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Rating: Try to Cage Pete Doherty if You Can.
The antics with Kate Moss have now overshadowed those good things that the "good" Pete has done in his career (the first Libertines, something from "The Blinding E.P.") and fueled the detractors regarding the bad ones ("Down In Albion," except for three episodes, was frankly a chaotic flop). So, how to bring out the best from the (seemingly former) ultimate junkie?
That's what they must have asked themselves at Parlophone, and the crossroads is always the same: "channel" Doherty's talent into a more regular and methodical path (but inevitably sacrifice it), or let it run free (and risk the debut debacle). The chosen path seems to be the first one, given the shift to the "watchdog" Stephen Street as producer. As expected, it seems that the disputes between the bandleader and the iron sergeant were numerous, and such that Street was induced to storm out of the recording studios several times, only to return, implored by the other band members. Add to that Pete's individualistic aspirations (his solo album seems almost ready), and the omelet is almost done. Almost, because the new "Shotter's Nation" turns out to be a good album, with a couple of episodes that are even surprising.
The album starts by highlighting a well-defined stylistic imprint; a skewed and disordered guitar riff introduces us to "Carry On Up The Morning", libertinesque to its core, already confirming the sound heavily cleaned up compared to the debut (and already showcased in the previous e.p.). The first single "Delivery" is a guitar pop/garage song that Pete can now write with his eyes closed, the six-string jumps around pleasantly and lively, and Doherty's voice retains that tone between apathetic and off-key that is now a trademark. The melody of "You Talk" is impactful, leading us to "Unbilo Titled", a slow song clearly inspired by certain eternally depressed Britpop atmospheres. "Side Of The Road" is a two-minute garage punk full of constant rhythm changes, flowing pleasantly, as does "Crumb Begging Baghead" which presents vaguely "bluesy" nuances. Notable is the second single "French Dog Blues", written by Moss, Ian Brown, and Doherty. Then, in one swoop, it shifts from the Strokes-like "Baddie's Boogie" to the more classic British pop of "Deft Left Hand", leaving aside "Unstookie Titled", harmless but possessing a pleasant instrumental coda and a good bass riff. Still, there are two little gems in the album: the swinging and splendid "There She Goes", a former Libertines song, the only one with some "relation" to the tracks on "Down In Albion" (comes immediately to mind "La Belle Et La Bête"), and the final classy touch "Lost Art Of Murder", entirely written by Pete, indicative of the beautiful things the boy can pull out of the hat on a melodic and emotional level.
This "Shotter's Nation" seems like a good re-start for the 'shambles, so let’s hope it truly is. But it's still unknown if reining in (even partially) Doherty's talent is a clever move long-term. We shall see, now that, moreover, Barat with his Dirty Pretty Things is about to respond.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Carry on Up the Morning (02:58)
In the morning where does all the pain go
The same place the fame goes straight to your head
Ah, it’s not easy getting outta bed
It wasn't easy gettin you out my head
So much shame on the workman who blames his tools
Then so the saying goes so it's said
The way you tease me, tease me outta my head
Ah, it's not easy forgettin what you said
I know you used to be into me now you've got it in for me
In the morning where does all the pain go
The same place the fame goes straight to your head
It wasn't easy gettin you outta my head
Ah, it's too easy gettin outta my head
Given up trying to explain I'll just put it in a song instead
Ah, it's not easy gettin outta bed
Ah, it's too easy gettin outta my head
I know where to find, where to find you my love
At the same old place by the river, the only way in is
through the window, trough the window
02 Delivery (02:42)
By or by the way of an explenation
Cast adrift off the shore's of shotter's nation
I had a lick it caved my skull like a brick
Oh now what an use am I to anyone
I'm fucked, forlorn, frozen beneath the summer
Don´t sing along or you'll get what I got
Here comes a delivery straight from the heart of my misery
Here comes a delivery straight from the heart to you
Yeah you now you now you you´ve finally left school
Oh what on earth do you intend to do
See if you can tick the man go downtown
Where all you skins and mods you get together
Make pretend it's 1969 forever
Find a firl have a drink have a dance and pray
This song might deliver me straight from the harshness of misery
Cos this song's a delivery straight from the heart to you
Yes here comes a delivery straight from the heart of my misery
This song might deliver me straight from the heart to you
Yes here comes a delivery straight from the heart of the misery
Here comes a delivery straight from the heart to you
03 You Talk (03:30)
You talk, you talk a good game
Wish I could talk the same
A song is just a game I'm getting good at cheating at
You talk, yes you talk a good game
Won't you teach me the same
Oh I'd love to explain, like showing your hand and all about
Oh well I know, I know, I know, I know and so and so and so
So what I suppose it's got to
Oh well I never ever said it was clever
I just like getting leathered
Looking for the light the light behind your eyes
You talk, you talk a good game
Wish I could talk the same
Writing songs' just a game I'm getting good at cheating at
Utah, remember Utah in the rain
And those little red shoes and some kid with the blues
Who gets right on your tits, you just grin and bear it
Oh well I know, I know, I know, I know it's wrong and so and so and so
So what I suppose it's got to
Oh but I never ever said it was clever
I just like getting leathered
And looking for the light the light behind your eyes
Bevan, he drops stones from heaven L O R D for ever
And the love, the love behind your eyes
You talk, you talk a good game
You talk, you talk a good game
You talk, you talk a good game
You talk, you talk a good game
Well I never, ever said it was clever
I just like getting leathered looking for the light
The light behind your eyes
Oh Bevan, he drops stones from heaven L O R D for ever
And the love behind your eyes
04 UnBiloTitled (03:52)
He is stronger than the walls
You tried to build around him
To dumb or dumbfound him
For 2000 years I waited for your call
Screaming from the window
Screaming bloody murder
The more that you follow me
The more I get lost
You think that you know me
You're pissing me off
Yeah, you said that you love me
Why don't you fuck off?
Anyone who think that you own me
You're ripping me off
I messed my head and I messed my head
How happy would I be
To shine fire upon, everyone and no one
I Messed my head and I messed my head
How happy would I be
To shine fire upon, everyone and no one
Wolfman and Bilo, on the run
Wolfman said to Bilo "I'm calling it on"
Bilo said to Blue Eyes "put your trousers back on"
He is stronger than the walls
You tried to build around him
To dumb and dumbfound him
2000 years I waited for the call
Screaming from the windows
Screaming bloody murder
05 Side of the Road (02:09)
I'm half dead I'm a third alive
A quarter ticking over in the middle
By the side of the road
Don't get surrounded by people you hate
Who choke you out the house down the
Path and out the garden gate
All in or never
We're worse when we're together
White punks on dope
Spewin on the side
With the fans and the bands
And the gangs and the tramps
The monkey man can't hide
What the little girl will find
What is it that you're doing to me
I don't know what I know what I know it's like electricity
All in or never ......
What it is that you're doing to me
I don't know what I know what I know it's like electricity
All in or never ......
All in or never ......
I'm half dead I'm a third alive
A quarter ticking over in the middle
By the side of the road
09 There She Goes (03:36)
I do declare I was surprised to see you stay
Only to be betrayed by the one you gave all your love and trust
And tell me how could I let go
Since I caught a glimpse of your immense soul
You were dancing to northern soul
Just one glance, ah well you know..
There she goes a little heartache
There she goes a little pain
Make no mistake she sheds her skin like a snake
On the dirty road to fame
There she goes a little heartache
There she goes a little pain
Make no mistake she sheds her skin like a snake
You´re going to walk the plank again, walk the plank again
I was to implore that you forget all you saw
When you came through my door and from your bag
You pulled out more skag than I´d ever seen
No! How could I let go?
Since I caught a glimpse of your white plimsoles
Twisting and turning to northern soul
Just one glance, ah well you know
Everybody knows
There she goes a little heartache
There she goes a little pain
Make no mistake she sheds her skin like a snake
On the dirty road to fame
There she goes a little heartache
There she goes a little pain
Make no mistake she sheds her skin like a snake
You're going to walk the plank again, walk the plank again
There she goes a little, there she, there she, there she goes
10 Baddie's Boogie (03:55)
Baddie's bound by ancient codes of decency and secrecy
He understands about stabbing backs and shaking hands
So if or when you're behind bars or in front of them as you are
Look out for the man who'll bum your wife and then shake your hand
Oh you've been here before, you fell in love and carried her over the threshold
Thinking, she's far too good looking to do the cooking
Now, but that's twenty years ago...twenty years ago
That's a lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed up bastard
a lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed up bastard
a lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed up bastard
Lousy life, lousy life
Kid was singing will I ever be free, does this town hold no more for me
Club Tropicana the drinks are free, stick one in his face for me
Baddies bound to decency and secrecy
Baddies bound
Oh well you've been here before, fell in love and carried her over the threshold
Thinking, she's far too good looking to do the cooking
Oh but that was twenty years ago...twenty years ago
It's a lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed up bastard
a lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed up bastard
a lousy life for the washed up wife of a permanently plastered, pissed up bastard
Lousy life, a lousy life
Kid was singing will I ever be free, does this town hold no more for me
Club Tropicana the drinks are free, stick one in his face for me
Baddies bound...decency and secrecy
11 Deft Left Hand (04:04)
You seem the type to follow the line
Went from cheery vagabondage to cold blooded luxury in four years
No lick spittle or pickthack from sycophant claw back flunky
Oh, I want to lay by your side
Oh, I will lay down and die if I can´t lay by your side
Weaked vessel or better half?
That woman's tears could be the death of me ... oh dear
You know when she's had a few she´ll be onto you there's no letting up
But, I want to lay by your side
Oh, I will lay down and die if I can´t lay by your side
It may hap that these these are they - the golden years
So don't despair don't dismay dry your tears
Everything is for the best in the best of all possible worlds
I had a blast off with the cast of a play on the radio
They were more liberal times
Destined to drone in monotone on your radio
It's a little dream of mine
On but comments were less than complimentary
And the deft left hand it followed the right
I think about my happiest times and one of them was sat in bed watching a documentary on murderers
A bearcat, a memosa and a view of arcady
Oh, I want to lay by your side
Oh, I will lay down and die if I can´t lay by your side
Oh, I want to lay by your side
Oh, I'll surely lay down and die
I can't lay by your side
Oh, I want to lay by your side
Oh, I will lay down and die if I can't lay by your side
Oh, I want to lay by your side
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Other reviews
By sergentedietzel
"Peter Doherty remains a great storyteller, a genuine talent, a poet."
"The 2007 Babyshambles are an excellent band led by a charismatic frontman."
