Babyshambles - Down In Albion on CD

Description

Following a triumphant and eventful UK tour, Rough Trade are proud to announce the release of the most anticipated album of the year: Babyshambles’ debut, Down In Albion. It includes the band’s Top Five hit, "Fuck Forever" and a new recording of their first Top Ten single, "Killamangiro". Babyshambles’ songs have become anthems, including the new single "Albion". The sixteen-track album was produced by Mick Jones and mixed by Mick Jones and Bill Price (worked on London’s Calling and with Guns 'n' Roses). Review Down In Albion is a mess. Stylistically, it tries to cover all bases, from spiky indie rock to reggae, with a touch of acoustic balladry and even rap (the bizarre "Pentonville"). Furthermore, Pete Doherty's vocals are often little more than an incoherent mumble, and the album is at least four songs too long. On paper it's a terrible record. The thing is, it isn't terrible at all. It's superb. Despite the chaos somehow everything falls into place. Patrick Walden's twitchy guitar work compliments Doherty's yelps, and both are kept in check by solid bass playing and drumming. "Albion" is beautiful, "The 32nd Of December" is the (im)perfect pop song, and opener "La Belle et La Bette" features Kate Moss vocals and still sounds great. Maybe imperfection's not such a bad thing, after all... 

TRACKS

Disc 1
1. La Belle Et La B?te - Babyshambles (5.05)
2. F*** Forever - Babyshambles (4.37)
3. A rebours - Babyshambles (3.23)
4. The 32Nd Of December - Babyshambles (3.08)
5. Pipedown - Babyshambles (2.35)
6. Sticks and Stones - Babyshambles (4.51)
7. Killamangiro - Babyshambles (3.13)
8. 8 Dead Boys - Babyshambles (4.16)
9. In Love With A Feeling - Babyshambles (2.51)
10. Pentonville - Babyshambles (3.49)
11. What Katy Did Next - Babyshambles (3.07)
12. Albion - Babyshambles (5.24)
13. Back from the Dead - Babyshambles (2.52)
14. Loyalty Song - Babyshambles (3.32)
15. Up The Morning - Babyshambles (5.43)
16. Merry Go Round - Babyshambles (5.22)