The first thing that struck me on hearing ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ for the first time was that it starts with an ending before building itself back up again. It is a novel way to grab the listener’s attention, and it works. The song proper is akin to The Strokes with charm, The Jam with less painful earnestness or the best of the popular punk of the late seventies; it has a knowing cheek, a beat you can dance to and boundless energy.

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‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ is taken from the sequel to ‘Up the Bracket‘ which is called, simply enough, ‘The Libertines’ (out 30 August).

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Label : Rough Trade
Release Date : 09 August 2004
Website : www.thelibertines.co.uk
Tracklisting
CD 1
- Can’t Stand Me Now
- Cyclops
- Dilly Boys
CD 2
- Can’t Stand Me Now
- Never Never
7″
- Can’t Stand Me Now
- (I’ve Got) Sweets