Arctic Monkeys: 'Favourite Worst Nightmare'
So, I finished school, and went to the record shop to get the new Arctic Monkeys album (on Vinyl. Obviously). Even if I am thirty...
To be honest, I was not enamoured of Arctic Monkeys when they first came along. OK, it was cool how they had come of MySpace and were on Domino etc.. but 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' sounded to these ears like a Libertines rip-off. the first time I heard 'When The Sun Goes Down' I kept waiting for him to go into 'When I'm Cleaning Windows.'
However, I am prepared to admit I was wrong. One day the aforementioned Sun's lyrics filtered through, and I got what it was about. I did eventually buy the debut, and I have been looking forward to this sophomore album.
The web must be drowning in blogs and magazines and other people analysing it to shreds so I won't here. But I find it more immediate on first listen than the debut. I like the way opener 'Brianstorm' doesn't have a chorus but a slogan 'See You Later, Innovator!' The Monkeys are just as keen and sharp observers as, say, the Streets or The Specials of the world they are in. There are numerous potential singles on here - 'Flourescent adolescent' and 'Only Ones Who Know,' for example. But it also clocks in at under 45 minutes, which means that by the end of closer '505' the album hasn't overstayed it's welcome.
Don't believe the hype? I didn't, but I'm still eating my words.
8/10
From Favourite Worst Nightmare:
Arctic Monkeys -'Brianstorm.' mp3
That great 'inbetween debut and sophomore albums single (see also Blur, Oasis, Suede, oh sorry, showing my age again)
Arctic Monkeys -'Leave Before The Lights Come On.' mp3
And the song that changed my mind:
Arctic Monkeys -'When The Sun Goes Down.' mp3
Buy Favourite Worst Nightmare
Buy Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Buy Leave Before The Lights Come On
As ever, if you like the songs, follow the links and support the artists. These links will be up for one week only. Enjoy!
Links removed April 30.
2 comments:
Nice words Ed.
I might be approaching 44 years of age, but I too was quite excited about the new album coming out today - although I stuck to the CD version (I only buy singles on vinyl nowadays).
And good of you to remind us all that some cracking bands did release cracking singles between LPs 1 & 2. But the list itself should be a warning to t'Monkeys. The backlash will come one day.
Even a band as revered as The Smiths suffered quite a bit of criticism post Meat Is Murder when the hit singles dried up....
Cheers JC.
re: the backlash...I think you are right; it will come in time, but they've done well to get this far without it happening.
Re: The Smiths...I love em still, though That Joke Isn't Funny Anymore was an odd choice for a single!
Ed
Post a Comment