{{about|the album|the song|Up the Bracket (song)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=November 2012}} {{Infobox album | name = Up the Bracket | type = studio | artist = The Libertines | cover = Upthebracket.jpg | alt = | released = 14 October 2002 | recorded = August 2002 | venue = | studio = RAK Studios, London | genre = Indie rock, punk rock, garage rock revival, garage punk | length = 36:33 | label = Rough Trade | producer = Mick Jones | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = The Libertines | next_year = 2004 | misc = {{Singles | name = Up the Bracket | type = studio | single1 = Up the Bracket | single1date = 30 September 2002 | single2 = Time for Heroes | single2date = 13 January 2003 }} }}
'''''Up the Bracket''''' is the debut studio album by British indie rock band The Libertines. The album, released on 14 October 2002 by Rough Trade Records, was produced by Mick Jones (guitarist of The Clash), and was recorded at RAK Studios in London, England.
Peaking at No. 35 on the UK Albums Chart, the album has continued to receive critical acclaim, becoming integral to the development of the British post-punk revival movement of the early 2000s. It's also considered by some to be one of the greatest albums of the decade.<ref name="Pitchfork" />
The album's cover art is based on an image of riot police squaring up to protesters during the Argentine economic crisis of 1998-2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=11 years on: 11 facts about The Libertines' debut, Up The Bracket|url=https://www.gigwise.com/photos/85049/|website=Gigwise}}</ref>
==Background and release== ''Up The Bracket'' was released on 14 October 2002, peaking at No. 35 on the UK Albums Chart. The album was reissued on 8 September 2003 with bonus track "What a Waster", and a DVD featuring the promotional videos for the singles "Up the Bracket", "Time for Heroes" and "I Get Along".
In 2022 the album was reissued as 20th anniversary editions and box set that featured ''Live at the 100 Club'' disc, a disc of studio outtakes, a disc of demos/radio sessions/b-sides/live tracks, a cassette of early demos and DVD with music videos and live performances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://shopusa.roughtraderecords.com/products/rt0332-up-the-bracket-20th-anniversary-edition|title=The Libertines - Up the Bracket (20th Anniversary Edition)|publisher=roughtraderecords.com|accessdate=2025-01-29}}</ref>
==Title== The title ''Up the Bracket'' alludes to a phrase used by English comedian Tony Hancock, of whom the Libertines' Pete Doherty is an avid fan. In ''Hancock's Half Hour'', "Up The Bracket" is a slang term meaning a punch in the throat.<ref name="Hancock">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1505962/Stone-me-Tony-Hancock-is-Pete-Dohertys-hero.html |title=Stone me! Tony Hancock is Pete Doherty's hero |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=21 December 2005 |access-date=3 March 2016 |last=Davies |first=Hugh}}</ref> Hancock is also referenced in the opening track, "Vertigo" – "lead pipes, your fortune's made", being a line from the ''Half Hour'' episode "The Poetry Society".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/carlbaratmusic/status/301750006401073152 |title=lead pipes, fortune made is from Hancock's half-hour, the poetry society episode ... |publisher=Twitter |date=13 February 2013 |access-date=3 March 2016 |last=Barât |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Barât}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Music ratings | MC = 78/100<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/up-the-bracket/the-libertines |title=Reviews for Up The Bracket by The Libertines |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=25 July 2015}}</ref> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/up-the-bracket-mw0000350278 |title=Up the Bracket – The Libertines |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Phares |first=Heather}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Blender'' | rev2score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50435/up-bracket.html |title=The Libertines: Up the Bracket |journal=Blender |issue=15 |date=April 2003 |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Pemberton |first=Andy |page=124 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203030936/http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50435/up-bracket.html |archive-date=3 February 2010}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev3score = A−<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2002/11/29/whats-rocking-our-world |title=What's Rocking Our World |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=29 November 2002 |access-date=11 August 2015 |last=Brunner |first=Rob |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924050236/http://www.ew.com/article/2002/11/29/whats-rocking-our-world |url-status=dead }}</ref> | rev4 = ''The Guardian'' | rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2002/oct/18/popandrock.artsfeatures1 |title=The Libertines: Up the Bracket |work=The Guardian |date=18 October 2002 |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Simpson |first=Dave}}</ref> | rev5 = ''NME'' | rev5score = 8/10<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Libertines: Up the Bracket |journal=NME |date=19 October 2002 |last=Needham |first=Alex}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev6score = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/4769-up-the-bracket/ |title=The Libertines: Up the Bracket |work=Pitchfork |date=5 January 2003 |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Carr |first=Eric}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Q'' | rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Libertines: Up the Bracket |journal=Q |issue=197 |date=December 2002 |last=Grundy |first=Gareth |page=103}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thelibertines/albums/album/283670/review/6210101/up_the_bracket |title=The Libertines: Up The Bracket |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=11 March 2003 |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501235345/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thelibertines/albums/album/283670/review/6210101/up_the_bracket |archive-date=1 May 2009}}</ref> | rev9 = ''Spin'' | rev9score = A<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CleCKauyN34C&pg=PA109 |title=The Libertines: Up the Bracket |journal=Spin |volume=19 |issue=5 |date=May 2003 |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Klosterman |first=Chuck |author-link=Chuck Klosterman |page=109}}</ref> | rev10 = ''The Village Voice'' | rev10score = A<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv403-03.php |title=Consumer Guide: As Long As I Still Can |work=The Village Voice |date=1 April 2003 |access-date=25 July 2015 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref> }}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot--> Upon release, ''Up the Bracket'' received generally favourable reviews. The online music publication ''Pitchfork'' ranked ''Up the Bracket'' at No. 138 on its list of the "Top 200 Albums of the 2000s",<ref name="Pitchfork">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101/2/ |title=The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 200–151 |work=Pitchfork |date=28 September 2009 |access-date=1 October 2009 |archive-date=19 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719204452/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101/2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was ranked at No. 44 on a similar list by ''Uncut''. British music website ''NME'' ranked the album at No. 10 on its list of "The Greatest British Albums Ever",<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/22062 |title=NME's best British album of all time revealed |journal=NME |access-date=1 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060206022644/http://www.nme.com/news/arctic-monkeys/22062 |archive-date=6 February 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> No. 70 on its "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list, as well as ranking it as the second greatest album of the decade.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nme.com/list/the-top-100-greatest-albums-of-the-decade/158049/page/10 |title=NME's The Top 100 Greatest Albums of The Decade |work=NME |access-date=1 October 2009}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' ranked ''Up the Bracket'' at No. 61 and No. 94 on its lists of "The 100 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time" and "The 100 Greatest Albums of the 2000s" respectively.
In April 2008, BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe chose the album as one of his Masterpieces, playing the album in full with interviews from the band members, fans and fellow musicians who were influenced by the album.<ref>{{cite web |last= |title=BBC – Radio 1 – Zane Lowe – Masterpieces – The Libertines – 'Up The Bracket' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/zanelowe/masterpieces/mar08/libertines.shtml |website=bbc.co.uk}}</ref>
==Track listing== All songs written by Pete Doherty and Carl Barât. # "Vertigo" – 2:37 # "Death on the Stairs" – 3:24 # "Horror Show" – 2:34 # "Time for Heroes" – 2:40 # "Boys in the Band" – 3:42 # "Radio America" – 3:44 # "Up the Bracket" – 2:40 # "Tell the King" – 3:22 # "The Boy Looked at Johnny" – 2:38 # "Begging" – 3:20 # "The Good Old Days" – 2:59 # "I Get Along" – 2:51 ;Bonus tracks {{Track listing | headline = Bonus tracks on US, Canadian, Spanish and Japanese edition | title13 = What a Waster | length13 = 3:58 | note13 = non-album single | title14 = Mocking Bird | length14 = 3:17 | note14 = hidden track }} {{Track listing | headline = Bonus tracks on Australian release | title13 = What a Waster | length13 = 2:58 | note13 = non-album single | title14 = Mayday | length14 = 1:02 | note14 = b-side to "What a Waster" single }} {{Track listing | headline = Bonus track on 2003 UK reissue | title13 = What a Waster | length13 = 2:58 | note13 = non-album single }} {{Track listing | headline = 2003 UK reissue bonus DVD | title1 = Up the Bracket | length1 = 2:55 | note1 = music video | title2 = Time for Heroes | length2 = 2:56 | note2 = music video | title3 = I Get Along | length3 = 2:50 | note3 = music video }} *"What a Waster" is listed as track 13 on US, Canadian, Spanish, Japanese and UK reissue editions
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! Chart (2002–03) ! Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|France|120|artist=The Libertines|album=The Libertines|access-date=3 March 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{Album chart|Oricon|49|M|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/535793/1/|title=ザ・リバティーンズ|publisher=Oricon|access-date=19 July 2009|rowheader=true}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|59|artist=The Libertines|album=The Libertines|access-date=3 March 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{album chart|UK|35|artist=The Libertines|access-date=3 March 2016|rowheader=true}} |- {{album chart|BillboardHeatseekers|13|M|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/up-the-bracket-mw0000350278/awards|title=Up the Bracket – The Libertines (Awards)|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=3 March 2016|rowheader=true}} |- |}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Libertines|title=Up the Bracket|award=Platinum|id=7917-2156-2|type=album|relyear=2002|certyear=2018|accessdate=April 18, 2025}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true| noshipments=true}}
==Footnotes== {{reflist|30em}}
{{The Libertines}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Up The Bracket}} Category:2002 debut albums Category:The Libertines albums Category:Rough Trade Records albums