2007’s Top 50 Albums: #5 - Shotter’s Nation
#5 - Babyshambles - Shotter’s Nation
Anyone who frequents this site can tell that I have a fascination with former Libertine and current Babyshambles frontman Pete Doherty. I don’t really know why, but there’s just something that makes him so compelling and interesting. And no it’s not the rampant drug use or tabloid lifestyle. He always seems to have had an unbelievable ability to write and create good music and like him or not, it’s hard to deny the talents of Doherty. And fortunately, he found some time to straighten up and make one hell of an album.
Perhaps the biggest criticism of the Babyshambles’ debut album Down in Albion was that it was too messy, disorganized, and seemed thrown together. Shotter’s Nation is quite the opposite as it reflects some of Doherty’s most focused sound since his Libertines days. The sound of the band is tight. Doherty’s voice is astonishingly strong. And the lyrics, though still autobiographical stories telling of the times and troubles of the frontman’s life, are smarter and more passionate. His song-writing is more real, more vivid, and more beautiful than ever. The song “The Lost Art of Murder,” uses imagery and references to Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” to allude to Doherty’s rampant drugs that has left him alone and without love. No topic is left untouched.
Doherty offers nothing groundbreaking. It’s the same sounds, same song-writing abilities that we’ve experienced throughout his career. But Shotter’s Nation does show his true potential. Just a bit of sobriety led to an album full of catchy music and some of the most profound lyrics of the year. Who knows what could result if Doherty completely turned his life around. Hopefully one day, we’ll find out.
Buy the album on Amazon.com
Check Out:
“Delivery”
“French Dog Blues”
Check out the rest of CoS’ Top 50 Albums of 2007…
Jan 28th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
[...] pretty big fans of Doherty so it’s nice to know he’s at least [...]