Drug abuse, burglary, prison sentences - the recent antics of the Libertines have been like something straight out of an Eastenders script. Hardly surprising, then, that their second album is such an intensely ragged affair, often sounding as if the songs are being improvised there and then in the studio. This spontaneity certainly helps to keep things exciting - on some tracks Carl Barat and Pete Doherty even spit lyrics back and forth at each other, dishing out the blame for the split in their relationship. After a while, however, it all starts to get a bit wearying - and the disappointing reality is that there just aren't as many memorable tunes here as there was on their superb debut. An air of great sadness hangs over the entire proceedings, almost as if the band realise it's their last time to play together. But if that's really so, it's a tragedy - because the Libertines still have the potential to be so much more than just another rock'n'roll soap opera.