Babyshambles - 'Back To The Bus' (DMC) Released 18/09/06

Babyshambles present the second edition of the 'Back To The Bus' series, a collection of songs that follow on from the successful ‘Back To Mine’ and ‘Under The Influence’ compilations. Apparently ‘What Goes On Tour Stays On Tour’ provides an insight into what really happens on the Babyshambles tour bus and is “The soundtrack to the mayhem.” So say hail to the bus driver, sit down, buckle up and enjoy the ride.

To be fair to Doherty and co, it’s eclectic mix of everything from ska, reggae, punk, folk, jazz, rock, soul and indie pop works well from the off and it’s not too hard to imagine one hell of a ****ed up booze ridden, drug induced, sing song of a tour bus party. The Creation’s ‘Making Time’, The Clash’s ‘Jail Guitar Doors’ and Love’s ‘Your Friend And Mine’ set the tone and everything else there after appears to be a natural and logical progression. Unfortunately track three is The Littlan’s ‘Their Way’, a great song but as Pete guests on the vocals, a little self-indulgent perhaps? Perhaps not and we’ll let him have that one. 

‘What Goes On Tour Stays On Tour’ also reminds us of some forgotten top class tunes such as Dennis Brown’s reggae infused ‘Money In My Pocket’, the late great Johnny Thunders ‘Chinese Rocks’ and Devendra Banhart’s slightly bizarre ‘Chinese Children’. So far so good and we’re cruising along quite nicely down the motorway until the sat nav gives us a massive change of direction and we find ourselves heading away from China and instead toward St Etienne. ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’ is a cracker of a song but splits the flow of everything that has been marked out so well before. Quite simply it feels out of place. Unfortunately despite a further 5 songs including Belle & Sebastian’s delightful ‘Mornington Crescent’ and the Stone Roses timeless ‘Going Down’; ‘What Goes On Tour Stays On Tour’ doesn’t quite recover. If the first part of the compilation deals with the excitement and party atmosphere of getting on a tour bus with your mates, then the second part tells what its like 14 hours later with nothing left to talk about. Maybe this is intentional and seeks to reflect the ups and downs of tour bus life, but is disjointed nonetheless.

The finished release will also boast an exclusive acoustic version of ‘What Katy Did Next’ and ‘Tourbus Tales – Babyshambles’, an insightful chat with the band about life on the road. All said and done it’s a good effort and there’s plenty here to be excited about and for Babyshambles fans its more than probably a must have.