Shotter's Nation
by Babyshambles
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 26
  3. Negative: 1 out of 26
  1. Observer Music Monthly
    100
    It's also about love, loss, the British urban landscape, laughing at yourself, great guitars, exciting chord changes, tight rhythms, the Stones-Who-Kinks-(Small) Faces-Clash-Jam-Smiths-Happy Mondays-Stone Roses-Oasis-Blur history of Britrock, rich, simple production, songs with layers, a really good band and a singer who has relocated his voice.
  2. Uncut
    100
    Street entirely avoids DIA’s flinty spectrality and staticky crackle and turns a bright light on the smart, compact and relentlessly exciting arrangements he’s here coaxed from the band.
  3. MSN Consumer Guide (Robert Christgau)
    91
    Once again its vagaries are its distinction. Doherty makes a case for flat-on-your-ass alienation in an insane wartime culture.
  5. Hot Press
    80
    Pete Doherty has just dropped one of the best indie rock records you’re likely to hear this year.
  6. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    Shotters Nation isn't his magum opus, it's still infinitely more consistent, listenable and likely to get played on the radio than its predecessor ever was.
  7. Dot Music
    80
    Lyrically, Shotter's Nation brims with the insight and eloquence with which Doherty continually surprises you.
  8. NOW Magazine
    80
    It's a record full of straight-up good songs from a band that should be (and would be, except for Doherty's fuckery) much more important than it is.
  9. Amazon.com
    80
    Shotter's Nation, is surprisingly good and sonically upbeat (if not so much lyrically).
  10. Austin Chronicle
    78
    Free of his former band's birthplace, Pete Doherty now exacts revenge on Shotter's Nation, whose opening briar 'Carry on up the Morning' rings instantly Libertine, as does the stumbling tempo and frontman's stutter-step lyricism on 'Side of the Road.'
  11. Blender
    70
    Pete Doherty remains the British tabloids' pinata of choice--but at least his music is looking up.
  12. Hartford Courant
    70
    Doherty's second album with Babyshambles, is a fine effort and marked improvement on his first post-Libertines sally, but its explosiveness is held in check by an unfortunate air of self-awareness.
  13. PopMatters
    70
    While Shotter’s Nations contains some of the brightest spots we have seen from Doherty in several years, there remains a few songs with wasted potential.
  14. AllMusic
    70
    a few songs that lag a bit, this is easily Babyshambles' best work yet.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 42
  3. Negative: 2 out of 42
  1. jyotirmayaD
    Feb 19, 2008
    6
    I like this CD...esp. with all the hype around Pete Doherty and his endless antics with drugs, models and what not... He has a lot to say, I like this CD...esp. with all the hype around Pete Doherty and his endless antics with drugs, models and what not... He has a lot to say, even though it isn't the best of what is good in life. Anyway, I don't understand all the "10s" he's getting here from the fans, but I respect there opinions. I reserve my 10s for uncompromising genius and entertainment: "Nirvana" anybody?… Full Review »
  2. AlejandroI.
    Oct 23, 2007
    10
    Pete is a fucking genius.
  3. Ricko
    Oct 21, 2011
    6
    A much more coherent follow up than their debut Down in Albion. Unfortunately the songs here are the tamest and blandest Doherty has written.A much more coherent follow up than their debut Down in Albion. Unfortunately the songs here are the tamest and blandest Doherty has written. Stephen Street deserves credit on production duties. He's gotten the most out of a collection of very average songs. It's a pity he wasn't around for their debut when the songs had much more potential but ultimately butchered in studio. Where this sounds like a band actually concentrating, the material is week and it's hard to get away from that fact. Delivery is a highlight but apart from that not much worth writing about on it. If your a big Libertines fan you'll enjoy aspects of it but overall it lacks bite.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »