Babyshambles - Shotter’s Nation

Who would have thought that in between all his recent court dates tabloid favourite Pete Doherty and his Babyshambles would have had time to record a follow up to 2005’s ‘Down in Albion’? And yet ‘Shotter’s Nation’ has arrived, thankfully no longer carrying expectations of a Libertines reincarnation, but rather the apprehensive reputation of a band more famous for missing gigs than for their music. However, it seems that maybe Babyshambles has pulled it together a bit, while still a bit unstable it seems that the band may have grown up slightly, even if only incrementally.

The first track on the album, ‘Carry On Up The Morning’ sounds ever so reminiscent of ‘Down In Albion’, touting Babyshambles’ trademark short guitar riffs mixed with a modestly upbeat melody as Pete sings of his not-so-secret troubles, ‘In the morning where does the pain go? Same place the fame goes, to your head’. Continuing to coast on the heels of ‘Down in Albion’, ‘Delivery’ follows similarly as a perfectly acceptable track but without the charismatic spark that we had hoped for from the album’s first single and failing to rouse our interest but momentarily.

However, Babyshambles have never been described as reliable and the band derails from their mediocre track to turn out a handful of songs with character. ‘You Talk’ displays the album’s first real use of hooks, with a catchy chorus, jangly guitar and rumbling drums the track demonstrates the individuality the previous two songs were lacking. As the wildest song on the album, ‘Side Of The Road’ is quick to grab attention, unleashing of flurry of rapid and predominantly incoherent vocals while juggling an array of tempos. It’s a fun, rambunctious tune and a reminder that Babyshambles can turn out songs as well as headlines.

The band briefly relapses into weaker moments mid-album with ‘UnBiloTitled’, a meandering track that comes across watered down and listless, with Pete’s vocals tapering off meekly, but the recovery is quicker this time. The album comes to a close with ‘Baddies Boogie’ a bouncy tune that is sure to inspire dancing (hence the ‘Boogie’) despite its rather depressing content about an unhappily married couple consisting of ‘a washed up wife and a permanently plastered pissed off bastard’. The upbeat track ‘Deft Left Hand’ follows with a cheerful display of backing vocals from the Babyshambles crew, and finally ‘The Lost Art of Murder’, a solemn acoustic track that brings the curtain down on ‘Shotters Nation’ with a reflective mood.

As the album wraps up we realize it’s been a bumpy ride and it’s not surprising, as if Babyshambles are anything it’s unpredictable. However, it seems the rockers have turned a corner and are a little more serious about the music this time around. In ‘Lost Art of Murder’ Pete appears to be speaking to himself, offering advice and knowing what must be done he sings ‘get up off your back, stop smoking that, you could change your life, do you think you’ll change their mind?’ ‘Shotter’s Nation’ is a testament that Babyshambles are making an effort to pull it together and to change our minds. Now the next step is to see if they can make it to their gigs.