Cursed by comparison to be known as the cleaner-living ex-frontman of The Libertines, Carl Barat has seemed strangely reticent to step fully out of the shadow of former band mate, P Doherty Esq.
He does edge more confidently into the spotlight wi
th his band's second album, and although it hardly plays less safe than the debut there is a bit more in the way of excitement.
Expressly the attitude and attack of 'Best Face', a rabble-rousing toe-tapper in the finest Clash traditions, or the opening 'Buzzards And Crows', with its barely disguised disdain for the in or it crowd.
Even better is the rhythm switching 'Kings Of Consumption', which creates the heady ambience of a punk rock knees up, rocking the tombola tent at a South London summer fete.
'Hippy's Son' suggests Barat is a shade conflicted by his own would-be wide boy stance, sitting awkwardly with his parents' free spirited philosophy dating from a different era, while 'Tired Of England' simply sounds completely knackered. All that cheeky whimsy stinks like something way past a sell-by-date, and the engaging confidence coursing through 'Truth Begins' is much more like it. Unfortunately relinquishing lead vocal duties to Anthony Rossomando on the tired yob-by-numbers work out 'Chinese Dog' is not. There could yet be a truly great record in Dirty Pretty Things. We are still waiting.
Download this: Best Face, Kings Of Consumption
The full article contains 259 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
