Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Arctic Monkeys


I have yet to weigh in on the new Arctic Monkeys. Honestly, I wanted to give it some time to sink in before I made a decision, especially because it is such a departure and is a complex record.

With Whatever People Say..., the Arctic Monkeys came out as the sassiest, most whip-smart Brits in years. They were brash, snotty and judgemental, but 100% real. With Favourite Worst Nightmare, they broke into different musical personas, proving they could pull off love songs, urgent rock riffs, and still retaining the crown for the sharpest tongues in the UK.

So as their next move... they go metal? Well, it's perhaps not straight metal, but the Sabbath riffs are there. The guitar solos are there and so is the "devil's note." Sure, Josh Homme's production added some of this to the brew, but my thinking is that Alex and crew are just making their rounds through their influences and seeing what, in 2009's music landscape, is sorely lacking and filling that gap. And God knows we are all lacking in some heavy rock. But since the quartet are smart enough to know better than to simply nick songs with reckless abandon, they instead have fused this with their own sound, and, of course, the Alex Turner mind-spinning lyricism. I have poured over the lyrics to this record endlessly, just as I did with their first two releases, and I don't think I'll tire of this one either. With songs about love, sex, drugs, and overall reckless abandon, they understand and deliver what rock and roll has always been.

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3 Comments:

Blogger Cockfosters said...

An unplugged AM collection...
http://www.zshare.net/download/69295518d1e0c428/

11:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've lost my love for the AM now.
People say thy're a lot more mature and their music is so m uch better, but I disagree so much.
The AM we are all familiar with from their first album is the AM we all love. I just wish they were the same...

Also, I've just created a new blog. It will be much appreciated if you take a look.

www.freakingmcdonalds.blogspot.com

One more thing. How do i "follow" your blog, as I can't find the button.

Thanks.

6:11 PM  
Blogger Cockfosters said...

Some bands are meant to always sound the same, and can excel at that (The Strokes, The White Stripes), while other excel by changing. I think the Arctic Monkeys are in the latter camp. Keep listening to the new record, and see them live. It makes a big difference.

Should be able to see the follow bar at the top of the homepage.

12:06 PM  

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