Album Review: Shotters Nation - Babyshambles
- Posted on October 3, 2007 2:21 PM
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Review By Zarina Raja
Listening to Shotters Nation allows us to glimpse Doherty's strange yet poetic world. However shambolic Doherty’s life is in reality, this is not reflected musically - but maybe lyrically ‘Im F*****, forlorn, frozen beneath the summer, don’t sing along or you’ll get what I got.’ Listening to Shotters Nation is like being in a room with Pete, whilst he strums his guitar and gently sings along, his cigarette smoke blending in with dusty light that is cast from the shadows of his mind.
Although Shotters Nation is instrumentally tight and generally well polished, it is void of that clinical, studio sound. It doesn’t sound rehearsed, it sounds spontaneous and flighty. At some points, one song will drift into another as if Pete has just decided to stick that bit in ‘Its one and the same’ he sings on Unstookie Titled. Will he burst into F*** Forever? Who knows? Shotters Nation keeps you guessing, it traps you in Pete’s world that is often peppered in sadness, lingering magic and tales of love.
Pete Doherty has written some of the best lyrics of this generation. That is a strong statement to make but it is true, no matter what you think of Pete and his shenanigans… ‘I model lacklustre in vain search for the remedy, no words only melody, so I take the day off. My love, love, she sits with me, I love, I love, her company, rain drops on roses and dust filled trinkets.’
Shotters Nation a soft album – almost summery - and is light and upbeat, with lyrics that twinkle through the impassioned twang of a guitar or whack of a drum. Most of it is fairly slow, but often speeding up as an excited Pete gets louder and louder, rushing to get whatever it is that is swirling around in his head out and into the micro phone.
Some songs seem to melt into the background, like Crumb Begging Badhead which is pleasant enough but not quite up to Babyshambles potential. Then, there are others like the track There She Goes, which coaxes you into a transfixed and still state as instruments ping and Pete’s soft voice glistens through an almost jazzy bass line.
The Libertines created anthems with their fast, scratchy songs, shouting and jumpy about. Dirty Pretty Things have tried to recreate this, but have failed and ended up trudging along with various other mediocre indie bands whose trousers are too tight. Babyshambles, however, are sophisticated and eloquent. If you peel all the tabloid rubbish away from Pete, there is a highly sensitive (and highly strung) but fervent musician who can pen a damn good line or too.
Perhaps if Pete wasn’t so notorious for his choice of lifestyle or if he hadn’t dated Kate Moss, Babyshambles wouldn’t be such a success. But, who cares? Whatever the secret ingredient is, it works.
If you want to see Babyshambles, then get your tickets here. For further info on Babyshambles, check out their MySpace.
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