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For Lovers

The 'For Lovers' CD single is all that remains on my shelves of my otherwise short-lived infatuation with the music of The Libertines and their offshoots. Fifteen years ago I also owned both Libertines albums and a couple of their singles, plus the first Dirty Pretty Things album. I held on to Up The Bracket until a few years ago, but, the last time I listened to it, the thrill had definitely gone, so I let that one go too.

My introduction to The Libertines had been via MTV2: on first seeing the video for 'Up The Bracket' in '02 my reaction was "who do they think they are?", but it grew on me a little and, when I saw/heard 'Time For Heroes' a few months later, I was sold. My local small-town Swedish record shop carried their albums, but I think I ordered 'For Lovers' from Amazon.

It's a sweet ballad that I still enjoy. The 'B-side' on the disc is 'Back From The Dead' - a more upbeat number which isn't bad but which sounds a bit unfinished. Also included is the 'For Lovers' video comprising what looks to be Super-8 film footage of Pete Doherty moping around Paris.

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