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Libertines - Up The Bracket /Concrete Blonde Live

© Marianne Moro

The Libertines Up The Bracket Rough Trade/Sanctuary

Despite an on-again, off-again American tour and a backlash to their "next big thing" status, the Libertines have sparked quite a buzz as England's answer to the Strokes/Hives "rock is back" phenomena. They finally did get a proper chance to play in the U.S. though - a whole six minutes at Coachella before the authorities pulled the plug (curfew, you know). Up The Bracket was produced by Mick Jones of the Clash, and the too controversial for the UK track What A Waster, which closes the CD, was produced by ex Suede guitarist Bernard Butler.

From hypnotic cacophony of the opening cut, Vertigo, the clattering guitars and basic drumming surge forward unapologetically. Like the Buzzcocks, the Libertines are simultaneously intelligent, witty and raucous. No one cut leaps out at you immediately, but the cheeky but affectionate groupie paean "Boys In The Band" ("I've no homestead/but through these hearts I will roam") swirls and crackles with '60s garage rock charm. The refreshing sloppiness of "Horrowshow" & "Up The Bracket" owe as much to Ian Drury and the Blockheads as the Clash. Up The Bracket grows on you with every spin - the way all great albums do.

Vocalist Pete Doherty is by no means a Star Search finalist, and his torpid, disjointed delivery ranks with the most memorable untrained rock voices - Lydon, Strummer, Iggy, et al. The Libertines are energetic, if a little ragged in the musicianship department. Berklee wouldn't let these guys in the door, but what they lack in technical chops they make up for with attitude.

Concrete Blonde Concrete Blonde - Live In Brazil Ark 21 Records

This live double disc captures alternative hard rockers Concrete Blonde in concert in Brazil in the summer of 2002. Concrete Blonde were one of those smart 1980s' L.A. bands that didn't fit into any specific record company marketing plan. Like fellow Angelenos X, they were a creature unto themselves. Concrete Blonde's work, particularly Bloodletting and Walking In London were well received by alternate cognoscenti, but only mildly accepted by American radio and mainstream listeners. The first disc of this set begins with a relentless blast of sound as on God Is A Bullet as guitarist James Mankey's blistering intro warms things up for Johnette Napolitano's two pack a day voice. Napolitano is Chrissie Hynde without the focus, Patti Smith with a heavy metal tinge & anger intact. Napolitano's throaty delivery magnifies the foreboding tone of Leonard Cohen's Everybody Knows. Her voice sometimes contains a scary edge - not pretend-scary-but a genuine bite that you rarely hear in pop music.