Where do I begin with this one? Firstly lets get one issue out of the way now before it becomes a recurring theme throughout this review. The Libertines! The defining band of a generation are now sadly no more. The break up was on the card's for a while, almost everyone knew about it but when the official statement was made it was still hard to take. I fucking loved The Libertines. They truly were a awesome band! No band today can possible pick up and carry on from where Carl, Pete, John and Gary left off. The baton lays dormant, forever to be left alone. Never to be forgotten but never to see the light of day again.
From the rubble of the collapsed empire came forth a new breed of bands. The unknown (well the fairly unknown ) quantity that is known as YETI, fronted by John Hassell. The whirlwind fire, hail and brimstone that is the (phenomenonal) entity known as BABYSHAMBLES, fronted by talismanic Pete Doherty. And now the next chapter from the good ship albion - DIRTY PRETTY THINGS. Carl Barat has quietly, professional and un-unnervingly gone about his business, starting off from scratch and putting some bits of the colossal jigsaw piece back together again. Aided with Gary Powell and Anthony Rossmondo, Barat set off on a new course to discover another slice of Arcadia, which he could one day truly call his own. Along the way he picked up the services of ex-cooper temple clause bassist Didz Hammond . A new line up was created, a new lease of life was granted, another chance lay in Barat's hands. A new band was born.
The soul of The Libertines is still alive and well inside Carl Barat as the influence of his old band is clearly evident in his latest band and this latest offering - Waterloo To Anywhere. The personality of the free spirit ethic which the band live by is here in abundance, most notably in You Fucking Love It - a DTP gem which oozes punk guitar riffs and a sublime drum beat throughout. This is as good as it gets!! Short and sweet but direct and to the point! This is by far (for me) the bands anthem!! Current single Bang Bang Your Dead is right up there with the best anything The Libertines ever wrote. This gem as rumor goes is about Carl's alter-ego Evil Carl which he apparently has been wrestling with ever since The Libertines split. Though if you were nit picking you would rightly or wrongly presume this song was aim solely at Pete Doherty. The relationship between the too had been so strong at one point yet ultimately dissolved and crumbed so quickly. The Gentry Cove is a classic ode (which again has a huge Libs influences) This rockier number has that quaint reggae tone to it, typically strumming guitar riffs which exploded into the rough and tumble of DTP's new essence. Deadwood and Doctors & Dealers are created in classic Barat style. Full, fast, flowing, punky guitar riffs which dig and rip up your feelings which can lead to the true essence of both the bands ethics being revealed and your own instinct to follow DTP religiously (perhaps). These songs have strong elements of Vertigo and Death On The Stairs.
This album has given Carl Barat the chance to re-emerged and lay to bed the past which lingers still. A new chapter which has been carefully crafted and written. Brilliantly performed and excellently executed!!!! The future for this band looks pretty damn cool. The band have got that true team spirit which has revealed this awesome debut album. Full of rich twist and turns, the Libs influence will always be there, through the lyrics, the tunes, the structural integrity of the tracks, but ultimately Dirty Pretty Things can claim this is their own work, their own mark, their own product. This album is to be extremely proud of! Mr B you keep your head down when Mr D was and still is all over the shop, you've worked quietly and consistently and have along with Mr Powell, Mr Rossamondo and Mr Hammond created another generation altering band, and an album which will be one of the best of 2006!!! I salute you!!!!!