By the time The Libertine’s had reached the levels of fame they were so desperately chasing, Pete Doherty had already embarked upon a drink and drugs odyssey that culminated in his exit from the band. To everyone watching this self-obsessed lifestyle of excess, it felt like only a matter of time before it all ended in tears, probably Carl Barat’s.

The reason I mention Doherty in this review is that The Skuzzies seem to be very proud of their association with the guy. Indeed, not only does he feature on the final song of their self-titled debut album but his name is all over any Skuzzies bio you care to read. One of the first photos in the album booklet is of Jerome Alexandre, lead singer of The Skuzzies, posing with Doherty in a sombrero. We’re told that the band made history at ”the infamous Babyshambles riot” at the now defunct Astoria back in 2004. One of the songs on the album was rehearsed at Doherty’s country retreat in 2010.

These guys really want you to know that Pete Doherty is their mate.

But unlike Doherty, who had the lyrics and talent to back up his train-wreck of a life, The Skuzzies debut album is just a wreck.

Don’t get me wrong, these guys can play instruments and at times even try to step out of their self-imposed indie bubble with forays into ska and electronica.
But Alexandre’s clichéd lyrics coupled with his irritating and affected vocals make for painful listening. With choruses like “If blood is bondage, then what is love?” you can see what kind of musicians The Skuzzies are trying to emulate – the social commentary of The Jam with the energy of the Ramones. But they don’t even come close to pulling it off.

At their best, a few tracks sound like poor imitations of well-established songs by bands such as Oasis or The Offspring. At their worst, well, there is no need to be mean.

Let this album be a warning: sharing a stage with Pete Doherty does not a rock star make.