Review 1 of 7

bilo writes:

4of 5 Stars

Firstly, for our American Friends, Albion is Britain, or at least Doherty and Barat’s romantic, Dickensian notion of it. The Utopia that they are aiming for is Arcadia, a rule free paradise ideal for any libertine.
This album is Barat’s call to arms, last gang in town album that comes out fighting. Deadwood and You F*ckin love it are two Rock n’ roll foot stompers that show off Barat and Rossamondo’s unquestionable guitar skills. Bang Bang, Doctors and Dealers and The Enemy are two well-crafted tunes with choruses that will get into your brain and stay there for months.
The undercurrent of the album is a lot of thinly veiled stabs at Doherty’s harpies, and in some cases Doherty, see Blood Thirsty Bastards, Doctors and Dealers and Bang Bang… Nobody could have taken Barat seriously if he didn’t make reference to what maybe the most important relationship of his life and the most heartbreaking breakup. He doesn’t shy away and deserves credit for the straight talking lyrics as do the band for the raw but classic musicianship.
What separates Barat from many of his contemperies is B.U.R.M.A (Be upstairs ready my angel) this track isn’t on the US release, I would encourage fans to buy a UK import. The song is sung from the point of view of a UK soldier at war and is as gentle and heart rendering as almost any song of this millennium (maybe not Music when the lights go out). Just when things are getting too emotional, Barat’s wit takes over and he rallies his gang with a chant of Who’s got the crack. On an album built around heartache, Barat never loses his fight or his wit and more importantly his talent is still evident from start to finish.

Mar 2, 2007 08:23:16

Review 2 of 7

ladreamer2707 writes:

5of 5 Stars

Everyone will compare Waterloo to Anywhere to Down in Albion, and maybe rightly so. However, it would be more beneficial to take them together and compare them to The Libertines' catalogue. In doing this, one recognizes what made the Libertines great was Pete's visionary song writing and Carl's steadfast and strong base of the group. When taken apart, Pete goes off and makes the loftier and sometimes too loose Down in Albion, and Carl makes a tightly constructed, well-formed punk rock album like Waterloo to Anywhere. The hooks on songs like "Bang Bang You're Dead" and "Gin and Milk" are enough to stay with the listener long after the album finishes its relatively brief playing time. The music is down and dirty London pub rock that has sounded this good in years. The conclusion is that maybe Carl doesn't need Pete now, and we wonder if he ever did.

Nov 6, 2006 15:36:24

Review 3 of 7

jeremyglunt writes:

Not Rated

try spelling the singer's name correctly before posting such a
pathetic review. this is shite.

Aug 8, 2006 07:15:36

Review 4 of 7

littlelibertine writes:

5of 5 Stars

A fantastic album.


Obviously, Christagau couldn't understand the Libertines dynamic because his research was detrimentally flawed. Maybe the Wikipedia page he was using to find info about the late Libertines spelled 'Barat' like 'Barak', which makes him sound like some sort of extraterrestrial from Star Trek. I sure as hell hope this wasn't printed in your magazine.

Aug 4, 2006 20:17:52

Review 5 of 7

hystericalanduseless writes:

5of 5 Stars

All this review tells us is that Christgau misses the sixties and buys into the druggie = genius rock stereotype. If (as he admits)Waterloo to Anywhere is so much better than Babyshambles' Down in Albion, why does he assume that all the Libertine's magic was Pete? All anyone can say is the magic came from their extraordinary relationship, admit that that time is gone, and evaluate what the two of them are now producing on their own terms.

That said, if you liked the rock/punk side of the Libertines, this is a fantastic album that should help make up for their hideous demise and give you lots of hope for the future.

This is Carl deciding to blow up his past and move on with his life. Almost all the songs rush by at break neck speed and he sings like he's got his back to the wall. For me, it's a perfect balance between craftsmanship and sheer sloppy energy, the wonderful Libertines guitars times two.

Starts off with the songs closest to the Libertines sound (but way more solid than most of what's on The Libertines second album --anything on here blows Don't Be Shy out of the water), climaxing with "Gin and Milk". I really don't understand how Christgau gets irony out of that song! It's Carl trying to survive everything he values in life get ripped to shreds. How often do you hear a rocker (not a country star) singing about loyalty to something besides sex & drugs & rock and roll with all the desperation supposedly reserved for self-destructive junkies?

He relaxes a bit on the second half. 'If You Love a Woman' is funny, but could have probably used one more take. But the two that follow -- Wondering and Last of the Small Town Playboys move off into new territory, more Television-sounding guitars, denser instrumentation, where you can hear them really growing as a band. . .

In the newer songs that Carl's been working on recently -- B.U.R.M.A (not included on the US version) and the two B-sides from the Deadwood in the U.K., he finally unwinds enough to write a couple of slower songs. I wish they'd been included here, would have given a better sense of the breadth of his songwriting. But even so, this is one terrific, fun, thoughtful album, and a promise of even better things to come.

I feel 100% better now than I did last year at this time, thanks to this album!

Jul 27, 2006 14:05:34

Review 6 of 7

moran725 writes:

4of 5 Stars

another review of this amazing album tarnished with the obvious comparisons. carl is the john and peter is the paul (not quite sure if mr mccartney ever smoked crack though). anyone who has not listened to the libertines before, you must find a way to get 'up the bracket'. it is the only true punk rock album to come out this millenium. and listen closely to the songs on the album. you can here the two destinct voices and thier truly independent messages.
'waterloo to anywhere' is carl BARAT's kick in the ass to anyone whose spirt wandered away from the ship Albion. forget all that you have heard of break ins, break ups and throw downs. this is the album that rock and roll has been waiting for. its obvious that alot of the songs on this album are fueled by the tumultuous relationships that carl has lived through, but one can also look at the songs as a punch back in the face of every reporter or rock journalist who has started every interview with DTP by asking about peter.
"gin and milk", "doctors and dealers", and "deadwood" are the standout tracks on an album that is nearly impossible to not listen to 3 or 4 times in a row. "you fucking love it" is possibly the greatest song carl has ever written(rivals songs such as "death on the stairs" and "france").
Waterloo to anywhere is the first in what will be the great 'musical legacy' of the libertines. rock and roll was never about the drugs or the tabloids but was about taking someone out of thier head for 2 and a half minutes and inspiring them to be the next link in the ever-growing chain. Thank you carl, anthony, ditz and gary...

Jul 27, 2006 10:42:19

Review 7 of 7

astamm78 writes:

4of 5 Stars

To whoever wrote the RollingStone review, his name is Carl
Barat, not Barak...

Jul 26, 2006 07:55:20