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Up The Bracket Image
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 89 Ratings

  • Summary: This debut disc from the hyped London garage band (deemed the UK's version of The Strokes by British music mags) was produced by The Clash's Mick Jones.

Top Track

Time For Heroes
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot Shovelled up like muck Set the night on fire Wombles bleed truncheons and shields You know I cherish you my... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 15
  2. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Spin
    100
    This is music to play in dark, velvety, womblike bars; this is music to play while buying cigarettes; this is music for well-dressed poor people. [May 2003, p.109]
  2. Blender
    100
    Not since the Clash has a band evoked so precisely the grime and thrill of young London. [#15, p.124]
  3. The group's innate intelligence and almost shocking ability to forge something new and thrilling out of typical garage-rock influences always shines brightly through the thick Guinness fog.
  4. Emphasizing colorful vocals over the average playing benefits the band enormously.
  5. Up the Bracket is the most overbearing UK rock album to come out since Oasis' Definitely Maybe.
  6. More life-affirming than life-changing, on Up the Bracket the Libertines deliver a stellar set of songs that -- both musically and lyrically -- neatly synthesizes the past 40 years of English rock.
  7. There's definitely something horrid, hairy and horrendously hippyish hobbling these lovely boys.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. MattP
    Mar 6, 2004
    10
    Fuc*ing A! Every single track on here could be a single. It's definatly my favourite LP since 'Doolittle'. If you don't Fuc*ing A! Every single track on here could be a single. It's definatly my favourite LP since 'Doolittle'. If you don't own it by now scrub the shame off with wire-wool Expand
  2. [Anonymous]
    Jan 5, 2004
    10
    Listened to it time and time and time again, and still love it. Ignore what any naysayers might say - if you like good, two-fingers (or one - Listened to it time and time and time again, and still love it. Ignore what any naysayers might say - if you like good, two-fingers (or one - I'm English) -up-to-the-world music that makes you want to scream every song at the top of your voice on top of a high building (or is that just me?) then buy this album. I class a good album by the number of tracks i want to skip, and there are none on this one. I could listen to each one twice or even thrice in a row. The English might not be able to land a mars probe as well as Americans, but we can still make damn fine music. Expand
  3. Swedishguy
    Feb 18, 2005
    10
    As good as every single night for, I don't know how long, I've been telling myself to get those earphones off of my head and go to As good as every single night for, I don't know how long, I've been telling myself to get those earphones off of my head and go to sleep or something instead of listening to "Up The Bracket". But this album keeps convincing me it's one of the best ones ever released. The tunes! The energy! The way it swings you out of it all! Pure love. Expand
  4. maxwellw
    May 16, 2006
    10
    The following fuckwit medias can FUCK off: uncut (who gives a fuck what you think you cunts) the onion a.v club or whatever (who the fuck are The following fuckwit medias can FUCK off: uncut (who gives a fuck what you think you cunts) the onion a.v club or whatever (who the fuck are you?). oh and Q magazine. what cd were you listening to when you reviewed up the bracket?? i think this is a case of 'look at us we're controversial and give the best music the worst marks'. dick heads, perhaps you should review it again and remember to listen to it this time, rather than talk about U2 and the foo fighters. Expand
  5. erinca
    Oct 18, 2008
    10
    For me this insane cd is the best album of 2000's. since 2005 I haven't had a single consecutive 3 days period that I haven't For me this insane cd is the best album of 2000's. since 2005 I haven't had a single consecutive 3 days period that I haven't listened to that. Subtle, life changing opportunity. Collapse
  6. DaveyD
    Jan 13, 2005
    9
    This album hit me hard out of the gate and kept getting better as it went on. My love of the Clash, the Jam, the Damned and every other late This album hit me hard out of the gate and kept getting better as it went on. My love of the Clash, the Jam, the Damned and every other late seventies British punk act may be coloring (colouring?) my opinion, but still I think this album stands on it's own. Buy it. Expand
  7. AlexN
    May 20, 2004
    0
    This cd falls short of listenable. It is sickeningly awful.

See all 32 User Reviews