(photo: Myspace)

What a waste.

That’s the best way for me to sum up what happened between Carl Barât and Pete Doherty, the dynamic co-frontmen of The Libertines.  After two albums–the second of which was recorded after Barât forgave Doherty for breaking into his apartment (he did time for the crime) in retaliation for Barât leaving on a Japanese tour without Doherty–Doherty was told to get his act together and get off the drugs before joining the band.  That never happened, and The Libertines ceased to be.

That was then, though, and this, thankfully, is now.  I don’t need, nor do I want to go into the roller coastering, tabloid-baiting life Doherty has led since he left The Libertines.  You know the score (no pun intended), so there’s no point in rehashing that.  Musically speaking, Doherty’s post-Libertines work has been less spotty than his criminal record, which is a testament to his musical instincts and songwriting abilities.  His band Babyshambles produced a few choice moments in the past few years (check out Shotter’s Nation, an album that didn’t get the respect I think it deserves), but unfortunately it was overshadowed by Doherty’s extra-curricular activities.

Just when it seems that the world as forgotten about him, Doherty returns, this time as proper Peter, for his first solo album, Grace/Wastelands.  A cleaned up, Cavalli-modelling Doherty seems to be back in form on this eclectic blend of genres and styles.  Stephen Street takes the reins as producer, and Blur axe-man Graham Coxon sits in playing guitar on all but one track (“Broken Love Song”).  Dot “One Dove” Allison, Doherty’s former collaborator Peter Wolfe (aka Wolfman) and members of Babyshambles also join in the festivities, but it’s quite clear this is Doherty’s show.  He sounds like a man who has come face to face with  the devil, and realized that they are both the same man.  The music is muted, spare at times, veering from smoky lounge bar blues to the guitar pop music that made him famous.  In short, this is the best Peter Doherty has sounded in ages.

MP3: Peter Doherty “Last of the English Roses”
Facebook: Peter Doherty
Myspace: Peter Doherty
Buy: Peter Doherty Grace/Wasteland