The Best Of Albion
With a hint of Oasis' arrogant swagger, a touch of Clash influenced punk and a helping of Joy Division-esque romanticism, The Libertines swept onto the scene back in 2002 to save us all from the American music invasion. Just when you were convinced that only the Americans could churn out bands like The Strokes with rock pulsing through their veins, Pete and Carl brought along their gang to rile things up, to impart their vision of an idealised England known mysteriously as 'Albion' and to prove that us Brits did actually know how to rock.
Giving in to every rock cliché, The Libertines were a band that lived fast and burned out even quicker, producing only two albums in their short career before the lure of drugs struck and the Albion gang imploded leaving a trail of tabloid hell that has overshadowed the brilliance of a band heralded for their camaraderie and shambolic brilliance. Remove the hype of their demise though, erase the daily tales of models and drugs and what we're left with are songs that defined a generation, songs that embraced all with welcoming arms into the Albion following. Teetering on the brink of destruction The Libertines were a band that were able to excite and terrify all at once as their debauched and ramshackled rock unleashed a dangerously infectious allure that's still having an effect today and whilst cynics will sneer at an obvious cash in of a 'best of' release few will be able to resist the warm nostalgic glow flowing from each track.
From the visceral howl that herald the arrival of 'Up The Bracket' to the prophetically bitter sweet mentality of 'What A Waster', 'Time For Heroes – The Best Of The Libertines' captures the heartfelt honesty of a band that would go on to inspire the next wave of musicians and become the soundtrack of a generation.
With tracks that manage to contain an off kilter live sound The Libertines sound was roguishly scruffy, unprocessed and laden with a distinct heartfelt charm that was executed in a fast furious fashion. Songs like 'Don't Look Back Into The Sun' tied sensitively confessional lyrics up in an addictive melody whilst the melancholic hued tones of 'Times For Heroes' reveals the gang's softer side. Ultimately though it was The Libertines uncompromised honesty that won them the respect and adoration of the noughties generation. Unflinchingly honest and compellingly confessional, Albion's finest shied away from no subject even bearing their scars for all to see with the contagious sparring of 'Can't Stand Me Now' openly publicising the break down of Pete and Carl's relationship.
Brutally honest and yet highly addictive 'Time For Heroes – The Best Of The Libertines' exposes the highs and the lows of the bands turbulently short career and though there maybe some omissions that fans will moan about, most notably 'Don't Be Shy' and 'Music When The Lights Go Out', this is a collection that captures the band as the should be remembered, just a shame really that we actually found out what became of the likely lads.