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Rating:
"Down In Albion" by Babyshambles is not an easy album to judge nor, at the very least, to review. The year was 2005, following the fateful 2004, which had seen the release of the second self-titled album and the breakup of the greatest indie band in England of the last 10 years: The Libertines.
Peter Doherty, better known as Pete, guitarist, singer, and leader of the band along with Carl Barât, was at that time, partly for his artistic merits and his legal misdeeds, partly for his rockstar/poet bad boy persona, and especially for his love story with Kate Moss, one of the most talked-about figures across the Channel, and he was preparing to return to the scene with his new band, which initially was supposed to be little more than a temporary "fooling around" project: namely, the Babyshambles. The new debut is once again entrusted to the production of the historic former Clash guitarist, Mick Jones, who had already produced the two Libertines albums. It's a sort of concept album with the story of Beauty and the Beast (Pete and Kate?) as the backdrop, where Doherty's romantic and Apollonian side emerges, until that moment well hidden behind the persona of the transgressive and decadent rockstar, which had already recently surfaced with the single "For Lovers", recorded in collaboration with Wolfman, and would find its fullest expression in the first and splendid solo album of 2009 "Grace/Wastelands".
It's a well-thought-out work but paradoxically poorly produced and poorly polished, composed of a full 16 tracks, many of which date back to the Libertines era and whose demos were already circulating, with a total duration of about an hour, where the garage/punk-pop/rock mix doesn't work perfectly and, in fact, after several listens, it becomes tiring, finding a proper settling only after multiple playthroughs. The opener is assigned to the lengthy duet with Kate Moss "La Belle Et La Bête", which then gives way to the chart-topping single "Fuck Forever", an authentic manifesto and synthesis of Doherty-thought. From here, it's a succession of garage punk revival with the handbrake semi-engaged, including the good single "Kilamangiro" and the engaging romantic lament of "In Love With A Feeling", up to the unheard reggae of "Pentonville", which so much recalls the memory of the "Sandinista!" era of the Clash. Moving to a more recent past, we come to "What Katy Did Next?", a clear sequel to "What Katy Did?", present in the eponymous album of the Libertines, which opens the hypothetical b-side of the album, where the typically raw punk sound gives way to a more typically acoustic tone. Among these, the masterpiece ballad-anthem "Albion", a dramatic and touching tableau of the English underground, already recorded as a demo in the Libertines era, and preceded by a mad minute of sonic interlude that makes one almost think of a Lou Reed era "Metal Machine Music" rather than the new prodigy of British rock. Having become much more enjoyable, the album proceeds smoothly with a couple of tracks in the same vein as "What Katy Did Next?", until it flows and concludes with the chorus of "Merry Go Round", the twin song of the already mentioned and praised "Albion".
Overall, it's a good album, which, let’s be clear, will certainly not be remembered for being the new "Pet Sounds", and it is not even comparable to the splendid "Up The Bracket", the Libertines' debut and genuine rock milestone of the new millennium. However, "Down In Albion" remains probably the most varied album of Pete Doherty's career to date, which is not, after all, such a long one yet: a work that is still raw but more than any other manifestates the true intentions and artistic vocations of the "cursed rockstar poet". Hoping that his career can finally fully resume in the studio as well, perhaps with a definitive reunion of the Libertines, now a year and a half after the 2010 reunion for the Reading and Leeds festivals, there's nothing left to do but to dust off his old works, splendid but not yet fully mature, imagining how it could have gone without too many legal troubles, drug and alcohol excesses, and the sad end of the relationship with Kate Moss. But Doherty is still only 32 years old today, and practically still has a lifetime ahead in which to prove to be truly the genius he is painted as, especially at home, by many fans and critics alike.
Assuming he hasn't already demonstrated it sufficiently.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 La Belle et la Bête (05:05)
I'll tell you a story but you won't listen
It's about a nightmare steeped in tradition
It's the story of a coked-up pansy
Who spents his nights in flights of fancy
Met two fellas over gin and mixers
They talked for a while and soon got the picture
One was a souped up Soho mincer
And the other was a pikey with a knowledge for scripture
Then the conversation turned evil... (evil)
Talked, talked and talked about people
Why did you do it to so many people?
Stumbled left out of the boozer,
Threw some schrapnel to the legless fusalier,
An endless ceiling and another light,
With a half-tenner smile and you're looking alright.
That girls out way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Getting high she sang
(Kate Moss)
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
She's la belle et la bete at the ball
La belle et la bete at the ball
La belle et la bete at the ball
You know she could have us all
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Just getting high...
She sang
(Kate Moss)
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me? (than she)
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me? (than she)
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than she?
I'll tell you a story but you won't listen
It's about a nightmare steeped in tradition
It's the story of a coked-up pansy
Who spents his nights in flights of fancy
Met two fellas over gin and mixers
They talked for a while and soon got the picture
One was a souped up Soho mincer
And the other was a pikey with a knowledge for scriptures
Then the conversation turned evil (evil)
Talked and talked and talked about people
Why did you do it to so many people?
That girls out way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Way ahead of the game
Out Way ahead of the game
You've turned your back upon her
One too many times
Spent all her hard earned money
Just getting high...
She sang
(Kate Moss)
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
Is she more beautiful than me?
Is she more beautiful, is she more beautiful
02 Fuck Forever (04:37)
Its one and the same, one and the same oh
So whats the use between death and glory?
I can't tell between death and glory?
Happy endings, no, they never bored me
Happy endings, they still don't bore me
But they, they have a way
They have a way to make you pay
And to make you toe the line
Sever the ties
Because I'm so clever
But clever ain't wise
Fuck forever
If you don't mind
Oh fuck forever?
If you dont mind, dont mind, I dont mind, I dont mind
Oh whats the use between death and glory?
I cant tell between death and glory?
New labour and tory
Purgatory and no happy families
Its one and the same, one and the same
No, its not the same
Its not supposed to be the same
You know about that way
The way they make you pay
And the way they make you toe the line
I've severed my ties
Oh, you're so clever, you're so clever
But you're not very nice
So fuck forever
If you don't mind
Oh I'm stuck forever
In your mind, your mind, your mind
But have you heard about that way
To make you feel I should soon make you pay
And to make you toe the line, line
I sever my ties
Oh well I never
Sever the ties
And fuck forever
If you don't mind
See I'm stuck forever
Oh I'm stuck in your mind, your mind, your mind
I never played this on the radio
Oh they never played this on the radio
04 The 32nd of December (03:08)
32nd Of December
Don't talk about it
Don't want to know about it
Arguing with you's no good
You'll be nobody's fool but you'll almost speak...
Don't let me know about it
Don't let me know about the 32nd of December
Oh, thats the night I'm trying so hard to forget
All you do is you come around and make me remember
What I try, oh that I, what I....
Still you talk about it
Still don't wanna know all about it
Anybody want tea?
Anybody, thank you, ah fuck me
But don't speak
And don't talk about it
Don't talk about the 32nd of December
Thats the night im trying so hard to forget
So all you do is you phone me, and I remember
Remember what I try
That I, what I...
You know that I...
You was a stickler for manners
So don't you say goodbye
No, not to a good old friend,
I get by, please
I get by
And get by
Argggh, so what you running from?
Still, ahh don't talk about it
Still, don't want to know about it
Don't want to know about it
The 32nd of December
Thats the night im trying so hard to forget
All you do is come around and make me remember
Remember what I try
What I, that I...
... nice reason, I'll go
But they'll never do
They'll never do
05 Pipedown (02:35)
Oh Paddy put the pipe down
If you got the right sound
If it's not the right sound
Neither am I, oh my oh my
Do your sums
Work out a fairer way
If it comes undone
Just paper over the cracks
And there ain't no turning back
Oh on The Sun
They make you out to be a tearaway
Comes undone
Ahh I just spoke to matt
pat,they want the money back
Ah put the pipe down
If you got the right sound
If it's the right sound
Oh my, oh my
Do your sums
Work out a fairer way
Can you play no fun
Oh what you think of that
Cause they wanted but...
You better pipe down
You got the right sound
Put the pipe down
Oh my, oh my, oh my
Na na-na na-na...
Oh Paddy put the pipe down
If you got the right sound
If it's not the right sound
Neither am I, oh my oh my
Oh Paddy put the pipe down
If you got the right sound
If it's the right sound
Oh my, oh my, oh my
06 Sticks and Stones (04:51)
Now here's a tale
Tale I will tell
Blood lust after no sweet love
And a many, many things I do so well
Oh you know that's the end
That's the end so far away down
They said that I was as good as dead
And there was hope, but not for us together
My friend, my only friend
Oh well you know that that's the end
And that's the end so far away down
Skip... fame on the run
Don't look back into the motherf**king sun, no
Oh well you know that that's the end
And that's the end so far away down
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
Oh but your words
They really kill me
Sticks and sto-o-o-o-ones
May break my bo-o-o-o-ones
Sticks and stones may break my bones
Oh but your words they really kill me
And there you know that's the end
But there can never be and end
07 Killamangiro (03:13)
Ohhh ohhh ohhhh
Why would you pay to see me in a cage?
And why would you pay to see me in a cage?
Some men call the stage
Listen now
I have gone
You will know
I was the only one that would have died
What was wrong in the eyes of the unwell and unwise
And I killed a man for his giro today
Wasn't very gay, I didn't mind
I was a money man anyway
Killed a man for his giro today
Why, would you pay
Why, would you pay
To see me in a cage
It's all across the stage
And know
When the night has come
You might say
I was not the only the one who would've died
What was wrong in the eyes of the cruel and unwise
And I killed a man for his giro today
On the off chance that you miss me
To the radio
I thought you might like to know you broke my heart
Can only sadden up or hedge your bets
Or take a chance and never get you again
All my ties, time and time
I keep on trying hard not to try too hard
When I forgive, I won't forget
To killing time, so I'm better now
I don't need it...
Anything that makes you, feel hate
Can do without hate
Now I believe in love
Now I have gone
Oh yeah, I will pay
For everything you've done
What was wrong
In the eyes of the unwell and unwise
And I killed a man for his giro today
Ohhh ohhh ohhhh
10 Pentonville (03:49)
It's rough
It's wicked and rough
It's hard
Pentonville rough
It's tough
It's wicked and rough
It's hard
Pentonville rough
Now in Pentonville there's all type of nation
Russian, Columbian and Jamaican
Latvian, Croatian and a Polishman
Indian, Chinaman down from Vietnam
And from the Carribbean an Jamaican
Poorly paid people formed the Irish gang
And the Scottish and the Englishman
They're rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough
Yeah rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough now
Everyday, it's the same
People can't get better
No they can't get tamed
And black up the heads of the sick and the lame
Some men jump out of their brains
Cause they can't take the pressure
Or the shame or the pain
When they see the life, it go down the drain
In Pentonville it's a different ball game
It's rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough
Yeah rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough now
Lying on my lumpy mattress
Lying on my back
Staring up at the ceiling
Counting all the cracks
And what's happening behind me
Look over my shoulder back
Bill Cole got my breakfast pack
He won't give it back
Ooooooooooh
It's rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough
Yeah rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough now
Everyday, it's the same
People can't get better
No they can't get tamed
And black up the heads of the sick and the lame
Some men jump out of their brains
Cause they can't take the pressure
Or the shame or the pain
When they see the life, it go down the drain
In Pentonville it's a different ball game
So A wing, B wing, C wing and G Wing
Come help us sing
A wing, B wing, C wing and G Wing
Come help us sing
Because it's rough
Pentonville tough
It's hard
Wicked and rough
Yeah tough
Pentonville rough
It's hard
Wicked and rough
11 What Katy Did Next (03:07)
There's a lesson I have learnt
If you play with fire you will get burnt
Hell hath no fury
Like woman scorned
I'll tell you my story
Make you wish you never, wish you...
Wish you never never, wish you never been born
I may never learn, never know
I may live and learn but never know
I may crash and burn, oh no
I may take my turn
If you love her, then tell her you love her and
You could be kissing her soon
If you need her, oh, tell her you need her and
You won't be missing her soon
Oh, but for a love to be true
It must come from her too
It's a lesson hard learned
If you play with fire you will get burnt
Hell hath no fury
... (?)
Oh, I may never learn, you never know
I may live and learn, never know
I may crash and burn, oh no
I may take my turn
If you love her, then tell her you love her and
You could be kissing her soon
If you need her, oh, tell her you need her and
You won't be missing her soon
12 Albion (05:24)
Down in Albion
They're black and blue
But we don't talk about that
Are you from 'round here?
How do you do?
I'd like to talk about that
Talk over
Gin in teacups
And leaves on the lawn
Violence in bus stops
And the pale thin girl with eyes forlorn
More gin in teacups
And leaves on the lawn
Violence in dole queues
And the pale thin girl
Behind the checkout
If you're looking for a cheap sort
Set in false anticipation
I'll be waiting in the photo booth
At the underground station
So come away, won't you come away
We could go to...
Deptford, Catford, Watford, Digberth, Mansfield
Ahh anywhere in Albion
Anywhere in Albion
Anywhere in Albion
Yellowing classics
And canons at dawn
Coffee wallahs and pith helmets
And an English song
Mmm... Reebok classics
And canons at dawn
Terrible warlords, good Warlords
And an English song
Oo if you're looking for a cheap sort
All glint with perspiration
There's a four-mile queue
Outside the disused power station
Now come away, oh say you'll come away
We'll go to...
Satsworth, Senford, Weovil, Woomoyle, NEW-CAST-LE
If you are looking for a cheap tart
Don't glint with perspiration
There's a five-mile queue
Outside the disused power station
Now come away (away), won't you come away
We'll go to...
Bedtown, Oldham, Nunthorpe, Rowlam, Bristol
Aaa-nywhere in Albion
Anywhere in Albion
Anywhere in Albion
Anywhere in Albion
Anywhere in Albion...
13 Back From the Dead (02:52)
I heard it said
You had come back from the dead
You were playing so fine
Scooping up the soul of the wine
Courage my boy, when you look them in the eye
Try not to look too scummy
If you want some money
If you need some money now, oh...
This ain't no happy place to be
There's nothing nice around me
Nothing nice about me
Oh almost everyone agrees
It's a hell of a year for you and me my friend
Oh promises, promises
I know you've heard them all before
Love is, love is, love is, love is, love is...
Oh well it's just around the corner
I heard it said
You had come back from the dead
Playing so fine
Even if you don't show up on time
Courage my boy
When you look them in the eye
Laugh if they try to be funny
If you need some money now, oh...
14 Loyalty Song (03:32)
Ah, tell me
What did I dream?
Cause nothing's as it seems
On the way back down, for me
What did I dream?
Cause nothing's as it seems
On the way back round, for me
Nothing's gonna keep me from my
What did I dream?
No one's gonna keep me from my
What did I dream?
We're on the one road
Maybe the wrong road
It's the road to fuck knows where
We're on the one road
Maybe the wrong road
But we're together now so I don't care
Nothing's gonna keep me from my
What did I dream?
No one's gonna keep me from my
No one'll fucking keep me from my
No one's gonna keep me from my
What did I dream?
And if I confide in you today
I know you don't believe a single word I say
I found solace in the flood
And everybody knew that I would
Cause I'm alright
And there's a slight crack in my chimney
So tell me
What did I dream? (x3)
Nothing's as it seems
On the way back round for me
What did I? (x3)
What did I dream?
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Other reviews
By giov
Pete Doherty, arrogant and in the grip of a clear delusion of grandeur in Britain, has produced the most disastrous rock album of the musical season.
'Down In Albion' represents the pinnacle of nothingness.
By FUCKFOREVER
Pete Doherty is either hated or loved. I hate and love him.
If he were appreciated by everyone, he wouldn’t be a genius.
By Apple_of_sodomY
If the album didn’t have Pete Doherty’s voice and guitar, the album would be nothing.
They are punk. They are truly punk.
By Poeta Maledetto
Pete Doherty is wrong to think he can do what Noel Gallagher did 10 years ago.
It’s not enough to do drugs, pick up a guitar, and play like a headless chicken to be called rock’n’roll.
