Start playing guitar How to choose a guitar for beginners?
Alt Reviews

The Libertines – “All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade” Review

Life can be harsh. It can give but take away twofold. Few people are given beauty and talent. Fewer still can retain it. The Libertines succumb to the laws of nature on the bombastic but all too obvious collection of songs found on the new album “All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade.”

Peter Doherty and Carl Barât Exist Within Their Own Myth

As a long-time fan of the band, writing these words feels like a betrayal. I was immensely excited at the prospect of a new album. The odds didn’t favour Peter Doherty would even be around for this long. But just like a footballer who has come out of retirement at 38 and after a string of injuries, the results are underwhelming regardless of the cheering from the loving fans.

It’s not like the songs are bad. It’s just that the mythology of The Libertines doesn’t quite need any more tales about England, about wanting to enjoy the good times, or about falling to horrible lows. The band’s first two records covered that pretty well.

The album opener and the album’s most important song, “Run Run Run”, will grow on you. But it does so in the same way that drinking weak ale for too long does. Eventually, you may forget that there’s something better.

The song talks about walking down the streets of Camden, being sought after by crazed fans, and looking to escape fame and fortune unscathed. It’s one best kept for a documentary about The Libs and their the early 2000s exploits. Few indie rock bands’ antics were more entertaining.

What Ever Became of Arcadia?

The other important song is “Merry Old England.” The song is built around the kind of folkie chord progression that best suits the band. It’s a song of bitterness and disgust with the land that had inspired The Libertines’ fairytale, Arcadia, and inspired them to wear Union Jack Suits.

Now, they are disillusioned. It’s not a bad song, but the sentiment comes a few years too late. Everyone who is of Carl Barat or Peter Doherty’s age seems to feel this way nowadays.

Still, Carl and Pete can still sing songs in tandem in a pleasing way that’s part Beatles, part skiffle, and doesn’t resemble The Strokes anymore. “Shiver” or “I Have a Friend” are well-performed, bittersweet guitar-pop tunes.

Where does this leave us? Like a guy at the pub trying to convince you that they used to be somebody, The Libertines go over the same story time and time again. On “Night of the Hunter,” Carl and Peter take turns singing about the law coming to take them away for the terrible things that they’ve done. It’s a story fit for Oscar Wilde, Lord Byron or Le Marquis de Sade. But, the reason that Carl and Peter are, thankfully, still here and playing songs is that this is not quite their story.

Who doesn’t love The Libertines? Who wouldn’t be happy that they are still making music? Still, “All Quiet on the Eastern Esplanade” overreaches. It’s a pleasant album, but the bragging about getting drunk and duelling with pistols under the moonlight are just old stories. The Libs would be best finding new things to write about.

About author

Eduard Banulescu is a writer, blogger, and musician. As a content writer, Eduard has contributed to numerous websites and publications, including FootballCoin, Play2Earn, BeIN Crypto, Business2Community, NapoliSerieA, Extra Time Talk, Nitrogen Sports, Bavarian FootballWorks, etc. He has written a book about Nirvana, hosts a music podcasts, and writes weekly content about some of the best, new and old, alternative musicians. Eduard also runs and acts as editor-in-chief of the alternative rock music website www.alt77.com. Mr. Banulescu is also a musician, having played and recorded in various bands and as a solo artist.
Related posts
Album ReviewsAlt Reviews

Lee Trent - "In Presence" Reviewed

8.5
Alt Reviews

Our Escape and Múnro Reviewed

8.0
Alt Reviews

Magana and Juno Dunes Reviewed

7.5
Alt Reviews

Crossing i’s Dotting t’s and Eric Sleeper Reviewed

Be part of the Alt77 community

Leave a Reply