When Pete and Carl each formed new bands in the aftermath of the breakup, fans eagerly awaited their new releases in the hope that it would match up to The Libertines' incredibly lofty standards. Although a collection of good tunes did come about as a result (and spark fresh debates over which band was better), neither the Dirty Pretty Things nor Babyshambles were anywhere near as consistent or compelling as their predecessors. If anything, the two new bands demonstrated exactly why The Libertines were so good, highlighting just how well Pete and Carl's writing complimented the other. Without Carl's drive, Pete's new tracks were often overly airy-fairy and experimental, lacking the underlying power of earlier material. Similarly, Carl's songs often became relatively formulaic without Pete's spark of ingenuity.
