How long has it been since we've been able to have a musical discussion about Pete Doherty in the present tense? I'm shocked and pleased by this development. I guess I'm one of those largely tabloid-averse folks who find's Pete's music more interesting than his drug habits.
I chose the word "interesting" because listening to Pete's music can be glorious and brilliant; it can also be a chore because that indulgent streak that runs through the man can also manifest itself in his music.
Shotter's Nation reminds me a lot of Goldilox, The Three Bears and the table of porridge or Sir Isaac Newton's laws of physics about there being an equal and opposite reaction to every action. Down in Albion, the band's first record, was occasionally brilliant and very often an impenetrable mess. Shotter sounds like the reaction to that stew of great ideas and good drugs (or good ideas and great drugs). If Papa's porridge (Down in Albion) was too hot for the tiny tart, Shotter might be a little too cold.
The opening salvo of "Carry On Up the Morning" and "Delivery" are examples of what it sounds like when the porridge is just right. "Morning" opens with jagged guitars and features one of those quintessential Doherty vocals; a stream-of-consciousness melody that surprises Pete and the listener at every turn. "Delivery" rocks with Kinks-like vigor and struts with snotty, blue collar punk attitude.
The Mick Jones-produced (The Clash) Albion was maniacal and messy, filled with brilliance and blemishes. Jones seemed to allow tape to keep rolling while Pete tried to remember where he was at, improvising the songs as he went along. The first thing Stephen Street (Blur) did when he got to the table was blow on the steaming bowl to cool things down for Shotter's Nation. The Shotter tracks are focused and concise, allowing them to roll from one to the next in short order.
Article comments
1 - DukeDeMondo
Sir Josh, I've been very much looking forward to reading your thoughts on this. Part of me is overjoyed that the record is so consistently strong - certainly there's scarcely a dud track to be found. Another part of me, though, like yourself, very much misses the sense of ragged menace and danger (kudos on the menace. i never would've thought menace, but you're right. Parts of Down In Albion are nowt short of threats) that hung about even the lesser moments on Albion. Shotter's Nation is an excellent rock record. No doubt. I adore it. But Down In Albion may have be a bit closer to the heart for me owing to how fuckin unique it feels, for one thing. And of course the quality of the songs is, for the most part, stunning. Had it been shaved to Shotter's Nation length it'd probably have been a masterpiece. As it is, it's a wee bit more than that.
Oh, and Pete's been recording that acoustic record on and off since Down In Albion was released, far as I'm aware. I'd imagine we won't have that terrible long to wait.
2 - Josh
Sir Duke, been meaning to respond to your kind comments for some time now.
I think they probably did smooth it down a bit more than necessary, but it's nice to hear some clarity in their work all the same. I'm hoping their next full-band effort will properly bring both halves together.
That acoustic record will be brilliant!
3 - Josh
Just read something on NME that suggests we might get a Pete solo record this summer. Not sure if it will be the acoustic album we're hoping for.