Customer Reviews

Down in Albion

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Babyshambles dive head first into the 1970's punk scene. With the help of The Clash's Mick Jones, this sounds like Pete Doherty's "London Calling". It's simply stunning, even with the inclusion of Kate Moss, who gets a vocal credit on `La Belle Et La Bete' and a song writing credit for `What Katy Did Next'. Unfortunately the media's tabloid trash talk could have an effect on Doherty's best work. If only they knew how to report happy news.

With sixteen songs this could well be Babyshambles attempt to emulate The Clash. The songs certainly contain a late 70's punk sound and the band has the image to accompany it. By far this is better than anything recorded by The Libertines; it's much more creative in almost every way.

So forget the drugs and bad publicity, no one criticises the greatest bands from the past for their drug use. Drugs have managed to create some pretty amazing songs. They waited till late in the year to release "Down in Albion" but it's one of 2005's best

This CD is so poignant and raw. In my opinion, it has a lot more to offer than the Libertines ever did. We should all get past the paparazzi image we have of PD and sit back and listen to this beautiful mess. It is hands down my favourite album of this year.
We have heard many of the sounds before but the honesty of this work goes beyond comparisons to The Clash/The Only Ones.

This CD is a solid debut from the Babyshambles. It's not a classic like Up the Bracket, nor not as good as anything the Libertines produced, but it's a good, recommended album. A little track-by-track review for all of you salivating to hear this.

La Belle et Le Bete: When I heard Kate Moss was to be singing on this song, I was...well, put off, to say the least. However, her vocals are very short, and a high point of the song. She intones "Is she more beautiful than me?" several times and adds feeling to the song. Lyrics are excellent, Drew's bassline is killer, and Pete sounds normal. 9/10

F**k Forever: I've always liked this song, and I like it even better on the album than on the single. It's rocking, with lots of guitars. 8.5/10

A Rebours: The best song on the album. Pete wrote this one ages ago, but has continually changed it. The final version combines A Rebours with Curtian Call and I Will Fall for a catchy song that you could imagine the Libertines singing. 10/10

32nd of December: A much more chill song than some of the other fare on the album, but easily one of the best. Artful, emotional, and excellent. 9/10

Pipe Down: YES! A big guitar song. Like F**k Forever but better. From Pete's opening yells of "PADDY PUT THE PIPEDOWN!" I was drawn in. I was never crazy about the live versions (Pat, please don't sing. It's unbecoming), but this is excellent. It's currently my favorite driving-at-85-mph song. 9/10

Sticks and Stones: This song is probably one of the oldest on the record, second to only Albion. I could be wrong though. Orignially an acoustic song, this verison keeps the acoustic bits but adds some reggae feel. It works. I like it. Not love it. However, the famous line "Don't look back into the m*********king sun" is still delightfully nasty. 8/10

Killamagiro: Eh...I like the single version better. This sounds like it does live--ie, less than stellar. 7.6/10

8 Dead Boys: This is a good song--I really like it. Probably one of the most emotionally sung songs on the album, and the rawest too. 8.5/10

In Love With A Feeling: I've never been crazy about this one. It's kind of boring. But fine. 8/10

Pentonville Rough: A reggae rap? It's so weird. It's cool in a bizare way though. 6.8/10

What Katy Did Next: Bad verses, catchy chorus. 7/10

Albion: The orginial version of this song, from the 2003 babyshambles sessions, by the Libertines, is fantastic and acoustic. This version is...electric. And fine. It's good. I was very happy. 8.9/10

Back From the Dead: Not much to say about this one. Average. Good though. Catchy. 8/10

Loyalty Song: Formerly called "What Did I Dream," this song is still pretty good. I like this version, it's much better than it is live. 8.5/10

Up The Morning: This is where it gets weird. Pete said that this is the best song he's ever written. Er...what? It's a nice song and whatnot, but it's sort of...odd. Boring, almost. Sort of Floydian. 7.7/10

Merry-Go-Round: Acoustic! FINALLY. YAY. This song is a nice chill conclusion to the album. Love the minute long drum solo at the end, though it makes me miss Gemma. 8.3/10

Overall, this is no Libertines album, but it wasn't going to be. Naysayers, Pete Doherty's still got it!

A lot of people I know have been put off this album for one reason, 'Pete Doherty is a complete waster'. Maybe true in some respects, but he has certainly wasted no talent on this album. Do not be put off buying 'Down In Albion', because of the press. 'Down In Albion' may not follow the basic structure of your typical album, it may have too many songs, Doherty may sound like he sang the vocals for this album after one of his 'benders'. But it works.

The album only takes a couple of listens to appreciate how good it really is. Babyshambles have picked up punk rock, where The Clash left off. There is not a bad song on the album, although a lot of people dislike Pentonville, listen to it a couple more times and you will realise, like the rest of the album, that it is creative genious.

The songs that really stand out on this album are, 'F**k forever', 'Albion', 'Pentonville', and 'Loyalty Song'.

Without a doubt Babyshambles is a refreshing thing for british rock n' roll. There's really no big 'deal' behind Pete Doherty and co.'s music. Simple, mostly acoustic-driven songs, with some unbalanced, but contageous singing by Doherty, who is undoubtly at his best when it comes to lyrics and presenting them, he's very talented! F*cked up on drugs all the time, but Pete's a good musician still and it's the main thing, but the drugs do play a pretty big role in his lyrics. There's definitely no big statements here, no real classics, nothing over the top, nothing really original sound-wise, although Doherty doesn't remind me of anyone else, and that's of course just a good thing. The music is at times very raw and aggressive, like on one of the highlights 'F*ck Forever', which is Nirvana with a british singer, the soft to loud dynamics work well here...but the main weight is on the softer songs, with yet a few more faster rockers like 'Bacardi'. The spotlight is on Pete Doherty all the time, and the music never shadows his voice and lyrics, but I think it's just for the best, being the great poet that he is.
The whole drug-fashion and don't-give-a-f*ck attitude that Doherty seems to have is a bit scary and pathetic, and I'd hope he would calm down a bit, and he isn't THAT young, so in a way I don't support Babyshambles at all, but the music wins, and folks, these are just some nice tunes! Definitely worth to check out!!!

There is something about this guy. The drugs...yeah, yeah, I know. Kate Moss...yeah, heard about her, too. The look? Doubt it. It's something else. His music just seems to work. It's raw, but catchy. It's rough, but delicate. It's real. And maybe that's just something that is hard to find in today's musical landscape.

They just don't make rock stars like they used to. You know, the ones who'd get trashed, fight their own bandmates and do interviews completely coked out.
Enter Pete Doherty, the former Libertines frontman made headlines for his nasty drug habit and the on again-off again relationship with Kate Moss. Doherty is the ultimate symbol of rock `n' roll excess.
Fortunately for Doherty, things are looking up, his new band Babyshambles might just be the hottest thing in rock music right now. The band's debut effort, "Down In Albion," mixes all the chaos and brass balls that made the Libertines so damn successful.
Whether he's laid off the glass pipe or not remains to be seen. For now, we'll take Doherty the way he is, a bloody mess.
- Bryan Maury

Yes you may have red that long analytical review of Lewis's and are put off buying this album. All i have to say is someone who writes about every aspect of every song is a wannabe journo who will never understand what babyshambles or the libertines are about. What he calls too many "bum notes" in the songs is part of what they stand for which is freedom with a song underneath. If you want to listen to perfect production f.uck off and listen to creed. But the rawness in the delivery is half the excitement, it sounds like they are playing in the room with you. And most importantly this album is full of interesting guitar work. Which geek boy Lewis wouldnt know about cause he has never been cool enough to play in a band the bitter little sod.

Not every fan of The Libertine is going to like this record, but I on one hand loved it.
It's a very odd album and Pete takes odd choices in the arrangment of things, even so, he pulled it off. For instance the Pentonville track, which includes reggae vibes. I think babyshambles comes with a certain spirit that The Libertines laked. Maybe it's because Pete now gets more artistic freedom or something of the sort.
The record starts with La Belle et la bete, that inspite Kate Moss's not so wonderful voice, is a very good and catchy track. The instrumental for some reason reminds me of a Danny Elfman sort of style. And Pete ramblings, that no lyrics webpage has been able to interpret, add something to the song.
It is undeniable, Pete has a talent for lyrics, he is after all a poet and has won awards for it. I do agree with one of the critics, about the song Albion, it did sound somewhat unfinished and it probably didn't take much effort to make it, however, again, the lyrics are wonderfull.
There is no song in the album that I don't love in one way or another.
Favorites: La Belle et la Bete, F*** Forever, Pipedown, A'rebours, Killamangiro.

maybe not 5, 4.5, that vicinity. it's about heart. something sorely lacking from most matter put out over the last decade(s).
I don't care about perfection. I care about originality. passion, desire, hunger. pain, aching sensitive pain.
I've not heard reggae integrated in to rock this well in awhile. this isn't another radio friendly post-consumer material lp.
we have a right to be angry and it's time to start breaking the rules. if the rules aren't just than break them,
cameras watching our every move, a press more interested in a rock star's drug problems than what really happened and is happening. the world is most sardonically ironic so he's kicking up his feet and relaxing. stop watching your tv movie and dig for truth and when you come around you'll dig this piece of work. the world is a shambles and Pete's right on cue.