11 April 2024
British infamous mavericks THE LIBERTINES (1997–2004, 2010, 2014–present)
released their 4th LP, baptized ALL QUIET ON THE EASTERN ESPLANADE.
NME says: “The band’s first album in nearly a decade doesn’t chase the same intoxicating
high as their early material. They sound better for it. On ‘…Eastern Esplanade’, the sense of listening in on a band teetering on the precipice of disaster is gone, replaced by a more stable and necessarily safer version of The Libertines. The results may be patchy, but this is not, and could not be, an album that rides the same intoxicating high as ‘Up the Bracket’. What they have done, though, is find their voice again, and, for the first time in over 20 years, The Libertines feel like a band with a viable future.” Score: 4/5.
Promo pic
TUTV: After the turbulence, chaos and drugs addictions (especially Doherty) of the early years, the side-projects, solo records and getting clean and healthy the Libs are back, again. They’re not the boys in the band of yesteryear, they’re now grown-up men who
enjoy a stable life and still are obsessed by making music.
Compared to their first two tempestuous and jarring indie punk LPs they mellowed naturally. Older and wiser. But Doherty/Barat are still terrific songwriters, assisted here
by John Hassall/Gary Powell, with Doherty as the 5-star one.
They still rock with vivacious punch (Run Run Run / Of Shit / Mustangs / Be Young ), they
still know how to seduce with captivating, romantic ballads (Shiver / Night Of The Hunter / Baron’s Claw), and Doherty/Barat still are soul-stirring vocalists.
Not one dull moment, not one dull song. They became notable, experienced musicians who left their hedonistic lifestyle behind themselves for several years now. They sound clean, healthy and happy (lots of laughter between songs, especially at the end of closer Songs They Never Play On The Radio) all the way through and it feels very fine.
Key singles: Run Run Run / Night Of The Hunter
– RUN RUN RUN –
– NIGHT OF THE HUNTER –
ALBUM
.
The Libs: Instagram – Facebook