If you've followed the insane antics of The Libertines for the past year, I'm sure you're as shocked as myself that they actually had any time whatsoever to make a follow-up to 2002's shambling but brilliant debut Up The Bracket. If you weren't previously aware, co-frontman Pete Doherty has had some troubles as of late. Actually a lot of troubles. You see, Doherty has a bit of a taste for heroin and crack-cocaine, and even though he's been through rehab countless times, (including just recently at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand) he can't seem to get that angel on his shoulder to wake the hell up and give him some good advice. To make things even more bizarre, Doherty was arrested in 2003 for breaking into, and robbing The Libertines other frontman Carl Barat's flat, while the rest of the boys were in Japan touring under The Libertines moniker while Doherty was supposed to be kicking his habits. But like a patient loving family, Barat and the other boys keep giving Doherty second chances and welcoming him back with open arms.

The Libertines self-titled sophomore record has many references to said problems, but they're addressed with a tongue in cheek kind of off-handedness. Jesus, even the cover-art has Doherty looking down at what I'm sure is his track-marked arm. The very beginning and end of The Libertines are the best examples of this with the opener "Can't Stand Me Now" and closer "What Became Of The Likely Lads." "Can't Stand Me Now" starts off with Barat singing "An ending fitting for the start, you twist & tore our love apart. Your light fingers threw the dark, that shattered the lamp and into darkness cast us." But then Doherty cleverly chimes in with "No you've got it the wrong way round, you shut me up and blamed it on the brown." "Likely Lads" is Barat's own little landing pad of forgiveness towards Doherty for what a mess he's made of everything. Barat sings "Please don't get me wrong, see I forgive you in a song, we'll call the Likely Lads." Barat must have the patience of a saint with the steadfastness he's mustered with Doherty here.

The only real problem with The Libertines second album is that you can simply hear just how tired these guys are right now. The tiredness doesn't lead to ragged glory either, it just seems to lead towards monotony. Many of the songs seem to run together, or they're just incredibly weak like the dreadful "Don't Be Shy," or just plain stupid like "Narcissist" and the silly "Arbeit Macht Frei."

But overall, The Libertines has many moments to recommend. It's a shame to hear that just recently Doherty has been kicked out of the band once again until he can get his drug problems under control. But the ending lyrics to "Can't Stand Me Now" say it best for the future of The Libertines "Have we enough to keep it together? Or do we just keep on pretending and hope our luck is never ending." It'll definitely be interesting to see if they do have enough luck to possibly make it to a third album. Here's hoping.