Babyshambles

It's impossible to talk about Babyshambles front man Pete Doherty without mentioning his unhealthy affection for needles, vials and fistfights, so we'll use this sentence to get that out of the way. Now, the music: The Blinding is both eclectic and concise, proving that Doherty's creativity is strong enough to withstand constant chemical erosion. The title track is a Libertines-style post-rock burner, but the bulk of this EP trades on slow, almost sentimental balladry, Doherty's sad and confessional lyrics and -- huh? -- a languid, sunny, pseudo-Caribbean vibe.