Acousticity - Albion Band

Advantages: encouraging continuation of a diverse form of indie/alternative
Disadvantages: tough cookie to crack

...This album is quite simply an ironic insight into what people sound like when they are writing and performing music simply for the personal satisfaction, and for the satisfaction of the many adoring fans who wish to thrust themselves 'pon Pete Doherty and his band of merry men: "Down In Albion" uses an intelegant mix of quiet and subtle songs such as "merry go round" and "loyalty song", along with stark and harsh tones that really put some punch into the CD, almost to a predicatble levle, in order to create some auidiable aesthetics, from this principle, there are 2 elements of this album that really make it stand out: 1) the lyrial content. Those who were fans of The Libertines will know Pete Doherty is a man who posesses a way with words, and this is demonstrated, with no exception, in "Down In Albion". This is obviously only... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: An interesting albion band line-up
Disadvantages: Nothing too exciting

...I wish I liked this album more than I do. Ashley Hutching's' latest combo to fly the Albion Band banner features the ubiquitous songstress Kellie While and the multi-talented Joe Broughton on fiddle, mandolin, keyboard and guitar. The trouble is, the album doesn't hang together. Sure it sounds like the band were having fun, but this is an album woefully short on quality. Two songs stand out: the soulful When My Son is Grown and She Still Waits. The majority of the album is humdrum and certain tracks like Cookery is the New Rock'n'Roll risk taking the Albions into Barron Knights territory. Even the excellent She Still Waits has its impact lessened by a spoken sub-Coney Island into, pretentiously titled It is That Window of Time. Road movies is a student film at best, and only of interest to die-hard Albion fans. Punters new to the group... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Lyrically sublime with raw anthems, filled with emotion and charisma
Disadvantages: The band aren't quite as strong musically as the Libertines were

...Down In Albion is the Babyshambles debut album. Following the split of The Libertines, one of the biggest debates amongst Libertines fans was who would come out stronger from Pete & Carl. After all the bad press Pete had succumb too, the release of this album was not only eagerly awaited by fans, but critics and newspapers were awaiting a huge flop so they could once more try and tear Pete's life to piece's. Pete however had other ideas and came out fighting, releasing an album that was although not as strong as The Libertines stuff musically, it was every bit as strong lyrically. Never shying away from making the album autobiographical, Pete spoke of addiction and his fallout with Carl, in a emotional and gripping album, whilst never losing the cheek and innocence that got him where he is today. He may have his doubters... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful