Arctic Monkeys, Manchester Phones 4 U Arena [23.10.13]

photo: clashmusic.com

Last night, I was lucky enough to get the chance to see the Arctic Monkeys for the second time. Victoria station was full to the brim with overenthusiastic fans haggling ticket touts and grabbing their traditional pre-gig McDonald's. The biggest band of our generation were in our city for the first time since November 2011 and that was blatant, given the distinctive chill of excitement that hit every attendee as soon as they walked through the arena doors. This band have graced us with five albums of pure brilliance and here they were tonight, to serenade us with their newest pursuit, AM, along with the whole host of undeniable classics they have under their belts.

The support came from young talent, The Strypes, who delivered a short but sweet set of bluesy rock jams in the hope of getting the crowd moving. There is no doubt that this band are impressive for their tender ages, however, I am not sure they were up to the job of supporting the biggest band of our time. Nevertheless, they managed to maintain a head bobbing crowd which is always a good sign, even if not one droplet of sweat was shed throughout their entire set.

The pre-set music of everything from Biggie to The Beatles lowered in volume, before grinding to a tension building halt.The lights were faded to black. The roaring chants of 'Alex! Alex! Alex!' began, whilst the unanimous swarms of young girls started tearing up at the pure sight of suit-clad suave Alex Turner, in the flesh, making his way onto the brashly lit stage. There is no doubt about it, this band have established themselves over the years as one of the most influential bands in music history, but this was something else. It felt as if the stones had just walked on stage in '65. 

Helders starts us of with the boastful drums of 'Do I Wanna Know?' a song that has been stuck in our heads since the start of the summer, followed by that infectious riff we all know and love. The arms of the crowd to and fro in unison as Alex Turner, in an Elvis Presley stance, asks that burning question (does he want to know?) The swarm of goggle-eyed fan girls cling onto his every word and yet again the Arctic Monkeys have proved themselves. 

The set list continued to excite us, raking in early anthems like 'Brianstorm,' 'Dancing Shoes,' and 'Teddy Picker,' along with classics from Suck It and See and Humbug such as 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' and 'Crying Lightening.' It is difficult to explain the extent to which the crowd were truly revelling in the moment and this was not altered when they played the third track on AM, 'One For The Road.' 

Covered in sweat (and piss) we kept on dancing as our favourite band threw tune after tune at us, 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' was a particular highlight, as well as 'Arabella' and of course the 2005 hit 'I Bet You Look Good on The Dancefloor.'Turner's vocal was well and truly faultless as well as pristine guitar and bass from Cook and O'Malley, and of course energetic drums from Mr Matthew James III, as Turner likes to address him. This band have grown so much over the years, from their 2005 success to now. The huge force that they have become just goes to show how they will be remembered in years to come. Even seeing them play live in 2011 for their Suck It And See tour seems like worlds apart from the rock stars they are now. 

The flawless set list was topped off when they played 'No.1 Party Anthem' and 'I Wanna Be Yours,' two of their most admirable tracks from AM. 'I Wanna Be Yours,' Arctic Monkeys' adaptation of John Cooper Clarke's classic poem of the same title,culminating in clouds of glitter and smoke, suffocating the crowd. This truly was a spectacular moment to witness, one that will be impossible to indulge in again. 

They vacated the stage, leaving us emotional wrecks with nothing more to chant but "we want more!" before returning, more boastful than ever. The dynamic guitars of 'Snap Out Of It' kicked in, causing the crowd to endeavour in even more Alex Turner inspired snake hips. "I wanna grab both your shoulders and shake baby," the crowd shouted at the top of their lungs, before simmering down for a beautifully done acoustic version of 'Mardy Bum.' Arms waved from side to side in reflective appreciation, as it became apparent that this night was coming to a close. And all of a sudden, that famous 'R U Mine?' riff kicks in.The perfect conclusion to a perfect set, from an almost perfect band.

If there is anything I have learnt from last night, it is; 1. Alex Turner is THE hottest man on the planet. 2. The Arctic Monkeys' back catalogue is absolutely insane. only they could miss two of their biggest tracks ('When The Sun Goes Down' and '505') from their set and still have an absolute monster of a set list and 3. If you aren't the biggest fan of AM, wait till you hear some of the tracks live and it will be totally different story. They have definitely converted me!

Review: King Krule - 6 Feet Beneath the Moon

image: kingkrule.co.uk

It baffles me that this guy isn't massive. His obscure sound, loosely resonant of a Jamie T/James Blake love-child, with thrown in jazzy and bluesy instrumentals is like nothing the world has ever heard before but it works so well.

I stumbled upon King Krule a.k.a Archy Marshall 2 years ago when he was playing under the pseudonym  'Zoo Kid'. The first track I heard from him was 'Out Getting Ribs' and I was utterly mesmerised, I remember listening to it through my earphones on the way to school everyday for months. I was constantly on the look out for new material from him but he had disappeared into the woodwork for a good twelve months. However, 2011 saw his return with his 5 track self-titled EP, closely followed by the release of the amazing 'Rock Bottom,' and 'Octopus' released via Rinse in 2012.

My expectations for this album were exceedingly high based on Krule's previous work and if anything, the finished product is even better than I imagined. 'Easy Easy,' which is a song I have been besotted by in recent weeks, opens the album in a more dynamic style compared to other tracks on the album. The predominately guitar produced track combines down-to-earth lyrics about the consumerist nature of the 21st century with untamed riffs which can only be described as addictive.

King Krule claims that the album title '6 Feet Beneath the Moon' is a metaphor for the idea that we are always too far away from our dreams and that nature really is reflected in each track which loosely conveys the demeanour of a man with a chip on each shoulder. Tracks like 'Has This Hit?' and 'Neptune Estate' present a deeper and more personal side to the record whereas 'A Lizard State' builds on the rant infused, almost humorous tone of 'Easy Easy.' The best track on the album for me would have to be 'Ocean Bed,' purely because of its laid-back, bluesy rhythm and effortless riffs, embellished with stunning lyrics.

All in all, this album is an exceedingly good effort and I shall be looking forward to hearing what he has in store for us in the future, not to mention what is in store for him off the back of this album.

***

8/10

Review: Haim - Days Are Gone

image: haimtheband.com

I first caught sight of this Californian trio of sisters back in early 2012 upon the release of their 'Forever' EP. Their new-age folk pop sound combined with 90's R&B beats, astounded me as it was like nothing I had ever heard before. The closest comparison I can make to these girls would have to be Fleetwood Mac, loosely that is (and that is no way a bad thing.) Anyway, their 70's meets 90's with a bit of 80's thrown in sound was an instant hit with me, tracks like 'Don't Save Me' and 'Falling' had an immediate infectiousness to them the minute I heard them. It is safe to say I was extremely excited to hear their album and it is finally here!

Just as I suspected this album is full of summer infused melodies embellished with lyrics of rocky relationships and heartbreak. However, their R&B influences have definitely become more apparent on this record, especially on tracks like 'If I Could Change Your Mind' and 'My Song 5.' This really is refreshing as it is not everyday you get a girl band that include all the elements of an indie three piece yet manage to sustain fragments of so many different genres and make it work so well. It is as if every song on the album is inspired by a different genre, yet they are all brought together with that underlying indie sound that we heard on the EP. 'Honey & I' for example, combines a variety of conventions of folk music, but has been transformed into an exceedingly high standard pop song. Tracks like 'Don't Save Me' and 'Days Are Gone' maintain their famed upbeat and joyous sound with a slight R&B resonance, especially on the latter. Whereas 'Go Slow' present their melodic strengths, with angelic harmonising and laid back drums, this track has to be one of their most admirable works for sure. Two stand out tracks for me however have to be 'The Wire' and 'Running If You Call My Name.' Two very different tracks. 'The Wire' boasting mostly guitars and an addictive drum beat that is impossible not to click your fingers to, not to mention the catchy chorus. 'Running If You Call My Name' on the other hand, culminates the album in a poignant and memorable way. The powerful vocals and infectious beat establish Haim as a very capable band who know exactly what they are doing musically. 

It is extremely impressive how these sisters manage to combine such a huge array of musical elements and genres into each and every one of their beautifully crafted tracks, but whatever they are doing, they are doing it well.

***

9/10

From the Ritz to the Rubble?

From this...

To this.

It was late 2005 when the Arctic Monkeys burst out of High Green with their first single since signing with Domino, 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor.' That was the song that defined a generation, that was the song that became basically everyone's childhood theme tune, that was the song that still gets people dancing at 18ths all over the country no matter what walk of life you may have come from. Then came the album, full of teenage tales of drinking cider in parks and getting thrown out of clubs weekend after weekend. It was as if the Arctic Monkeys came as a refreshing break from the over produced bands, bands that they provided a much needed antidote for. This band famed themselves on not being 'famous' and this is why we loved them. However, in recent years, the Arctic Monkeys have taken a blatant turn, whether it be for better or for worse, they are worlds apart from the spotty teenage lads they once were, ranting about wannabes and dodgy parts of town.

'Favourite Worst Nightmare' didn't come as much of a surprise. The girtty lyrics of 'flicking through a little book of sex tips' and 'running off over next doors garden' still remained along with fast paced guitars and catchy riffs. However, a new side to the band was shown, especially on tracks like '505' and 'Only Ones Who Know.' Nothing drastic though, just a mature and grown up edge to their music that they once lacked in their earlier EPs and of course 'Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not.' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' still strikes me as some of their most credible work to date, especially tracks like 'Do Me A Favour' and 'If You Were There Beware.'

A long two years went by until the Arctic Monkeys released their third studio album, 'Humbug.' That large chunk of time the boys deprived of us new material came as a catalyst for a total revamp of the Arctic Monkeys. Not only had Turner's hair got slightly bigger but the sound of the Arctic Monkeys as we knew them had completely changed. They sounded even maturer and much like a product of their influences rather than the odd-balls in a world of musical clones they once were which could simply have been a result of the input Josh Homme had on this album, or maybe Miles Kane influenced Turner during his time working on side project, Last Shadow Puppets.

Although the bands image and musical style had undergone a slight refurbishment, the Arctic Monkeys had definitely not lost their mojo. In my opinion, 'Humbug' is neither better nor worse than either of it's predecessors but it definitely did showcase the bands musical range and if anything, it made me eager to hear the next chapter in the Arctic Monkeys' story. That chapter came in the form of well received fourth album, 'Suck It And See.' The Arctic Monkeys had adopted a vintage, almost sixties style to their music on this record, heavily apparent on tracks like 'Black Treacle' and 'Piledriver Waltz.' This album was definitely the turning point for the Arctic Monkeys. 'Humbug' was like the warm up for what was to come. Now tracks like 'A Certain Romance' and 'Mardy Bum' sound like they could be the work of an entirely different band.

It has now been 2 weeks since the release of AM, the 5th helping of Turner, Helders, Cook and O'Malley and it is safe to say that the Arctic Monkeys have changed their sound yet again. A much more rock'n'roll vibe has been adopted on this record but it seems as though they have lost their sense of attack. Alright, 'Arabella' has some pretty heavy riffs, but its no 'View From the Afternoon.' The album is certainly not a bad effort but I feel like it's passed its sell-by-date. It pains me to say this but the Arctic Monkeys are nowhere near as unpredictable and plain exciting as they were 6 or 7 years ago. AM was not a shock to the system, and neither was Turner's new rock star approach to everything. I mean, he even forgot the words to '505' at Itunes festival. The question is, have the Arctic Monkeys got too big for their boots despite not having much to boast?

Arctic Monkeys cover Drake's 'Hold on, We're Going Home'

I'm not going to lie, I am a closet Drake fan so when I found out about Alex and the boys covering his newest release I got a teensy bit excited. Just when you think you've heard it all ey. 

Despite not being the biggest fan of the new sound that the Arctic Monkeys have adopted on their new album, AM, the way they have transformed this tune into an old school rock'n'roll masterpiece is insane. This track would not sound out of place on their album and I absolutely love Alex's Elvis Presely/Embarrassing dad at a wedding impression. How can an individual make dad dancing look so fucking cool?

Introducing: Splashh

image: cheeseontoast.co.nz

This psychedelic four piece, formed in Hackney, have been making waves since early 2012, bagging critical acclaim from the likes of NME, The Guardian and BBC 6 Music. All members coming from different bands such as The Checks and Brain Slaves, the four of them have combined their talents to form a refreshing sound, screaming psychedelia in an old-meets-new fashion. Think Tame Impala with a hint of New Order, Maybe even throw in some Velvet Underground.

Their debut album 'Comfort' was released in the UK yesterday and I am exceedingly impressed. Tracks like 'All I Wanna Do' and 'Vacation' sound like ready made crowd pleasers as well as 'Need It' and 'Washed Up' which contain everything you would expect from a trippy psych-rock record.

Review: Arctic Monkeys - 'Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You'

image: culturacolectiva.com

In the lead up to their brand new album, the Arctic Monkeys have excited us with a few teaser tracks, some taken from the album, like 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' and a couple of b-sides such as '2013,' which was not as well received as I expected, and this one. 

I find it extremely hard to believe that 'Stop The World I  Wanna Get Off With You' has not made it onto the LP as it is certainly one of their most credible releases this year. This track sees confident, boastful guitars and drums protruded by Turner's current lyrical theme of trying to 'get with' a certain someone. This track is by far their catchiest yet (from this year anyway) and it definitely reflects the brand new style they have adopted on their new material. Even though it is only a b-side, this track definitely deserves some serious attention! It just goes to show how credible the Arctic Monkeys have become. If their b-sides are this good, what can we expect from them in the future?  

***

9/10