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Friday, October 1, 2010

25. What a Waster by The Libertines 2002

In the early 2000s guitar bands were back in a big way leading with The Strokes but it was the sound of The Libertines that really got me excited about the new guitar sounds. They were English and clearly rooted in the English punk sounds but with great pop sensibilities. Like the Kinks having a rave up. When this came out in 2002 I was DJing at the Lizard Lounge but it really wasn't the same place. Once this would have been an anthem but the place had changed where this song no longer fitted in. The most we could get away with was Last Night by The Strokes. I no longer ran the place having left in 2001 and been asked back just to DJ. But here was a band I loved that played great rock music that you could dance to. The crowd wanted more dance music. The management wanted more dance music. It was a job. So I gave up DJing! If it isn't fun,why do it!
The lyrics are poetic (as well as quite filthy) and there's something that is so English about the band. Maybe it was the red military jackets reminiscent of the 60's they wore in film clips. Or the constant references to Albion. Either way great band. It's a pity Pete Doherty didn't take more notice of the words he wrote for this song before "pissing it all up the wall."

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