Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An artist reverting to their full birth name is a time-honoured declaration that they want to be taken seriously.
So, Pete's got his R back in time for his first solo album to tell us that when he isn't trashing stately homes, he's a figure of great musical importance. As littered with cultural references as is his living room with empty cans (from Wilde's Salome to Isadora Duncan and the Third Reich), Grace/Wastelands is ultimately a lazy exercise in showing off his grounding in high culture. Everything is borrowed, from the Kinks-inspired "I Am the Rain" to the Bowie-esque "Broken Love Song". Producer Stephen Street, the go-to guy for English romanticism, lends it a grandeur it seldom deserves, although with the jazzy finger picking of "A Little Death Around the Eyes", the song actually rises to the occasion. The biggest surprise is the glimmering hint that Pete(r) Doherty still has greatness within him. If he spent more than a few snatched minutes working on his art in between orgies of hedonism, we might see it. You can bet your life Oscar did.
Pick of the Album: 'A Little Death Around the Eyes'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments