Search - Babyshambles :: Down in Albion

Pathetic even by the standards of today

Mr. Thomas Thatcher | Salisbury, UK | 02/28/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Both the playing and the singing on this much-debated CD are absolutely pitiful, at best. It is possible to see a tiny germ of talent in Mr Doherty's words, in a sort-of E J Thribb pretentiousness, and he is supposed to be a very nice guy away from the lights. The live performances on the TV, unredeemably lamentable, tend to reinforce some people's view that this emperor is very definitely without clothes.

There is so much good music, new and old, that I cannot see why anybody should seek out this second-rate stuff. Even in these days of British New Labour mediocrity, wherein nobody can be "bad" at anything or "fail" at anything, by law, it is unacceptable. This band would have been booed off stage in any rural village hall in England in the sixties as insulting their audience. On the other hand, perhaps that is what Doherty is trying to get at in the title song ? If so, I duly remove my hat to him, but I doubt it somehow.



I bought this album in the belief from the publicity that there was flawed genius at work. There isn't. It's dreadful. I was not allowed to give it no stars. There is absolutely no excuse for rubbish like this to see the light of day - it makes Fall Out Boy (see my review of Cork Tree on Amazon.com) seem like Cream. Actually, on second thoughts, it makes Fall Out Boy sound at least one-tenth competent.



Spend your hard-earned on a road map of Eilat. It will be more interesting

than the meanderings of these awful people.



"

Buy Dirty Pretty Things Instead

Dahlface | NYC | 04/03/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
If you like the Libertines, get the Dirty Pretty Things Album instead, which is manned by the other Lib's frontman.



Only one (maybe two) OK songs on this album. The rest is filler. I kind of think of Pete D. as a UK version of Paris Hilton--famous for being famous. If Pete were not heading Babyshambles, nobody would ever buy this album.



"

Not for everyone, but great all the same

Newton Terry Lillian | 06/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."