Reviews (page 7 of 7)
The songs are not as good as they are on Up The Bracket (a six-star album in my opinion) but everything you love about The Libertines is here on the S/T record.
Sounds like a Beatles and Clash collaboration that wasn't very good. It's not horrible but for the mid 2000s this was considered great.
I kind of like this record, but it could be… more.
Just found this boring. I liked the bands they are trying to be better.
Pretty decent mid 2000s indie rock. I had a good time listening to it, will listen again.
some decent early 00s brit pop-rock
Guitars, poor life choices and a good supply of drugs is a heady mix. And this is what you get - some real sparkle with the opening track, lots of Clash smells throughout the album and a mellow acoustic closer. It's not a great album though - loose and lazy in the middle. Guitar interplay is fun and there is still a lot to like, but it's no classic.
There's certainly a lot of drama behind this album. But unlike some other bands who can turn drama and internal tension into great music, this is just ok. I can see how they might have seemed exciting at the time though, touring with legendary acts and also performing underground gigs in their flats. The excitement doesn't really hold up unfortunately and it mostly sounds like just another punk band.
Automatic bias tells me this will be a 1 star, based on what I know of them. Yep...it's a 1. Listened to the album and heard nothing I liked
Two interesting songs but most not very memorable.
There are some solid tunes on this album. I’ll definitely check out some of their other stuff.
This was ok.
Pete Doherty is an insult to my eardrums
S’okay!
Typical English indie whatever.
ok stuff
This was not really that good.
The first couple of songs were excellent punk rockers showcasing a very tight band. Sadly this wasn't maintained and I found some of the vocals a bit of putting
A couple of enjoyable songs but mostly meh. Nice to see that they are trying to keep the hidden track alive, just not sure it works on Spotify. Did like the canvas though
Some really good songs here that attempt to peer into the swirling mess of the human soul. Mainly though its a little lacklustre probably better as an EP
Not quite living up to it's iconic status, more like reheated punk & indie leftovers with a few more spicy bits sprinkled on
Oh, those silly boys.
Yet another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex It's great until it's not... sadly relegated to the "landfill indie" wasteland. 2.5
Perfectly nestled in the Brit Pop strain of early 2000s Garage Rock revival
British 2000s Rock Revival is my shit. I don't like it as much as the Americans and their Garage Rock revolution, but it's pretty good. Nonetheless, I think this is a lesser album of the subgenre. Good! Listenable! Lots of fun! Would have dug it in high school. But not excellent
And, with that, The Libertines had capitulated. The mountain that had offered upward trajectories towards fame, glory, drugs and whatever else was fancied had become too much and the air within it was now unbearable to take in. Regardless of the platonic love (and seeming protection displayed) spilled across the cover and the music, tensions had overflowed as though it were boiled tea in a paper cup and, as though it was it's wont to do, the British rock music scene was again left in a vacuum; which is fitting given everything here sounds ripe for dour and dire lifting and copying somewhere down the line. Yet none of that would sound as good and as dynamic as this. Possibly their very best or just as good as what came before. One of the last times British rock captured true lightning in a bottle. Favorites: Can't Stand Me Now, Don't Be Shy, The Man Who Would Be King, Music When the Lights Go Out, Narcissist, The Ha Ha Wall, Campaign of Hate, What Katie Did, What Became of the Likely Lads.
Decent jangly English pop rock
Oughties British punks have nothing particular to add to the sound of the eighties; Doesn't surprise, only in that I failed to actively dislike. The closing acoustic chords suggest happy robbing from Britpop, more melody less drive. Best listened to out of time, I'm sure.
I used to listen to them in high school
Cookie cutter indie music from early 2000's. fairly fluffy. not bad
Didn't suck
bueno 👍
Generic garbage
I was concerned as I realized after very little investigation that this particular record was included in some editions of the 1001 but not the one I was working off of. Usually these records are thought of as being groundbreaking or interesting at the time, and then are pulled for better stuff later. Often these are UK bands. I liked this record. It is "post punk" in every sense of the phrase. It might not be groundbreaking and may be overrated, but it has good energy and I enjoyed listening to it.
I'm actually so happy that this is over soon Fock it 1
Enjoyable, but completely forgettable.
Awesome!
I found this album to be nothing particularly special. It was a lovely time capsule of an era of Brit pop renessiance that we grew up through in the early to mid 2000s, but I didn’t know The Libertines then and I don’t really want to continue to know them now. There were a few nice tracks; I liked “What Katie Did,” but overall I just found the music to be very average and nothing particularly groundbreaking. Overrated? Maybe.
Another that I feel I should like more than I do. Honestly prefer the follow up album to this one. 3/5
Better than I expected, given the track record of British indie records from the early aughts on this list, but inessential nonetheless.
Was unfamiliar with this band.. I like this album enouyto give another listen..
trebly
I like the vibes, but the album didn’t hold my attention the whole time.
This is pretty lackluster stuff. Hard to get excited about it. From the bio it looks like they're barely excited to play with one another and it shows.
The Libertines is just boy band without chaperones dedicated to getting high and slaying ass. The music is sloppy, dirty, intricately normal and fulfills creativity on a basic level. The music is better than most on this list, but extrication of personality from music ruins most all of that.
I recognized the album cover immediately. I know the name The Libertines. I know the name Pete Doherty. But I didn't know their music. At all. Even "Can't Stand Me Now," the first and most popular single, didn't ring a bell. That recognition of all but their music is a reminder of their notoriety. Particularly Doherty's notoriety. I recall Doherty being noteworthy more for his struggles with drug abuse than for his music. The Libertines may have briefly been darlings of the British rock scene, across the pond those tribulations made more of an impact than their songs. So what do The Libertines sound like? A little like every popular British band that came before them. "Can't Stand Me Now" is reminiscent of The Cure, other parts invoke The Beatles, but much of it fits into the post-punk revival of the early 00s. However, The Libertines pale in comparison to The Strokes, The Fratellis, The Vines, The Hives (what's with all the "The" bands?), and others. The middle of "The Libertines" had a some decent tracks, especially "The Ha Ha Wall," but overall the album was more forgettable than the band's drama. After The Libertines took a break, Doherty went on to form Babyshambles. I have no idea if Babyshambles were any better than The Libertines, but I don't think I can bear to listen to a band with such a ridiculous name to find out.
This was … fine. It’s the poor man’s Fratellis. So when i was done I went and listened to Costello Music. That’s a five.
I’m still a bit stunned this was made 20 years ago and not 40 years. The Britishness definitely shines through. Not a good thing though. The vocals on Don’t Be Shy are beyond awful. Shy-y-y. Please. I’m with the BBC poll-ees ranking this as the third most overrated album of all time. Cheers. What Katie Did is actually a decent song. Refreshing, but not enough.
Another classic record from my youth. I think actually I heard this one in full before “Up The Bracket” and it totally holds a good space in my memories, but in retrospective I have to say it’s inferior to its predecessor and it drags in the middle for a good while. Having said that, songs like Last post on the Bugle, What Katie Did or What Became of the Likely Lads are awesome and a testament of why this record is on the list. I’ll give it a four and save the five for the debut record (it is on the list right?)
soso 2.5
Some brit pop/punk, not bad but not something I’d like to listen to any more than a few times.
Poop
grungy
Pretty average radio rock
3/5 barely there but no
Era el moment i el lloc idonis. Amb la resurrecció del rock al nou mil.leni, es va crear el conjunt de circumstàncies ideal perquè sortissin bandes com The Libertines. Els seus primers dos discos (tornarien amb un tercer onze anys després) són documents impresicindibles d'aquells anys. Punk rock pulit i melòdic amb temes tan bons com 'Music When the Lights Go Out' o 'What Katie Did'. La personalitat i excentricitats de Pete Doherty ompliria centenars de pàgines de la premsa musica britànica aquells anys, però les seves incursions musicals allunyat de Carl Barat mai arribarien a apropar-se a la seva societat amb ell
Jumbled messy stream-of-consciousness junkie logic stories about nothing and everything, from a time guitars were endangered and english kids thought this lot could help bring them back. Interesting and, in the uk, important, and surprisingly good
Midddddd
Shades of The Clash, which only makes sense since it was produced by one Mick Jones. Even if they're not quite The Clash, this is still a damn good time. I still say these boys had the best amphetamines, which only makes me jealous and won't help this overall rating. Also, we lost the great Richard Roundtree today. I'd probably feel worse about that if I didn't already believe he'd been dead for years. You could say that has nothing to do with this album, and I for one won't argue with you if you decide that's a hill you want to die on. You do you, that's YOUR journey. For whatever reason, this album actually made me smile upon remembering Richard Roundtree's life. In his honor, I'm grading this up a notch.
Good
This one is nice, actually. I was taken back by the cover art at first. But, aside from a song or two, this one was pretty cool. Rather than being a bit one note and forgettable, this one is still fun to sit through. Cool!
2.5 meh
Zanney to the zaniest
Like a lot of songs on this album, it's actually quite a good album not favorite but still a good good album. MID to HIGH 7
Love this album
C'était un album ok
Libertyyyyy
Enjoyable sound profile consistently throughout.
A sublime synthesis of pop influences - Clash and Smiths stand out, but there are some grungy and even a little rockabilly, surf/spaghetti western elements. Catchy tunes, a very uncluttered mix, and solid work by drummer Gary Powell and bassist John Hassall keeping the sound tight and focused. So many good tunes, but "Narcissist", "Arbeit Macht Frei", and "What Katie Did" stand out, along with "Can't Stand Me Now" and "What Became of the Likely Lads".
the album cover was misleading - this is not against the grain whatsoever
Really good, has punk/dive bar vibes
Decent but not memorable or anything
Had its moments, but don't need to revisit them.
A few of the songs on here really bring it down. The band has some pretty decent songs bit some of these were straight trash.
Good
What if the Kinks, but the Cars? That’s not fair. This is good stuff. Still… maybe Violet Femmes lived next door?
very nice
Yes, I can understand why many people feel this is overrated. The songs are fine, in fact I enjoyed a lot of the songs, but there's nothing really original or groundbreaking with their sound. With all the hype surrounding this album, I was expecting worse, so my expectations weren't high and for the most part it doesn't live up to the hype. Still it's a decent album worth hearing, but don't worry if you don't hear it before you die..
4+
Really dug this
Meh. sounds like all the rest
Didn't make it through the whole album, ran out of time yesterday. It seemed fine, pretty neutral about what I heard.
this was a pleasant surprise! I thought i'd dug to the bottom of the early 2000's alt rock well, but somehow these dudes were not on my radar! I really dig the sound they were putting together. it's got the all the feel of early 00's alt rock while firmly rooted with old brit punk. the album itself felt a little front loaded to me, but they get bonus points since the band's story is riddled with rock'n'roll shenanigans. mysterious and vague love affairs, interpersonal conflict, loads of drugs.. it's all there!
I didn’t expect to like this, but it was much better than I thought!
Cool. Best one so far
Pretty fun overall, I feel like it's a pretty clear 3.5 to me. Good, not great. I like the story of the band though. Album is probably better if you imagine them getting into fist fights and then passionately kissing right afterwards. 🤷
Something about the sleazyness of it all annoys me to hell.
The album cover sacred me... but this is actually pretty good. Some solid (kind of indie) rock.
Nope. nothing interesting.
Think this might have been a little overrated at the time.
A generous 3 star review. Remember thinking at the time they were quite clever writers but this has aged badly.
Can’t stand them now
It’s alright,can’t stand me now is pretty good but the rest is just fine brit rock.Bot really inspiring or cool sounding.
Pareceu-me um indie com alguma disposição para ser festivo.
Rock suave sin complicaciones. Un tanto guitarrero, pero sin destacar especialmente.
Started so strong! Can’t stand me now - classic. Really good example of a polished indie rock band from the early 00’s. Album became a bit repetitive. Downhill after song 1
The libertines are to me the last true rock and roll band spillover from the 20th century - they’re dangerously falling apart musically and I guess truly at points in their short explosive burst of their original career - of which they barely survived but gave us two records of perfection - with a duo songwriting combo of Doherty and Barat - which echo the Lennon and McCartney phenomenon of being greater than the sun of their parts. This album is meticulously produced and performed - yet the struggles are evident even in the singing performances - the drums are comically overplayed but somehow just for the right amount and the guitars weave in and out dangerously with punk gusto. Doherty barks and mumbles away musically throughout while Barat keeps it grounded and Mick Jones captures it gleefully as it probably reminds him of the shambles the Clash were in their later years. An artful record - maybe maybe not totally perfect as their debut but only by a hair.
I’m surprised to see no reference here to the greatest review this album received. (I may be misreading - the reviews only go back to March 2023 in my browser). Nigel Blackwell of Half Man Half Biscuit was so appalled by this record that he wrote the scathing “Shit Arm Bad Tattoo”. It is deliciously scathing, but the second verse always fills me with joy. ‘If you're going to quote from the Book of Revelation Don't keep calling it the Book of Revelations There's no "s", it's the Book of Revelation As revealed to St John the Divine See also Mary Hopkin She must despair.’ To me this album sounds like the tape was left running during a beery rehearsal. How it became one of the 1001 albums I must hear before expiring, I don’t understand. And I’ll be especially miffed if Achtung Bono isn’t on the list.
Pretty solid honestly. I'm kinda going back and forth with rating this a 3 or 4. On the one hand I like that the mood of the album is consistent and I think that is a mark of an artist knowing how to craft an album as a unified piece of work. There are no songs seem like they shouldn't be on the album. My problem I come back to though is that I didn't fall in love with any songs. Maybe if I listened to more of it I would get more hooked, but I don't know if this is an album I would come back to.
Suspect that this would come across well live as their concerts tend to be fairly chaotic; but on album it just sounds amateurish, Sub par indie landfill
Was a fan of the libertines when I was a teenager, proably one of the best U.K. bands from the 00’s Indie scene until the Arctic Monkeys came along. So this is rating has a personal bias to it, a soild 4 star album in my eyes. As a side note I seen everyone is jumping on the Wikipedia sentence that in 2005 this was voted the 3rd most overrated album of all time. Thought it was worst sharing the results of that poll here of that poll for context: 1 Nirvana - Nevermind 2 Coldplay - X&Y 3 The Libertines - The Libertines 4 Oasis - Definitely Maybe 5 U2 - Joshua Tree 6 Radiohead - OK Computer 7 The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 8 The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds 9 Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks 10 The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead Apart from X&Y I’d say that list is full of great albums, overrated maybe, but still great none of the less.
Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Yeah it’s a classic this one! Favourite song: Track 1 - Can’t Stand Me Now
I’m not a huge fan of indie music and this just falls into that category. I didn’t enjoy this one all that much. Not my thing
I would have loved this album was I was 14.
The most fun I've ever had with a terrible album
The Libertines' self-titled album is a gritty and chaotic masterpiece that encapsulates the raw energy of the mid-2000s British indie rock scene. Released in 2004, it's a whirlwind of poetic lyrics and disheveled guitar riffs. Tracks like "Can't Stand Me Now" and "Music When the Lights Go Out" capture the band's tumultuous spirit. The album's production is unpolished, perfectly reflecting the band's turbulent journey. Though its rough edges might deter some listeners, "The Libertines" remains an iconic album that documents a chaotic moment in rock history, making it a must-listen for fans of the era and those intrigued by the band's rollercoaster narrative.
The musical equivalent of the word 'meh'.
Bit of a mish-mash
J'ai trouvé ca bon pour vrai. Garage punk rock band anglais. Ca aurait pu être vraiment moyen, mais il y ad e la variété dans les chansons. Les voix sont bonne et c'est bien produit, pas trop ''punk'' pour que je perde le gout apres un bout. Assez rock pour que je reste intéressé. 4.
Not bad, too long.
All right
Listened Before? N Ummmmm.... I think I'm not British enough for this album? Critical acclaim? hm. I'm kinda speechless. I didn't HATE it, but I can't say I liked it much either. I think I'll just try to forget this frenetic mess. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: What Katie Did
9/10 amazing stuff throughout fantastic album
Yeah, it's fine.
Yeah, fine.
I remember going to one of the last Libertines gig in Camden in 2004. It was in a tent out the back of an art gallery. They were jeered by some of the crowd as they shambled through their set. "Once a Libertine, always a Libertine!" shouted one of their hangers-on. The band split up about a week later. As I walked home in the rain there was a junkie screaming for his mother in a phone box outside the tube station. The Libertines is like skipping the all-night bender and just going straight to waking up in a puddle of your own vomit.
Classic album. Not quite 5 stars, I will leave that for the best of that combines the choice songs from their first two albums. Some incredible songs, some incredibly forgettable songs. A bit of personal trivia - I was commissioned to design the poster for their first Australian tour around the time this came out. Pete left the band and the touring company swapped so my design didn't get used. As a consolation I got tickets to one of their shows. Unfortunately without Pete in the band it was a bit dull so I left about half way through
Irritante stem heeft die Pete eigenlijk, verpest de hele plaat zo.
Wauw, dat ze die heroïne spuiters zoveel credits geven is beyond me.
Het heeft de ingredienten om een aardig album te zijn, maar toch vind ik er niet zoveel aan. Weet niet precies waar 'm dat in zit, maar het mist gewoon echt wat meer diepgang. En dat lijzige geluid van Pete D staat me ook gewoon tegen.
Die Pete Doherty kan natuurlijk helemaal niet zingen. Verder best vrolijk en energiek.
Globalement bien conçu. Pas tellement mon style, mais je peux admettre qu'il y a un soucis de qualité. Je ne risque pas d'y retourner, mais je ne suis pas fâché contre non plus. 7/10
Peppy bar music, with an underlying anger and punkness. They are easy to listen to, but also fun to listen to. Drawling vocals and lyrics, feel like someone is telling you a story. They put together rockabilly, indie, rock, punk, almost a beach rock quality. I definitely hear a barely early Arctic Monkeys and Fratellis sound to them. Favorite Songs: Can't Stand Me Now, The Man Who Would Be King, Music When the Lights Go Out, Least Favorite: Tomblands, The Saga
Kinda like a supergrass meets Morrissey band.
Not half bad, actually, kind of Living End meets Britpop. I'd never heard Pete Doherty's stuff and my estimation has risen slightly.
Ye gods, but The Libertines were dreadful! Half Man Half Biscuit summed them up perfectly: "We've just been performing a guerrilla gig In the middle of another group's guerrilla gig Well surely that's the ultimate guerrilla gig But still they cried like girls"
It just felt... sloppy. And not in a good way. The singer didn't seem to be really with it, he was kind of all over the place. I guess that was what he was going for, but it was just not impressive. You either go all the way, like Johnny Rotten did in the Sex Pistols, or you just sound drunk. The acoustic bit in the hidden track was nice, though. Remember those? Hidden tracks. They were always cool. So yeah, nothing overly impressive here. Reminded me a bit of Jet and "Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" but with less chops. Not memorable. Next.
Very British-sounding garage rock. I don't mind it but it's hard to distinguish it from other garage rock bands of that era. Two frontmen who share guitar and vocal duties. Ok fine, but not in some kind of Lennon & McCartney way - feels more mashed-up. I think I knew the song Can't Stand Me Now coming in and it's my favorite. Most polished beat? Most synergetic between the two frontmen? What Katie Did might be the only other song where I stopped and paid attention for a few seconds. Maybe Campaign of Hate or What Became of the Likely Lads too. Feels perfectly average.
I loved everything about this one. It's got just about everything I love about punk without actually being punk. The energy, the aesthetics, the devil-may-care attitude, even the little musical tropes of punk... it's all there. It feels like the spiritual successor or the evolution of The Clash. The songwriting is smart and self-aware, the musicianship is so good, the production is fantastic... There's a lot of garbage that seems to have made it onto the list just because it's British. This ain't that. THIS is legitimately great. What a fun surprise.
Absolutely baffling the this one is on the list and the debut isn’t. This is just tabloid fodder for the 2000s. I love the Libertines, their debut is actually timeless. This hasn’t held up
Pretty good, I liked some songs more than others a lot more though.
This scene kinda passed me by, and is not necessarily my thing, but this ain’t bad.
I really liked this album when it came out. Haven't listed to it for a long time. I was a little disappointed that it didn't stand up as well now as I had hoped it would.
This is so drab Hard to see why there was so much press surrounding them when they were popular The lead “singer” sounds like he’s having a drunken ramble over some basic run-of-the-mill indie rock instrumentals Luckily, bands like Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand would come along and make garage rock more interesting and FUN Favourite tracks: Can’t Stand Me Now, Don’t Be Shy, What Became of the Likely Lads
Not really for me
Realmente aburrido. Can't Stand Me Now puede que haya sonado en algún momento de esos 2004, pero escuchando ahora le encuentro toda la razón al destino que quiso que en esos años ignorara a esta banda y su música.
A really decent album from the garage-rock revival era. I knew of The Libertines but only really knew of their most well-known tracks, but I enjoyed this a lot - they were a lot more varied than I expected. Their favourite track of mine isn't here, it was only ever a single (No points for guessing which...) but I thought this was great! Favourite: Can't Stand Me Now
OK I guess. Completely forgettable though.
Good grungy punk
Indie rock. Ni fu ni fa.
Not sure why this is on this list. It's fine, but it's just generic rock.
I don't really remember much about it? There must be better indie/garage rock albums out there to pick from
Can't stand you now? Couldn't stand them then, either. Post-Britpop bilge that's almost indistinguishable from Arcade Fire, Razorlight et al. There is nothing outstanding to redeem this that wasn't available in spades at the time, with Pete Doherty taking the "bad boy britpop wanker" thing into overdrive. Less enfant terrible, more outstanding fuckup.
I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS
Good for a wanker. 4 stars.
I mean, sure. It’s generic indie, but I like most indie anyway. Enjoyable - you know, even though I liked it, it’s not really noteworthy.
Wonderful. That kind of young feeling I like this kind of punk
People say it’s overrated. First time I’ve heard it. So, good to me. I liked it.
I didn't listen too close to it but I enjoyed what I picked up. A lot of it reminded me of an updated The Cure or something (specifically Just Like Heaven), with very quippy lyrical delivery and hazy production. 7/10
*Shrug* 2.5 stars.
Unremarkable indie rock 2.5
Too British-poppy for me
This was not a good album. I do not need indie music let alone British Indie music.
Rock indie
Terug - weer zo iets dat niet direct mijn meug is, beetje overrated
Weinig speciaals aan dit indie-plaatje
Poor, nothing worth listening
J'avais déjà écouté à l'époque et je le trouve un peu ennuyeux.
"Don't Be Shy" especially sounds very Clash. Sounds like a Clash-inspired post-punk band from 2004. That could be unfair, but I'm not sure why this is on the list. Maybe this band was really inspirational or popular in the UK. Seems good, maybe it'd grow on me but doesn't seem very remarkable.
Pretty good mid-00s indie rock album.
Why do I not like these guys? This cover puts me on the defensive from the get go. And nothing on here proved me wrong. It's all fine playing and everything. I like me some jangly guitars. But none of these tunes were worth the listen. I don't need any of this.
A part of me understands this album's ramshackle, shambolic charm - and every now and again it threatens to work its magic on me - but far too much of the material sounds underpowered and under-baked. On purpose? It has all the punch of a demo recorded through a mobile phone. Still, some of these lads are QPR fans, so I can't be too harsh. They've suffered enough already. Believe me, I know!
I may be behind you guys, but I'm with you. Nothing here moved me.
There is something about this album (mostly the vocals) that is so lazy, uninspired, and bland. Despite there being some good songs like Music When the Lights Go Out, The Ha Ha Wall, and What Katie Did, the Brits were right when they collectively decided it was overrated.
Interesting "punkish" garage band rock.
I'm getting so bored with british music from this list. I cant find anything redeeming or interesting about this album. Its sooo boring. Its got like one halfway decent track that I probably wont listen to ever again. 1/5
Interesting sound. But, couldn't find enough snap.
3/5. Not too bad.
Not my thing
The Libertines were one of the perpetrators of the garage rock revival, though from the UK side. The energetic indie rock is dragged down by Peter Doherty's unfortunate voice. Many of the songs meander and feel like a waste of space. It is the opposite of purposeful songwriting. It's trashy, boring, safe music that probably seemed cool at the time but has aged terribly. The legacy of the Libertines is weak and their influence is nil. Better rock music has been made by better bands that same year. Go listen to Modest Mouse or Interpol instead.
Not bad. Not great.
This was more enjoyable and catchy than I had expected.
its just okay
This sounds very run-of-the-mill to me. "The Libertines was voted the third-most overrated album ever made in a 2005 BBC public poll." Seems about right.
As far as early 2000s British Indie Rock goes, I'd have to say I prefer this to almost everything else that was going on at that time. Has a nice and loose feel to it that makes it more relatable than a lot of the over produced things that were in fashion at the time. Goes down easy like a pint of lager.
Indie-rock-that-you'd-maybe-go-see-live-if-it-was-free-and-you'd-have-a-good-time-but-that's-about-it-music
It's OK. Had to put aside the anti-celebrity bias. Probably would have enjoyed it more in my 20s, which was in the 90s.
I'll guarantee this is UK indie rock. That cover speaks for itself. The one on the right looks like classic chav bullshit. Bet this sucks. Yeah, standard issue UK indie rock. Just like the thousand other tiny variations on it I've already heard here. Surely they know this shit is only ever very mildly popular outside the UK? 2/5.
Rating: 10/10
A modern fusion of garage rock (in the same vein as Franz Ferdinand or Arctic Monkeys) with 60s British soft rock (Soft Faces or the Kinks). It's groovy and catchy with a raw bluesy live-sounding instrumental that takes influence from surf rock. Even hearing jazz in "The Man Who Would Be King". The chords and beats are basic, adhering to the punk style but with distortion put to the max. The vocalists conflict with each other in a fun way, singing different lines or scatting different noises. Tons of highlights, at least three quarters left some kind of impression. This is exactly my type of music, so I fell in love with most of these tracks. I heard "Up the Bracket" is even better so surely checking that out.
Ik ben 10 keer van mening verandert tijdens dit album. Na de eerste track dacht ik nou wel zin in een dumpster fire maar het eindigde in een op zich oké. Hier en daar wel echt random instrumenten of vals gezongen tussendoor maar dat geeft het ook z’n charme, i guess. Ik licht ‘The Man Who Would Be King’ uit, waarschijnlijk het meest voor het album sprekende nummer. Rare vocale erop maar een ‘mysterieuze’ instrumental die je er toch mee in sleept. Het is cringey maar leuk tegelijkertijd, en ik voel me ergens vies dat ik het wel leuk vind. 3 sterren, maar dat kunnen er morgen weer 2 zijn. Of 4
Better dan ik me herinner. Prima album.
I love indie rock, but this is mid as heck. Which means that it's not that good but it made me happy listening to it anyway.
What a fun-loving group of lads. They’re trying very hard to sound like the Kinks and I find that charming. I have a soft spot for bands like this. I used to listen to the Kooks a bunch in college and they have a very similar sound to the Libertines: blatant worship of British bands from the 60’s, English drawl front and center in the vocals, punk guitars and pop hooks.
I love the singers voice. It's like a more intimate and less saturated Julian Casablancas. I know there's other bands that they are trying to sound like but I can't think of their names but I do like the sound. There's some inconsistencies in the production that are a little annoying for me. The third song, "Don't Be Shy" sounds like a well-recorded demo that has had minimal mixing and mastering and actual production done to it, and yet it is surrounded by songs that sound much more refined. Overall I thought it was pretty good. Not a super standout though.
It's not bad, it's the definition of "landfill indie" however, instantly forgettable but does make you feel good while listening so sneaks a 3
Robert continue de mettre le doigt là où se situe précisément notre désintérêt.
J'avoue que j'ai bien aimé, mais quelle drôle d'idée de représenter le punk des années 2000 par ce groupe inconnu alors que des tas de groupes légendaires sont passés à travers les mailles du fillet Roberesque.
Pretty blah. Didn't like the vocals. Nothing really did it for me.
Not hearing anything too compelling here. Feels apathetic all around. I remember a girl in my highschool being super into Pete Doherty. I have to wonder, if it wasn't for that demographic would this album be notable? No desire to listen to this again. 1
Libertines! Finally hear their music, only heard the 1st Babyshambles album, with Peter Doherty. His voice is main attraction for me of this album, once saw Peter Doherty solo live and was memorable. Songs on the Libertines album from modest to really nice (like The Saga, Sex Pistols meets Arctic Moneys).
The singer sounds very much like Ray Davies, but his range is limited. Don't Be Shy is a good example of that. Music is good, and sounds just like other bands from the aughts.
Solid, though not as consistent and melodic as either Oasis or Arctic Monkeys. In addition to Ha Ha Wall, I liked Last Post and the Man Who Would Be King. I like the style and tone, just not enough to want to come back and relisten.
Yeah I don't really know what to think about this. There is a certainly a rawness and a feeling of punk abandon here--I don't know for sure, but I would not be surprised if they came about as being popular after the success of The Strokes. Some of these songs are chaotic enough and fun enough to work, but I'm just not really feeling it. Kind of surprised this is on this list.
punk rock but none of the songs interested me 2.5
Meh. Its like Lacroix punk, there's just a smidgen of it there and it doesn't really satisfy. It's not even diet Coke level punk which would suffice.
Hard-pressed to see how this record is significant in any way at all. Like why before I die do I need to hear this? The answer is unclear. It's not weird enough. It's not good enough. It's not exciting enough. Heck, it's not even boring enough or terrible enough. It's middling indie rock with a slightly punky vibe. Okay. But why?
"The Libertines was voted the third-most overrated album ever made in a 2005 BBC public poll."
2.7
Wow! I really liked this. Sort of Arctic Monkeys meets the Kinks. Great energy. 4 stars.
it's about 50% the strength of up the bracket and it was a let down from all the bootleg versions of most of these songs but it's still steeped in nostalgia and there's some cracking songs on there, even if the recordings of them feel a bit sanitised.
A pasty white, sweaty orgy that's got out of hand, but you're still going to join. Give us a hand job whilst I touch your wife's bits, Tony.
Obviously nowhere near as good as Up the Bracket, but I can't knock it.
Ugh, Pete Doherty has got to be one of the all-time most revolting humans on the planet. I feel like I need 6 weeks in rehab just from looking at him. And he's a talentless hack to boot. I don't know much of his music, but I'm not hearing anything special here. I'm more well-acquainted with his train-wreck of a relationship with another disgusting human being, Kate Moss. They're both foul and they deserved each other. Weak sauce.
3.5 stars. Decent garage rock indie. Nothing extraordinary but it was a fine listen. Simple musically, duo vocals are good not great. Occasional fun guitaring.
A pretty fun, 3.5 star rock album. Doesn't stand out to me among the many other albums of the time that sounded quite similar, but it's well done. I'm gonna knock it back down to 3 just out of principle, because it's been a day since I listened and it's already wiped from my mind.
Qué yonkies y qué desastre, canciones buenas pero en general no iban a ningún lado. "Can't stand me now", "What Katie did" y algunas cosas más. Bien, le voy a dar un 3 aunque habrá gente que con el tiempo se pregunte por qué estaba este disco en una lista de 1001 imprescindibles.
It shows such promise, I just wish it were tighter and more polished.
OK. Some tracks that have stood the test of time, but sounded a bit cliched in places.
Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it. Probably will not listen again.
Amps for distortion… Chicks for free…. On huonoa soitantaa kitaralla.. silti miellyttäviä biisejä ja soundi.. heh ei voi mitään nyt säästyttiin ykköseltä heh kuin koirat aitauksen portilta heh.. painellaan vapaana KAKKOSELLA PRÖYSTÄILLÄÄN.. liberty painellaan vapaana libertines.. sanaleikki tarkoitettu…
I've had a long, odd, unhealthy obsession w Kate Moss & somehow this album became nothing but an extension of that.
Albumčina
A beautifully chaotic jangly heartfelt piece of work. Five stars for being a pretty clear Arctic Monkeys precursor that I wasn't previously aware of.
pity zero stars isn't available
Good and raucous.
Worth more listens
The music is fine, the singing doesn't so anything for me, the attitude is fairly obnoxious.
Se puede escuchar (PSP)
big ole meh for me. sounded like the mid 2000s but not in any way that interests me
5/10. Not bad by any means, but I can see why it's considered overrated
Why? 5/10
Saw it was an English indie band and thought I knew what I was getting into, but they avoid all the pitfalls of their contemporaries. Rough around the edges but dialed in when it needs to be. I really enjoy their classic, clean sound. Best track: Road to Ruin
I can appreciate what they're going for here, but it just didn't do it for me. The vocals in particular I found to be quite abrasive.
I’m a big Libertines fan- love the energy.
You can take me anywhere!
Unfortunately, this album goes on the pile of "What am I doing on this list" records. I was struggling to find anything original or honest about this position. But here I am, with empty hands, after listening to this two times in a row, because maybe I missed something important? Maybe there was a moment, on one of the tracks, that would unlock the whole experience for me? Or maybe a thorough background check of the band and the album will make it clearer? Nope, nothing works. It's just another indie rock band with indie rock album and indie rock tracks, just with a small twist - it's not good.
Scrappy and lively, raffish and fun and very likably, if insistently, cheeky. But it does all seem a bit put-on. One gets that they were pipped to be like the Clash, but they simply ain’t all that, or didn’t work out to be. And the “Stones to Franz Ferdinand’s Beatles” is even more of a reach. Best cut: “Music When the Lights Go Out” and “What Katy Did.” Still, it’s well-made modern rock, with quality throughout, and a clear leader in the aughties division.
Some decent instrumentals ruined by Wish.com Morrissey vocals. Some truly awful musical choices by the frontman on delivery, timing, and overall musicianship, so I hope the band found someone better to lead their relatively catchy early-aughts indie pop down the road.
The NME rates this bog standard indie rock album as the 99th greatest album of all time. No wonder the weekly music press died out. There is little here to distinguish this from any local band you'd see down the Dog & Partridge on a Wednesday night. Also, the vocals are bad and annoying. Rating: 2/5 Playlist track: Can't Stand Me Now Date listened: 30/03/23
Unbelievably, for how ubiquitous this was when I was living in London, I've never actually heard this record. First couple of tracks were cool but it's all a bit samey same.
As background music it has some good hooks. I liked it more than the average British indie band on the 1001. The 3 rating covers a lot of ground.
My first thought was that this is a good example of a band that should have been yanked from the 1001 list instead of The Killers or Franz Ferdinand, especially reading that they were voted the third-most overrated album ever made in a 2005 BBC public poll. Musically though, simplistic as they are, the song writing is varied enough to keep it interesting and the singer can sing. This would have been a great release in 1978 and it would have been ignored less than it was in 2004.
A few folks have mentioned that the first few songs are ok, but then it gets a bit samey. I concur.
Eh. Like every other mid 90s alt wave band.
Yeah that was pretty good. I think I find a whole album of this middle of the road stuff fairly dull but this was more interesting than I'd given it credit for when I filed it away in my brain somewhere. Standout Track: Narcissist
Edge :^)
I know you shouldn't judge an album by its cover but man, this sure looks like something I won't enjoy. Actually, a little better than I expected. Sounds good and lyrically is somewhat interesting. But nothing about it is groundbreaking or genre defining. I didn't mind listening all the way through the album but I probably won't revisit it on purpose and I don't particularly think it deserves a spot on this list. Fave songs: What Katie Did, What Became of the Likely Lads. 2.5 rounding up for not being too boring.
3.5 / 4 stars
It’s ok. Remember liking it a lot more at the time. Some decent tunes, but overall it’s fairly forgettable
This album is a post punk/indie rock jam of an album. Definitely the best of the libertines. Ive been a libertines fan since high school and that goes for Pete Doherty's other projects like Babyshambles and this album introduced me and will be a forever punk rock love of mine. I personally rate these projects above their predecessors such as the Clash and The Modern Lovers or anything else similar. The song writing
Reminds me of those bands in early 00s teen drama films. it’s ok, might not listen to it again. For folks that looooove indie rock, you will most likely enjoy this album.
2/5 surprisingly boring. probably enjoyable as a live bar band with a few beers in me. what became… is a good closer but not enough.
Kinda good, I guess. Never heard of them. Couple good tracks. I'd probably listen to this again in the future. 3/5
Many people consider this to be Pete Doherty’s greatest achievement. I disagree. Doherty’s greatest achievement is successfully completing a Margate cafe’s Mega Breakfast challenge: if you can eat four rashers of bacon, four eggs, four sausages, hash browns, onion rings, bubble and squeak, beans, two slices of thick bread well as a quarter pounder burger and chips in under 20 minutes the breakfast is free.
Well, this is a blast from the past. What ever did become of the likely lads?
You already know an album is going to be a 3/5 at best when you see that the Wikipedia article for it is like 8 sentences long. One of those sentences being: "The Libertines was voted the third-most overrated album ever made in a 2005 BBC public poll." This sounds a bit like The Cla-oh, it was produced by Mick Jones. That makes sense. Yeah, it's exactly what I expected. More British punk - the most important genre in musical history according to this book. Kind of goofy. Yup, it's a 3/5.
Bepaalde nummers van dit album kende ik al wel, maar ik heb het geheel denk ik nog nooit gehoord. Ik heb Up The Bracket (2002) en Babyshambles - Shotter's Nation (2007) ooit als LP gekocht, dus als ik toe was aan dit soort muziek zette ik 1 van die 2 albums aan. The Libertines is een vreemde band. Eigenlijk klinkt het regelmatig vrij kut omdat Pete Doherty voor geen meter kan zingen, of hij laat het in ieder geval niet al te vaak merken. Andere albums in deze lijst heb ik daar wel eens op afgeschoten, maar dit vind ik dan weer steengoed. Het klinkt bijna als een hoge kwaliteit live-album, met een band die zin heeft om muziek te maken ondanks de vechtscheiding die vrij snel hierna volgde. De gitaren en ook de drums, met name de snaredrum, klinken perfect. Hoogtepunten o.a. The Man Who Would Be King, Arbeit Macht Frei, Campaign of Hate, Road to Ruin.