Dirty Pretty Things - Romance at Short Notice

Artist: Dirty Pretty Things
Album: Romance at Short Notice
Genre: Indie Rock
Rating: 4.5 of 5


Carl Barat and the Dirty Pretty Things are back with another great album. The longer we go post-Libertines it seems both Carl and Peter are straying further from that sound and finding their own voice.

Things have slowed down just a touch from the last album and the Libertines before that; It also feels just a touch more mellow. "Hippy's Son" has some great contrast between the verse and chorus but even the harder verse doesn't have that much punch. "Come Closer" is a great love tune and one that would have been reserved as a secret track on the Libertines. "The North" sounds like some early Pink Floyd. Finally, "Blood on My Shoes" closes the album with a similar feeling as "Hippy's Son". This contrast seems to fill the album. Almost as if there was a struggle between moving forward and looking backwards.

Carl's earlier days are definitely still a strong presence. "Best Face" has that leather-jacket clad edge that perpetuates any photos or videos of the group. "Chinese Dogs" is the closest thing left to the Libertines that I could find. The song had the energy, drifting guitar riffs, loose choirs and general mayhem that made many of Carl's early songs inspire so many young artist.

The album shows great contrast and the struggle between mellow and grit makes a rather enjoyable listen.