The Libertines
The Libertines
On Rough Trade Records
Grade: CThe legend surrounding the Libertines has built to such proportions, it has begun to overshadow their music. Singer/guitarist Peter Doherty's problems have kept him out of the band since the Libertines completed their self-titled sophomore release. The list of issues is long and reads like a ready-made VH1 "Behind the Music" episode: heroin and crack cocaine addiction, weapons possession and burgling of the home of Libertine's singer/bassist Carl Barat (which resulted in jail time). Yet, regardless of Doherty's problems, the band's tour has garnered rave reviews across the globe, and critics, fans and curious music lovers all await their second release.

I hope I don't disappoint the masses, but it's not that impressive.

Doherty and Barat pull from the right sources; their sound is heavily influenced by the Clash and the Rolling Stones, and their mumbled lyrics sound like poetry from a drunk, British Bob Dylan. And they incorporate the right musical elements as well: driving basslines, crescendoing beats and building intensity. Doherty's lyrics seem appropriately rude and indifferent.

I can see how their concerts would build to a frenzy that incites the crowd to fits of dancing, but popping The Libertines into your CD-player simply isn't going to do the trick. The songs feel slow and uninspired (the firstsingle, "Can't Stand Me Now," suffers greatly from that flaw), and the band often seems distracted. What would be riotous shouts and screams on stage are simple yelps that sound no more interesting than a friend shouting for another beer.

It could be a by-product of a band on the verge of falling apart, or simply the sophomore slip-up that befalls many bands, but let's hope that their third effort (if they last that long) can actually capture the explosive spirit of The Libertines. This record certainly does not.



Supergrass
Supergrass Is 10
On Capitol Records
Grade: A

It's pretty hard to compile a bad greatest hits collection. In principle, such an album would be a collection of songs that have already established themselves as well-loved compositions. Yet, a greatest hits collection is only as good as the band it's documenting, and Capitol Records has done right by the public and by themselves by deciding that Supergrasss deserve a greatest hits present on their 10th anniversary.

The band has remained relatively obscure on our side of the pond, but have become huge in their native England, touring with some of the island nation's top bands of the 1990s. They've occasionally managed to cross over, and most Americans will recognize the first three tracks on Supergrass Is 10, "Caught by the Fuzz," "Pumping on Your Stereo" (which got major MTV play because of a surreal video utilizing bizarre puppets) and "Alright" (which was featured in the movie Clueless).

While the rest of the 21 featured songs may be unfamiliar, they all follow the same pattern of jangly guitars, catchy vocals, rich instrumentation, and some kind of irresistible hook. This is a hits collection of the best kind: commercial and faithful to the band, while offering something new for just about every listener.