Babyshambles
“What a shambles…”

Pete Doherty fronted Babyshambles have been, since their beginning, surrounded by controversy. Amid post-Libertines drama, drug addiction, and sleeping with supermodels, the Shambles have had their share of unwanted media attention. Too often it’s forgotten that there is in fact, music to be heard behind this media flurry.
When we shut our eyes to the headlines, and open our ears to the melody, we can see what this Pete Doherty fellow is all about.
The debut album from the Shambles “Down in Albion” received mixed reviews, and understandably so. In the sixteen tracks contained on the album, there’s undoubted endless potential, yet only flashes when we see this being put to use.
The opening track, “La Belle et La Bête” features an ear catching riff, yet one’s attention dwindles towards the end of the song, an error we may attribute to self indulgence on the part of the band. “Fuck Forever” follows; a hard hitting anthemic song, praised by fans and critics alike. Pat Walden’s distinctive guitar playing shines in this song, with his string bending sound truly excelling. Doherty’s lyrics match the sound “I sever my ties / Because I’m so clever / But clever ain’t wise.”
“Pipedown” is another fan favourite, with an ironic plea from Pete to his guitarist to “Put the pipe down/ if you’ve got the right sound”.
Sadly, high points of the album are few and far between, with poor production often giving the disc little more quality than an average local band demo. The sound of Doherty falling onto the microphone even graces the final track of the album.
Some may call it raw and poetic, most would call it a waste of potential. The band has structure in it, with drummer Adam Ficek and bassist Drew McConnell, keeping good rhythm and beat. Walden’s guitar playing is often too chaotic sounding for any album, even one with Pete Doherty on it. Doherty is his trademark self. Shambolic, but we must admit, the boy can pen a line.
Unfortunately the album suffers from a four-minute waste of track, featuring General Santana, a man Doherty met in Pentonville prison. In total, I’ve listened to this song once, and once too many.
The tour of the album was interesting to say the least. One night the band could play the show of their lives. The next, they wouldn’t show up. In a twisted way, this is why people love the band. They’re just rock n’ roll. How many bands today still show the traits of what truly made bands cool in previous decades?

The following year, 2006, is when things began looking up for the four piece. Despite Walden’s departure, the band produced a wonderful EP, which has fans eagerly awaiting the forthcoming album. The Blinding EP shows us how, with the right production and focus, Babyshambles are a fine group of musicians.
The title song features a Hendrix-like riff, and some nice rhythm and melody, and it’s unsurprising that the song has been received quite well among Doherty’s wide fanbase.
Lyrically Doherty shows us just how he has earned himself such a loyal following, with lines such as
“It’s blood from broken hearts/that writes the words to every song” (I Love You but You’re Green). Bassist Drew McConnell coos his backing vocals along with new guitarist, Mick Whitnall, and the two have a great sound together, via both their guitars, and vocal chords.
The EP has five solid tracks, none of which are wasteful fillers for us to endure.
It seems Babyshambles have turned a corner, musically and otherwise. Doherty, with the help of supermodel girlfriend Kate Moss, has cleaned himself up, and appears to be off drugs. Having taken a step forward with the recent EP, the new album has been reported to be coming along well, and we can only hope the lads have learned from their mistakes of the past, and kept focused, and at least mildly sober.

Review by: Mark Walsh