Arctic Monkeys - AM

Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys have been hard to match in terms of sheer sheer consistency since releasing Whatever People Say I am... back in 2006 when they were fresh-faced Sheffield scamps determined to follow in the footsteps of U.S. bands they admired such as The Strokes.

From the beginning they stood out from other indie contenders vying to be the British version of The Strokes.  The main reason being, Alex Turner's insightful observations about city-life as a teen/twenty something.  Fights in taxi queues, girls drinking wkd, trying to 'pull a bird'...

As a band their lives have changed dramatically since then, they now reside in L.A., have model/movie star girlfriends and I presume they don't have to worry about taxi queue brawls.  Their music has also experienced substantial transition.  In many ways they have out-stayed bands like The Strokes and Kings of Leon.  Their journey has been one of interesting progression whilst The Strokes have become lost in an 80's, synth-induced time-warp and KOL well, they've just lost it in entirely.

Whereas the first two albums were punchy and straight to the point, perhaps a reflection of the predominant subject matter of problematic nights on the town and pretentious behaviour.  The Josh Homme produced - Humbug signalled a change of pace and direction which the band have embraced on successive albums. 

Newest album AM has seen them slow it down further and suck the audience in with riffs as thick and smooth as treacle.  There is more emphasis on song structure and each track is given space to breathe. 

This pared-back approach is probably in part down to their new rock 'n' roll lifestyles in the LA sunshine and all the benefits that brings.  He sings of lust 'I Wanna Be Yours', late night booty calls 'Why's You Only Call Me When your High' and isolation and longing on 'Do I Wanna Know'.

It is an album of maturity, not necessarily a turning point because I believe the point of no return was reached during the making of 'Humbug'.  Some fans of the first two albums couldn't buy it but for those of us who enjoyed it, the journey has been a rewarding one ever since.  

They are now a band without boundaries, lets just hope they don't take it too far and disappear up their own colon - something which has been known to happen.  If they stay grounded, remember their roots and Alex considers dropping the Butlin's Redcoat act in between songs they'll have nothing to hold them back.  At the moment the music is doing all the talking for them as they continue to evolve and if that remains the case they could become one of the most memorable bands of their generation.


By Garrett Hargan

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