Dirty Pretty Things

Dirty Pretty Things formed in London in 2005 when Carl Barat assembled a new band after the Libertines' split. With Gary Powell from the Libertines on drums and new members Anthony Rossomando and Didz Hammond, the band developed a sound that was rooted in the Libertines template but was more focused and less chaotic. They signed to Mercury Records and released their debut album in 2006.

'Waterloo to Anywhere' (2006) was a strong debut — 'Bang Bang You're Dead', 'Deadwood', and 'You Fucking Love It' were all excellent singles. The album reached number two. Barat's songwriting was more controlled than Doherty's but equally melodic, and the band's energy was genuine. 'Romance at Short Notice' (2008) was a strong follow-up.

Dirty Pretty Things split in 2008 when Barat rejoined the Libertines. The two albums they left behind are better than their reputation suggests — a focused, melodic body of work that deserves reassessment.