No, this is not the post about the glorious 60s and 70s. Nor is it the one about the era into which I made my arrival - the 80s. Those will come later.
This is about now. (Or at least, 2004-ish.)
This is about the Libertines.
The Libertines played no small part in the evolution of the modern rock scene in Britain. They were critical to the reestablishment of Cool Brittania. They were young and hedonistic and genuinely exciting. They rocked.
The story of Pete and Carl is fairly well-known in England, but, unfortunately, outside British Isles the name Pete Doherty is more associated with cocaine and Kate Moss than with angular, upbeat guitar rock. The Libertines' tale has all the makings of rock legend. The drugs, the supermodel(s?), and most importantly, the brilliant songwriting.
They made one cracker of an album, then Pete lost control, even breaking into Carl's house to steal a guitar to sell for cocaine. They managed to make a second album, which vaguely chronicled the band's hopes, and how they were destroyed.
And that was it. A handfull of recorded material and some unflattering tabloid photographs. But they managed to inspire a new generation of rockers, like the Kaiser Chiefs and Arctic Monkeys. Franz Ferdinand too, maybe. Hats off to them for that. Pete and Carl formed separate bands. They're not too bad, but the spark is missing. History repeats itself.
I'm told their lyrics are good, mixing Dickensian imagery with street poetry. I couldn't really make out much - the Beatles/Berry guitars mixed with punk chaos keep me happy. But one song really stood out, because it had a lesson for me and for anyone who believes in the myth that The Good Old Days actually existed.
If you've lost your faith in love and music
Oh the end won't be long
Because if it's gone for you then I too may lose it
And that would be wrong
I've tried so hard to keep myself from falling
Back into my bad old ways
And it chars my heart to always hear you calling
Calling for the good old days
Because there were no good old days
These are the good old days.
I don't talk much about the Libertines. But they are way up there in my pantheon (the one I never finished in my room in Muk West)! I think Pete and Carl belong to the select group of people who understood the "roll" in "rock n roll". These include Chuck Berry, John Lennon, David Gilmour, and Noel Gallagher (there are more, of course).
First up is I get along. The quintessential anarchic-yet-melodic Libertines song. Then comes Don't look back into the sun, which is one of my all-time faves. Then there's What Katy Did. Lastly, there's Can't stand me now and What became of the likely lads? - the songs about breaking up, forgiveness, and the dreams they had. Beautiful stuff.
The Libertines - I get along [mp3]
The Libertines - Don't look back into the sun [wma]
The Libertines - What Katy Did [mp3]
The Libertines - Can't stand me now [mp3]
The Libertines - What became of the likely lads? [mp3]
