Grace/Wastelands

I might have posted this before?

But the Peter Doherty album/the first solo album is coming out next month.
The track listing is as follows…
‘Arcadie’
‘Last Of The English Roses’
’1939 Returning’
‘A Little Death Around The Eyes’
‘Salome’
‘I Am The Rain’
‘Sweet By And By’
‘Palace Of Bone’
‘Sheepskin Tearaway’
‘Broken Love Song’
‘New Love Grows On Trees’
‘Lady, Don’t Fall Backwards’

Most of the tracks have already been ‘released’ through www.frenchdogblues.com (Petes site) and from recordings made at live events, available on www.albionarks.com
I’ve heard most of them in one form or another but I’m going to refrain from listening all the songs before it is out.

I have to say, that now since ‘Shotters Nation’(the second Babyshambles Album)has been around for a while now, in all honesty, much as it pains me to say it – it hasnt stood up against ‘Down in Albion’(the first Babyshambles Album) or either of the Libertines albums. It has a few gems in there, but ultimately, it doesn’t have the feel of Pete Dohertys work. I prefer to listen to the songs on ‘Shotters Nation’ recorded at live event rather than on the released album.

Why?

Its too clean cut. Too professional. A far cry from the, boys with guitars, sound that we know and love. Listen to ‘Down in Albion’ and ‘Shotters Nation’ and hear the difference yourself, they hardly compare musically – of course lyrically, they are one and one, that is the albums saving grace.

I have a hunch. The Libertines albums and ‘Down in Albion’ were produced by Mick Jones, the legendary guitarist and lead vocalist of The Clash – ‘Shotters Nation’ was produced by Stephen Street. Street is known for producing commercially viable music, he is know for capturing a POLISHED SOUND! wtf? No one in their right mind would ever say they like Babyshambles or the Libertines because of their ‘polished sound’. I would love to hear what ‘Shotters Nation’ would have sounded like if Mick Jones had a crack at it…

So yeah. My hunch is that, Mick Jones would have produced a better Shotters Nation than Stephen Street. Pretty straight forward.

So, I’m excited about the new album, but anxious at the same time, because I know Peter Doherty has the potential to release a great solo album, the songs have been played for years live – but I’m worried that in the end, I’ll be listening to the live recordings instead.