The rebirth of rock ‘n’ roll has a date: it’s October 21, 2002. That’s when UP THE BRACKET, the Libertines’ debut album, was released. London-based Carl Barât (vocals, guitar), Pete Doherty (vocals, guitar), John Hassall (bass), and Gary Powell (drums) seemed like a pack of mangy dogs compared to the indie-chic New York-based Strokes, who threw the garage rock/post-punk/indie revival a year earlier with the album IS THIS IT. UP THE BRACKET was born into a time when British musicians took pleasure in imitating 90’s Britpop patterns that had gone bland. The Libertines, on the other hand, unleashed a musical elemental force that was largely fueled by the songwriter, partner and friendship between Doherty and Barât.
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With the energy of punk, they managed to create an album that was pure pop at heart, but which was covered by aggressive guitars, drunken and drugged lurching songs, two-part non-vocals and the charm of the unfinished – the credit to the producer Mick Jones (The Clash), who eschewed bells and whistles like sound polish and error correction. After the Libertines’ debut album, everything had changed, everyone in the UK seemed to want to start a band, and by the indie year of 2005 it seemed like everyone had that wish come true.
Drunk and drugged staggering songs
For its 20th anniversary, the genre-defining album will be reissued in a variety of configurations: double LP, double CD, digital download and a “super deluxe box set”. All versions contain the live album LIVE AT THE 100 CLUB in addition to the remastered original. The 4 October 2002 concert recording from the 100 Club in London’s Oxford Street shows The Libertines in all their seedy punk glory, complete with gambles and not-so-steady vocal delivery.
The box set includes the live album on white vinyl plus the UNHEARD DEMOS 2002 LP with the same, two CDs with studio outtakes, radio sessions, single B-sides and live recordings, a DVD with video clips and Appearances on “Later With Jools Holland” and “Top Of The Pops”, the EARLY DEMOS cassette with demos from the turn of the year 2001/2002, the 7 inch blue vinyl singles “Up The Bracket” and “Time For Heroes”. red vinyl and a 60-page book with recent interviews with the band and rare photos. A total of 65 recordings can be heard here for the first time, making UP THE BRACKET’s “Super Deluxe Box Set” an excellent study object for all music archaeologists.
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Pretty great alarm guitar rock – at least for the alarm guitar rock universe.
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The Magic Of Florence: The singer of the British post-punk band sums up the absurdity of existence.
SIMILAR ARTICLES
The Libertines talk about 20 years of UP THE BRACKET in their own podcast
With the release on October 14th, the musicians promise new insights into their band history and a musical journey through time.
The Libertines: Former drummer Paul Dufour is dead
Dufour left the legendary indie rock band before their debut UP THE BRACKET. The Libertines commemorate “Mr. Razzcocks,” that’s his nickname.
The Subways announce new album – Single “Love Waiting On You” streaming here
UNCERTAIN JOYS is scheduled for release in early 2023.
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