Review 1 of 2

bilo writes:

4of 5 Stars

Down in Albion is another beautiful and catastrophic look at the life and times of Pete Doherty. Tracks of Breath taking beauty such as Albion and Loyalty song line up alongside drug fuelled commentary’s Pipe Down and Back from the dead. Merry go Round and 32nd of December are songs that only Dohety, Britains “ Voice of a generation” could have written. There are some songs where the standard drops, but these can also reveal the most interesting moments of the album. La Belle A la bette, Pentonville & 8 dead boys give us a hazy insight into the life and times of Albion’s most infamous hero.
The main complaint of the UK & US music press seems to be that the album is possibly 4 songs to long, there is an album of the year contender here from the 12 remaining songs. However to cut the album down to size would potentially mean losing the less tight but more revealing songs. I wouldn’t change the album in any way, it shows the prodigious talent and the potentially fatal failings of one of the music industry’s few remaining geniuses.

Jun 7, 2006 04:08:22

Review 2 of 2

taskie writes:

4of 5 Stars

"Art imitating life", this record being a prime example of the modernest cliché. On first impressions the album sounds messy, wandering and lost, which is a fair reflection of the composers life. Never out of the UK tabloids, Pete Doherty's life is catalogued by arrests, spells in rehab and his antics with on-off girlfiend Kate Moss. Unfortunatly this largely results in his artistic efforts being overlooked. This album features some instant rock n roll gems. Kilamgiro and F*ck Forever are songs that have grown straight out of England. Their lyrical content helps paint a vivid picture of an out of touch, urbanised Britian while re-introducing chemically fuelled rock/reggae. Down in Albion takes alot of listening, but when you get there the journey has been worth it. The album is more complicated than it first appears. Many of the songs comprise of several "sub-songs" which undoubtedly contribute to the albums wandering qualitys. Although Down in albion features mainly Clash-esque rock tunes there are several beautiful acoustic numbers, Albion and Merry-go-round. It is on these songs that Pete's award winning lyrical ability can be recognised. Overall, a fine album which seems to have been over looked by the main stream.

May 5, 2006 13:39:47