Dirty Pretty Things: Waterloo To Anywhere

Herald rating: * * * *

New album by the less naughty ex-Libertine It's no wonder Pete Doherty's Babyshambles album, Down In Albion, was, let's just say, inconsistent. He's a rock'n'roll star, but what a mess the man is.

For something more cohesive check out the debut album from the new band fronted by the other Libertine, Carl Barat. First single, Bang Bang You're Dead (which is his bye bye to Pete), the equally belligerent, Gin and Milk, and album highlight, The Enemy, are head-knocking jaunts that are typical of the energy coming from this snappy set of tunes.

At just over 30 minutes it's punky, too, and even if you weren't a fan of the Libertines - because they were a British phenomenon - Waterloo To Anywhere will appeal.

Even more important though is that this album is raw and real, unlike many of the jumped-up and polished Brit groups around now - except the Arctic Monkeys, of course. In fact, if you like those hot young things then you'll like Dirty Pretty Things. Songs like the grubby sounding If You Love A Woman, and raucous You [expletive] Love It, are well lived-in, authentic and reflect how Barat's been through the ringer a bit recently, too. He's been there, man. The thing is, he's not a shambles.

Label: Vertigo