Pete Doherty's New EP: Too Safe or Strangely Charming?

Babyshambles' new five-track EP, 'The Blinding,' arrives as their first release following a contract with Parlophone. This marks a significant step for Pete Doherty, whose musical career has often been overshadowed by his personal life. The EP includes previously issued tracks like "The Blinding," which was released with the magazine The Big Issue, and "Beg, Steal or Borrow," made available via MySpace.

While the release treads familiar territory reminiscent of early 2000s Britrock, it's not without its merits. Doherty's characteristic charm and an unpolished melodic style lend a unique quality to the EP. Tracks such as "Beg, Steal or Borrow" offer a glimpse of originality with its optimistic tone, and "Love You But You're Green" creatively revisits past themes. The EP particularly shines when Doherty deviates from conventional Britrock, as heard in the ska-influenced "I Wish."