Down In Albion
by Babyshambles
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 107 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 75 out of 107
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 107
  3. Negative: 18 out of 107

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  1. JamesF
    Jan 12, 2006
    10
    First couple of listens and this album sounds alright, enough to pick out a couple of highlights in arebours and back from the dead. Listen to it a few more times and suddenly every song becomes a highlight. Listen to it constantly for 3 weeks including while you sleep and it begins to dawn on you that this could just well be the best album you've ever heard. Genius.
  2. GaryS
    Jan 3, 2006
    10
    Nearly as good as the Libertines. To be remembered in the decades to come!
  3. kateg
    Jun 5, 2006
    10
    the best album ever. Pete, you're amazing!
  4. JoeD
    Jul 6, 2006
    10
    One of the best albums of the year for sure. but its not for those panic at the disco-loving ladies. Its for people who know good music.
  5. nevermind
    Nov 23, 2005
    10
    amazing
  6. mikeo
    Dec 14, 2005
    10
    i thought the album was brilliant well worth waiting for, i think it is a masterpiece
  7. LauraC
    Dec 1, 2005
    10
    A fantastic debut album from Babyshambles. Although weak in some places it has potencial. Pete Doherty is an amazing peot with a unique and inspiring voice
  8. StephenO
    Dec 24, 2005
    10
    The album Down in Albion is one of the best lyrically of its time, although maybe messy and very unpredictable at times it gives of a 'glint of perspiration' doherty's messyness and pure love for rock and roll shines through the highlight has to be albion whilst the worst point is pentonville allround except the song cant stand me now its doherty's finest moment.
  9. michaele
    Jan 19, 2006
    10
    brilliant
  10. MichaelM
    Jan 5, 2006
    10
    The Best album i ever Heard in my life!!!!!!!
  11. ElvarF
    Jan 8, 2006
    10
    Of course you give li'l Pete and his babyshambles the ten, waht else can you do. Yeah It's messy, sometimes so messy that you start to wonde rid some of these tunes were writen on the spot (dig the end of la belle et las bete) bur stills it grips you and pulls you down with it. Still they could have dithced Pentoville, but hey no ones perfect. Great fucking album!
  12. tslice
    Jul 28, 2006
    10
    the reason this album is so good is that it sounds like im in the studio while it's being recorded and that is a grand feeling, in my opinion. not to mention pete doherty's beautiful words. i'm ready for more.
  13. smealmonkey
    Aug 30, 2006
    10
    This album is almost as good as up the bracket and is better than The libertines second album and is a perfect mix of music
  14. nevermind
    Aug 8, 2006
    10
    amazing
  15. nevermind
    Feb 22, 2007
    10
    amazing
  16. RobbesP
    Nov 25, 2005
    10
    in some years time this album will be cited as a classic. equally ace, but much more moving than the libertines.
  17. lydiaf
    Dec 10, 2005
    10
    totally ace album, the out of tune parts make it more humane. the track Albion is stunning and i love listening to it. Beautiful. much greater than what i anticipated.
  18. RobertS
    Dec 31, 2005
    10
    stunning, simply amazing. get this album.
  19. Jonny
    Dec 3, 2005
    10
    The sloppiness of this album is part of it's charm
  20. dylanc
    Nov 6, 2006
    10
    Raw, uncompomising... Genius has never sounded so good!
  21. MrSkint
    Apr 14, 2006
    10
    This album is amazing, the production may be sub par, but its the sound of a real rock n roll band. Raw, honest and intense, a quite refreshing break from all the other usual phony tripe. Its a shame that the reviewers have been influenced so much by the media, when hes dead, he will be looked upon as an idol.
  22. fredriks
    May 31, 2006
    10
    classic
  23. Jeffbaker
    Dec 2, 2007
    10
    I am from the U.S. So if not a Doherty fan would not be aware of his tabloid exploits. I love this album in all its gritty uncomprimicing glory. I believe too many criticts based their review on their personal opinion of pete's behavior. Makes me wish I were British.
  24. Dabbadoo
    Dec 2, 2007
    10
    F.ck forever is a great song, but some moments the cd gets tired, but still a great cd that every person should listen to a few times so it will grow on them
  25. davids
    Dec 31, 2005
    10
    Amazing album. Some strange songs, but overall, amazing.
  26. markh
    Nov 20, 2005
    9
    Genius. Very, VERY good. Some moments of poor production but all in all a very good record...and I hated the Libertines!
  27. RobbieD
    Dec 6, 2005
    9
    It is a very good album. It could easily be the libertines third album. Some songs are just too much to listen too (Pentonville) but the songs that worth listening to overpower the terrible and make you want to hear them all over. i dont know why they didnt put some songs on the album like the song "babyshambles" that is a good one!
  28. GZoST
    Jan 20, 2006
    9
    I honestly don't know what all the complaints about production are about. Sure, it's kind of low-fi, and he could have worked on some songs a bit more. But at the same time, it all makes perfect sense as it is - the brilliance of the songwriting outshines everything. Leagues better than, say, the new Strokes - which gets better reviews for some reason.
  29. echobox
    Jan 7, 2006
    9
    too many records are just too perfect. this record is a mess in the best possible way. a sloppy masterpiece? time will tell, but for today it's just great fun! the british (pre-reprise) replacements
  30. SammyH
    Mar 29, 2006
    9
    So the production was sloppy at best, and there were songs that never should have seen the light of day - but nobody can deny that there are great moments on this album. The opener is beautiful, if a little long. Fuck Forever, Killamangiro, Loyalty Song, Pipedown, are all fantastic songs. 32nd of December is also a worthy effort. I think this album just needs to be re-recorded with our So the production was sloppy at best, and there were songs that never should have seen the light of day - but nobody can deny that there are great moments on this album. The opener is beautiful, if a little long. Fuck Forever, Killamangiro, Loyalty Song, Pipedown, are all fantastic songs. 32nd of December is also a worthy effort. I think this album just needs to be re-recorded with our dear Petey D a touch less wasted.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
56

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
  1. E! Online
    50
    A frustratingly half-assed album, full of great ideas executed in the poorest way possible.
    Read full review
  2. Prefix Magazine
    40
    Mostly, this record is yet another reason to wish that people with real talent would stop throwing it away.
    Read full review
  3. Filter
    36
    This is a brutal disappointment. [#19, p.97]
See all critic reviews »