Fan Boy Shit - Arctic Monkeys 'AM' Review
So the cheeky monkeys are at it again with another album which sounds new, different, inventive but undoubtedly arctic. From their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not’ right through to this latest 5th album the Monkeys have explored new sounds and styles with a particular critic saying of their latest installment that this album is for those who aren’t Arctic Monkeys fans. Its seems an odd statement but accurate due to their tinkering of style with references to Black Sabbath, Queens of the Stone age, and even some G-Funk evident on the album. It’s gone straight to No.1 and is currently the second fasted-selling album of the year behind Daft Punk. It’s moody, stylish, heavy, and groovy. The album mood is like sitting in a dark, smooth, swarve, but sinister little bar where semi-romantically involved people sit in little groups within the shadows sipping James Bond-like drinks while Alex Turner pierces through the room with his crooning magnetism narrating your own thoughts.
The two opening tracks are perfect in your face tunes to kick off an album. A heavy, groovy riff runs through ’Do I Wanna Know’ this song like a hot knife through butter. It’s the second single off the album and has received praise across the board and rightly so with its power, tempo, melody, and lyrics all entwined to make this an epic. “So have you got the guts? Been wondering if your heart's still open and if so I wanna know what time it shuts”. Probably single of the year so far and only because the second track ‘R U Mine’ was released last year. Not only that but it seems to get better the more u hear it. R U Mine was released last year to celebrate Record Store Day and has the heaviness of Black Sabbath in the riff but the flow of a rap song. It’s just as in your face as the previous track as both tracks make it very clear the kind of direction the band are taking. Its rock and its hip-hop combined into one brilliant tune that sticks in the head like a bullet made of blu-tack. Anyone would love this jam; no one could resist bopping a head to this rhythm, riff, and melody.
The next two tracks ‘One For The Road’ and ‘Arabella’ both have that G-funk feel to them which is a theme throughout the album. No doubt about it you can see Snoop Dogg bopping to a few of tracks on this album. ‘One For the Road’ sounds like a song the late Nate Dogg would love to funk to but Turner’s crooning does the job this time. There’s a blues-like melody to ‘One For The Road’ certainly with an influence from the Black keys while ‘Arabella’ is a heavier, stop-and-start rock tune with some typically stylish Turner Lyrics. “She’s got a Barbarella silver swimsuit, and when she needs to shelter from reality, She takes a dip in my daydreams.” Arabella in particular may go on to be ubiquitous in Monkeys live sets for quite a while. The fifth track ‘I Want It All’ has the same ‘Black Keys’ vibe and features some trademark backing vocals from drummer Matt Helders. It’s got a fun and classic rock sound and could definitely fit into the sixties with ease.
From this point on the album take a different turn with ‘No.1 Party Anthem’ and ‘Mad Sounds’ slowing down the pace. Both songs are well placed to give us a much-needed gasp of air after the heaviness of the opening five tracks. ‘No.1 Party Anthem’ allows that crooning swagger of Turner to take over again with a song that could have been on their previous release sound-wise and on their first album lyrically. One critic interestingly called the song the sequel to ‘Cornerstone’ off the ‘Humbug’ album – fruit for thought. Clearly the opposite of a party anthem it will still however have plenty singing along to it live with a few arm sways thrown in as well. ‘Mad Sounds’ takes the pace down a notch further but by no means take down the beauty. A slow gospel-like tune that stands out from anything else on the album, the song is one that stuck in my head for days after the first listen and in fact it’s starting to mingle its way in as I type. It’s probably the most simple and safe song the album but it adds another dimension to the album and along with the previous tune allows a breather and a shift in terms of the albums direction.
‘Fireside’ is the next track that bursts into the ears with Helder’s galloping drums before Turner’s meandering vocal contradicts the beats pace. This song has really grown on me after not giving it much attention during my first listen and that for me shows the strength of the album. The following track ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High’ is something very different to previous Monkey’s work and is another example of that G-funk influence. This is the third single off the album which is accompanied a brilliant video, check it out below! The drums were inspired by Dr Dre’s Chronic album and it appears Turner must be chilling in Compton. Lyrically the song could be on their first album with references to night-life and drinking but musically this is a new direction and I love it, it’s definitely an album highlight.
‘Snap Out Of It’ is the most pop sounding song on the album and is more of a fun and playful track. If you were to choose a weakest song on the album this would probably be it but I wouldn’t skip it when listening to the album. ‘Knee Socks’ come next brings back that cool swagger with plenty of groove. Another classic rock sound in the riff with a little hip-hop-like fun with “Like the beginning of Mean Streets you can be my baby” as well as a haunting backing vocal by Josh Homme – this tune encapsulates the overall sound of the album quite well. The final track ‘I Wanna Be Yours’ is an airy but uplifting track with a strong reference to poet John Cooper Clarke. It packs some great lyrics “I wanna be your vacuum cleaner, breathe in your dust, I wanna be your Ford Cortina, I won’t ever rust” and after such a heavy opening to the album it’s a great soft finish to the album.
It’s a top album and is about to go into its second week at No. 1 on the charts, breaking a record as the Monkeys are the first Indie act to achieve five No 1 albums in a row. Many albums these days are pretty shit with acts singling out the importance of singles over albums but nothing beats listening to a great album throughout and that’s exactly what the Arctic Monkeys provide. Overall, it’s an album of mad sounds, to listen to in the AM, while drunk or high, about to ring a casual love interest before realising it’s a habit you should snap out of.
