Music Banter - The Libertines - Up The Bracket (2002)

The Libertines - Up The Bracket
(2002)

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Tracks

1 Vertigo 2:38
2 Death on the Stairs 3:24
3 Horrorshow 2:34
4 Time for Heroes 2:40
5 Boys in the Band 3:42
6 Radio America 3:44
7 Up the Bracket 2:38
8 Tell the King 3:24
9 The Boy Looked at Johnny 2:38
10 Begging 3:20
11 The Good Old Days 2:59
12 I Get Along 2:52

In the early 2000’s, it was very difficult to not pick up a copy of the NME or Q Magazine without catching some mention of The Libertines on the front cover, a band who really did capture the imaginations of an entire generation of British youngsters, with the legend first beginning with their debut single What a Waster, and a staggeringly dazzling debut LP in 2002.

Up The Bracket released on Rough Trade in late 2002, was really Britain’s first proper response to the recent dominance of American acts like The Strokes and The White Stripes on the world stage, and what an extraordinary debut it was. Produced by Clash guitarist and legend of British Punk Mick Jones, this album marked a revival in fortunes for the British scene, moving away from the ballad drivel left in the wake of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? towards a more livelier and electric take on how music should be.

Driven by the talented song writing team of Peter Doherty and Carl Barât, The Libertines begin their inspired debut with the track Vertigo, setting the listener up nicely for one of the most unfailing albums ever made. The constant nature of the album continues with Death on The Stairs and the barraging Horror Show, one of the most under appreciated songs from the album I feel, with Pete Doherty giving a fine performance.

Track four, Time for Heroes, is probably one of the most quintessential Libertines songs on this record, this song is not really about the tune but once again is more about the lyrics and vocals of Doherty. Track five is the stomping Boys in The Band and firmly pins Barât’s credentials to this album, this song cannot help but be instantly memorable.

Radio America is very different to the previous five songs on this album and shows another string to the Libertines’ bow, it is an acoustic song with Doherty giving a beautiful and lingering performance, the same can be said of Doherty’s performance for track eight, with a helping hand from Barât, Tell The King is simply gorgeous. In-between these beauties is track seven, which thrillingly takes us back to the typical energizing Libertines which by now we’re used too; Up The Bracket is a seriously pounding and exciting number.

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As The Libertines are London lads, the ****ney elements does sometimes creep into their music, and that certainly can be said of the belting The Boy Looked at Johnny, which is what a hybrid of The Kinks and The Clash would probably have sounded like.

The last three songs on this record are in themselves gems, particular track twelve, the magnificent The Good Old Days and the finale, I Get Along, rounding off this masterpiece nicely.

The striking thing about this record is the consistency of it; there really is not one bad song to be found on this album. It’s also worth pointing out, that like with all landmark albums from over the decades, they really do come out of nowhere and scream era defining, this album is undoubtedly one of those culture shifters.

With Up The Bracket we have an album which invokes a bygone age when British music really was something to behold, something which was missing from British music in 2002, safe to say we are probably due a similar kick right about now.