14 DAY TRIAL // Despite the fact that his public persona has often managed to overshadow, and sometimes altogether obliterate, the musician in fans’ eyes, at the end of the day, rocker Pete Doherty of The Libertines and Babyshambles fame, remains an artist. As such, his solo album, the yet-not-titled upcoming project, is commanding the attention of millions of fans around the world. For them, and not only, NME has good news: the official tracklisting.
Seemingly recorded last autumn, the album, “one of the most anticipated records of the year,” as the British media is already describing it, will include collaborations with Babyshambles bandmates but, at the same time, bring something new to that Doherty sound fans have learned to love. Early reviews of the material, though, have it that some of the edginess of Pete’s tracks with the Babyshambles has worn off, leaving in its stead more maturity and making room for an “atmospheric mix of acoustic guitar and strings set a keynote of tenderness and mystery,” as per NME.
The album will drop on March 9 and, as the rocker tells the mag, will be preceded by a single, “Last of the English Roses,” on March 2. Recorded with producer Stephen Street in London's Olympic Studios, the album features Blur guitarist Graham Coxon playing guitar on all tracks, save for “Broken Love Song.” Similarly, singer Dot Allison performs co-vocals on “Sheepskin Tearaway,” while Pete’s Babyshambles bandmates are all featured on the album.
The full tracklisting includes “Arcadie,” “Last Of The English Roses,” “1939 Returning,” “A Little Death Around The Eyes,” “Salome,” “Through The Looking Glass,” “Sweet By And By,” “Palace Of Bone,” “Sheepskin Tearaway,” “Broken Love Song,” “New Love Grows On Trees” and “Lady, Don’t Fall Backwards,” Doherty has revealed in an exclusive NME interview.
A first review of the album, whose name will be made public in a short while, as well as critics’ take on each track in particular and a lengthy interview with Pete Doherty will become available tomorrow, when the latest NME issue hits the stands.