Time for an artistic obstruction: write a review of something involving Pete Doherty without delving into tabloid referencing territory. Here goes.
The frontman has had his share of ups and downs since bursting into the public eye with the Libertines’ fantastic Mick Jones produced debut Up The Bracket.
While fans of the Libs can be somewhat divided when it comes to Doherty’s post breakup project, Babyshambles have proven themselves to be a powerful and at times impressive group in their own right. This is apparent more than ever on their third release, “Sequel to the Prequel”.
The record is a solid slice of guitar pop, delving into a number of different styles that work nicely together, from the rockers like the opening one two punch of “Fireman” and “Nothing Comes to Nothing” to the slower and more reflective tracks such as the moody “Minefield”.
Doherty’s voice has always had a rough charm that sounds almost reminiscent of early punk rock matched with Shane McGowan, and the intimate melodies of “Fall From Grace” take advantage of it’s ability to convey a certain tortured emotion. The playing on Sequel To The Prequel is always tightly controlled, letting the vocals capture some remarkable moments.
The guitars can be quite subtle throughout, with small flourishes and touches that compliment the arrangements.
Overall, Sequel To The Prequel is an album that showcases a band moving on steadily from their past and maturing. The music isn’t necessarily ground breaking but the record remains a compelling example of the kind of talent that Doherty can muster.
