Carl Barat is going through something of a renaissance as of late.
The reforming of indie’s beloved Libertines has sparked a wave of festival announcements, there’s a new album in the works featuring new tracks penned with pal Pete Doherty and it appears any notions of an acting career may be safely on the back burner for now at least. But with so much hype and hysteria around The Libertines you could be forgiven for letting Carl’s latest project slip under your radar. However, accompanied by a new crew in The Jackals, there’s been a string of successful shows with rave reviews and an album that all points to a familiar but surprisingly fresh direction.
Let it Reign released February 17, 2015 – Grand Jury.
With The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things and a solo album behind him, Carl has already had three debut albums. But with The Jackals, Let it Reign is without a doubt his best since Up The Bracket all those years ago. Why? Well just listen to opening track Glory Days, a gutsy driven ode with a growl that’d put the heebie jeebies up a pitbull terrier. The snarling nature of Carl Barat & The Jackals is apparent throughout and the songs are strongly written as well as catchy. You could argue it’s indie by numbers but if it is then it’s expertly executed without a single stroke going over the lines.
When I read the tracklisting I’ll admit I was worried, Victory Gin, Summer in the Trenches and War of the Roses all sound like titles that didn’t quite make it on a Libertines album or worse. But I couldn’t have been more wrong and any comparisons to his old band are soon forgotten, Let it Reign stands alone. Carl is back to his best lyrically and an approving nod should probably go to Joby J. Ford (The Bronx) for production, LA is fast becoming a mecca for British bands looking for a beefed up sound.
If you are looking for a standout track I’d have to pick We Want More, a throwback to the glory days of Britpop (not to be confused with the dark days, see Northern Uproar if you really want to know what they were). All in all Carl Barat & The Jackals’ first impression further signals a quiet rising in the sleeping giant that is British Guitar music – long may it reign!
