’s assuming you don’t already own those songs in some format, of course. All in, it’s a pretty paltry return by anyone’s standards. With that guy who sometimes goes out with some model or whatever having recently put out a new Babyshambles record, it’s not as if anyone needs a reminder of where it all started either. So the biggest question is: why? Suffice to say with its odd timing and undeniably questionable motivation, this doesn’t just whiff of cash-in, it positively stinks of it.
Of course, stripped of all peripheral nonsense there’s no arguing with the inherent potency of songs like ‘Up The Bracket’ and ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ (and being fair, at least half of the tracks nominated as their best, here). But then you’re reminded of the unspectacular filler of ‘I Get Along’ or the wishy-washy, brittle-thin retro-swing of ‘What Katie Did’, wiping away any good will hitherto offered. A jumpy tracklisting that fails to chart any kind of progression (as much as could be achieved with only two albums’ worth of source to draw on) or even flow logically, doesn’t exactly help matters much.
There were undoubted ghosts of promise in this band, Barât and Doherty boasting enough combined charisma and indie-rock smarts to fool everyone into believing they might have been the spiritual airs to Ray Davies and Pete Shelley (or whichever demi-God predecessors you feel fit the bill best), but as we’ve seen with their subsequent musical offspring, those were, most likely, fleeting shivers of potential.
Call it fence-sitting, call it ignorance, call it what you will. What became of the likely lads? I’ll roll with my initial instincts and settle on indifference, thanks.
If there were any band
less appropriate for a 'Best of' by dint of either quantity or quality, it's The Libertines.
2 albums of absolute fucking shite for a generation too young and dumb to know what is was like when bands who really meant something were around (or not embarrassing and old now - hello, Manic Street Preachers!). Best Of has come to stand for Cash In more than ever.
surprised at the score
i always thought DiS had a soft spot for the Libertines.
This was an unnecessary record though as for a fiver more you could probably get both albums.
moron^
This best of is certainly just a cash-in, and completely pointless, but as a band I still believe The Libertines are one of the most important of the decade so far.
I agree with seven,
I absolutely love the Libertines and will mourn their loss through one man's idiocy until, well, the money runs out and they reform.
And those military jackets looked sweeeeet.
concur
with Seymour on everything bar the military jackets.
Moron?
Guess I can't expect much more from a Libertines fan.
Never was so much passion so wasted on such burned out talentless wannabes.
its this, innit
It seems like a lifetime, or at least a Main Era — the kind of peak that never comes again. San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run... but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant...
History is hard to know, because of all the hired bullshit, but even without being sure of 'history' it seems entirely reasonable to think that every now and then the energy of a whole generation comes to a head in a long fine flash, for reasons that nobody really understands at the time — and which never explain, in retrospect, what actually happened
My central memory of that time seems to hang on one or five or maybe forty nights — or very early mornings — when I left the Fillmore half-crazy and, instead of going home, aimed the big 650 Lightning across the Bay Bridge at a hundred miles an hour... booming through the Treasure Island tunnel at the lights of Oakland and Berkeley and Richmond, not quite sure which turnoff to take when I got to the other end... but being absolutely certain that no matter which way I went I would come to a place where people were just as high and wild as I was: no doubt at all about that...
There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda... You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning...
And that, I think, was the handle — that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn't need that. Our energy would simply PREVAIL. There was no point in fighting — on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave...
So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark — that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.
CONTEXT>MUSIC
why are you quoting hunter thompson?
?
I never got why this band were praised so highly.
They had nothing to offer. No memorable songs. No real style of their own. No statement. Nothing. To even call them a band is a joke.
I'm glad they're gone.
I wonder who is actually going to buy this.
Wouldn't anyone who was thinking of getting it already have both albums.
The first one was very good, with some great songs like 'Tell it to the king' and 'Good old days'. I'm surprised at the reaction on here is so anti them, you can't blame them for all the crap bands that followed them. But I agree totally that it is a cash in.
er
airs?
Pointless release
That much is true, but I agree with Seven - they are one of the most important bands of this decade and their influence is still massive (more's the pity - bands like The View have got absolutely fuck all on the Libertines).
I liked Up The Bracket, but the second album was generally poor. The Libertines' implosion was a bit self indulgent I felt and a reformation now would be pointless. Right place, wrong time is what I've always said with them.
Given that the only people who would consider getting this
will probably have it already, what's the point? Given that everyone I know younger than me (I'm 15) barely seems to know who they are, and everyone who is my age or older and was into that kinda thing already has both their albums, and probably downloaded what a waster and don't look back it seems like it probably won't sell... I get the impression it's Rough Trade trying to make some money back on Doherty, although I'm not sure it'll work... To be fair to them they wrote some good pop songs at least...
As pointless a cash cow this is
There is no way in the world that the songs on this collection equate to a 5/10. Some of them will stand the test of time as pop classics. Mark my words.
^
I concur. Such an obvious band to hate. Actually brilliant, spat out a load of classic, scuffy, indie pop and looked the shit whilst they did it.
And they went piss the minute Doherty wasnt there.
They only song that stand out
is Cant Stand Me Now and that was written by a Senseless Thing. Voice of a Generation my bloody eye.
*The only song that stands out
Jesus
Tish and fipsy, sir!
Vertigo, Death On The Stairs, Horrorshow, Time For Heroes, Boys In The Band, Up The Bracket, I Get Along, The Ha Ha Wall, Don't Look Back Into The Sun, What A Waster... I and many others will be drunkenly jumping around my flat before and after drunken nights out for many years to come.*
*touch wood - just in case a yacht collides with my tube train on the way home, or something...
Tish and fipsy!
Is that Brasseye or The Day Today? I can't remember. Your future will definitely resemble my own when it comes to the libertines! *Touch wood*
pop classics ?
Maybe if they'd been produced properly...
The Libertines were always tedious
They had a couple of decent songs. Wow.
The review is wrong!
I'm the same age as the guy who reviewed this so being too old is no excuse and his statement of 'little more than a media construct forced upon the public by clever folks with a vested interest in creating stars' couldn't be further from the truth as far as I'm concerned!
The libs put some life back into music too many bands with no soul or purpose. They made a connection with their fans and made good indy rock and roll songs, simple as that, pitty it all ended so soon...
As for it being releaed, record company seeing the £ signs for christmas I would guess.
um...
your profile says you're 24. Much as I'd like to be three years younger, I'm 27...
Agreed
The first couple, 'What A Waster' and 'Up The Bracket' were decent enough, but 'Can't Stand Me Now' sounds like they got bored and forgot to write the verse properly. Which leaves one line of a chorus repeated a few times. Not much of a song...
Also I'd question their influence musically, as surely a band who regurgitates precisely the sound of other bands without adding anything new can hardly be justifiably venerated in this way. They may have brought The Clash and The Jam to a new generation but that's about it.
Yes it is!
Finally someone with sense. I agree with you 100% my friend. I get really wound up by people criticising the libertines. The music is so amazing it is disheartening to see that cool culture has become more important than recognising artistic merit with kids today. The libs were a well needed injection into British music and pop culture. I'm not saying they were saviours but they definitely had a positive effect. I feel sad for people who will always be blind to their music because they are not on the cool list anymore. Anyways, that comment has brightened my day and for that I am greatful.
The Libertines were great
that's an indisputable fact I'll box anyone 3 rounds who disagrees...
Individually, Pete and Carl are barely good...
I don't want to comment on how lame a Best of complilation is for a band with two albums; it ain't like Don't Look Back is Love Will Tear Us Apart, is it?
If you didn't get them...why write the review..!?!
Man Seriously...stop with your daft opinions on The libertines.
Go home, pop on the meet me in st louis album, have a look at yourself in the mirror and jerk off!
this
.
..
The Libs thing went right over my head at the time because I guess I just didn’t get it.
But I can appreciate they have some good tunes and people who say ‘they were there’ are usually pretty passionate about the whole vibe and atmosphere thing.
So basically I don’t have much of an opinion.
In fact it’s probably a completely pointless post.
(on anther note – did someone really use the term ‘Jerk off’?)
Music
for young indie kids that don't know any better.
Jaype
You are 18 for fecks sake, and therefore a kid. You must have been thirteen when the first album came out, it makes so much sense now. Feck, why do all little kids think they know everything. Perhaps once you get a little older you'll realise that you do not, then a little older again and perhaps then you'll realise that it doesn't matter, no-one gives a shit what you think anyway. 18! Fecking indie kid, you are one of the biggest morons on this site.
OOOOh!
I am 35 year old house wife from Belfast, I don't think many people would consider me an indie kid, and definitely not young. If you dont like the Libertines and you are having a go at indie kids there is one thing you have to realise - you are fecking indie kid! Indie kids are all the same, no-one thinks they are one, then they say something that is so laughable to the rest of us because it makes it obvious! Fair play, there are some stupid arseholes in this world.
The libs are awesome - I'm an indie kid by the way.
Will DiS start getting some good reviewers by the way, some impartial ones, or ones that atleast have good taste and not that of a sceptically boring inept 70 year old!
such hurtful jibes...
string an intelligible sentence together there and then we'll talk.
Definitely....
a pointless cash in. The Libs are ridiculously over hyped but, you know what, I don't care. Up the Bracket is still one of my favourite albums.
I wasn't into them at the start and I don't like buying singles so I'll probably get this. For the record I'm an indie kid (although kid is a stretch as I'm 29). I think it's a fair review even if I don't necessarily agree with it.
Or is it?
One thing I've always wondered is...does the band get to decide if they want the best of released, or is it totally up to the record company? Seems like an obvious question I'm sure you've all asked yourselves before slagging off bands, which seems to be all people do on this site.
By the way, David, I am trying, I really am! What sort of reviewer comments on his own reviews?...hmmm.
I'm starting to grasp what type of people don't like the Libertines now. You have set my mind at ease.
Anyways, I mean no harm - feel free to be just as sarcarstic to me - though I am trying my best to give you as little ammo as possible.