What is AM, specifically in the context of the fifth Arctic Monkeys album? Is it Ante Meridian? Amplitude Modulation? or is it, in the words of frequent collaborator Josh Homme simply sexy music for After Midnight? It doesn’t matter; the Arctic Monkeys have crafted a dark velvety album of late night tunes that merge the murk of Humbug and the pop of Suck It And See into a far more cohesive and engaging listen. Continue reading “Arctic Monkeys: AM (2013)”
Moving away from the heavier doom of Humbug, 2011 finds the Arctic Monkeys embracing the lessons of simpler arrangements and more straightforward songwriting. Pop-infused like opener “She’s Thunderstorms” and “Black Treacle” chart the course for the tongue-in-cheek Suck It And See. It’s the first time the band sounds like something other than completely themselves, and despite the strong collection of songs here it’s this album where I start to fins myself wandering a bit in attention. Continue reading “Arctic Monkeys: Suck It And See (2011)”
Humbug is a great example of how you can have all the same pieces, all the same musical components from your previous albums, but can create something completely different in the simple construction of said pieces. It’s that the Arctic Monkeys significantly altered their sound, but by enlisting Josh Homme from QOTSA as a producer there’s a looser, bludgeoning vibe to the tracks, overall more claustrophobic and viscous. It all leads to a deeper, darker record that gets better with every listen. In other words, just another Arctic Monkeys record. Continue reading “Arctic Monkeys: Humbug (2009)”
Laced with a more anxious vibe even as it broadens its musical palate, Favourite Worst Nightmare is an interesting follow-up to the smash debut from Arctic Monkeys. While the music isn’t as readily accessible from a “single” format the band continues their sense of adventure, getting seriously dense at times, although a few songs really open back up to the sense of fun from the debut. Continue reading “Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)”
Within the first seconds of opener “The View From The Afternoon” I’m all in on Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, the frantic and impeccably slick debut from the Arctic Monkeys. The indie bands that instantly wowed me as I was exploring other genres besides straight up rock and metal were few and far between, but the ridiculous level of musicianship coupled with effortless execution and a tongue firmly in cheek (when it wasn’t wagging) all combined to make this a favorite, something that gets better the more it’s played and the LOUDER it’s played. Continue reading “Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006)”
Consuming the Tangible 