musicismoonlight

If you'd have told thirteen year old me, with my 'What became of the likely lads?' tshirt and my school folder ,which I'd scribbled the full names of each of the boys in the band across, that five years on I would be stood sipping rum in a field with The Libertines performing infront of me, then my mind would've exploded...and that is precisely what happened Friday night at Leeds Fest. Theeeeeey're back! (and with an album that's out done the rest)

When The Libertines announced their return to the music scene after eleven years half the world was cheering and three-quarters were wondering if they'd successfully make it back at all. However, a few days ago, after they failed to make an appearance at their London gig due to a disappearing Doherty,their highly-anticipated album Anthems for a Doomed Youth hit us all.

Structurally the new anthems on this album are very similar to the past releases, with Carl and Pete's raspy vocals mixed with bouncy beats and catchy hooks. They still seem to tell a poetic story in each of their tracks, but without it at all being obnoxious and being refreshingly honest. However, as you progress through the album, its clear the band have matured and become more polished- somehow without losing their values.

The track 'Anthems for Doomed Youth' itself is a rather obvious nod to The Libertines troublesome past and landing back into the real world. With lines such as, 'racking up the lines of shite', and, 'Yes we thought that they were brothers then they half murdered each other', being references to the bands# drug habits and the front-men's bittersweet relationship. Pete Doherty, who spent time in rehab before the album was recorded in Thailand, claimed that this song is based around the events that occurred after the band signed to Rough Trade records. 

Fan favourites still stand as Gunga Din, Fame and Fortune and Lust for The Libertines.  Particularly Gunga Din, which was released as  a single this July. This single came hand in hand with a music video which reassured fans that The Libertines may have got older, wiser and somewhat less intoxicated as the foursome rowdily walked the streets like drunken youths.

Aswell as the new tunes, You're My Waterloo, made the album! Gary claimed was the only one of the older songs to make it on the album due to the fact the band didn't want to seem 'lazy'.

Dubbed as their best album yet, its exciting and nerve-racking to see where Anthems for Doomed Youth will carry the likely lads and hopefully a tour is in check.