Album of the Year: Arctic Monkeys – AM | reviews, news & interviews
Album of the Year: Arctic Monkeys – AM
Album of the Year: Arctic Monkeys – AM
Alex Turner and co show that there are still new tunes to be played on good old guitars
2013 was yet another year when hip hop added a bit of punch to old rockers. Elvis Costello had a crack at his own distinctive version of rap on Wise Up Ghost, while Arctic Monkeys' fifth album successfully fused Alex Turner's recent fondness for Dr Dre with his enduring affection for homegrown turns of phrase and in particular northern words such as "shite".
At its heart though, AM is still very much a rock record. Just as you think every permutation of guitar music has been done and dusted AM comes up with the molten blues of “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” complete with Turner's tales of late night lust and the aforementioned "talking the same shite". The enigmatic singer/lyricist might have remodelled his coiffure on the Beatles' Hamburg quiffs, but the musical mood often evokes middle-period Rolling Stones, when actual experience of America impacted on their innate Englishness. The "ooh la la la" on "Mad Sounds" is positively Jaggeresque.
Reviews of AM on its release in September compared tracks to Black Sabbath. There might be a hint of early Seventies heaviosity, but despite the chance to indulge in a game of spot-the-reference there is ultimately nothing backwards-looking here at all. Turner is a master at drawing on the past to create a sexy new future. On "I Wanna Be Yours" he turns John Cooper Clarke's Salford stanzas into a sultry drawl. On "Arabella" the Sabs-style riffs might be foregrounded but Turner's seductive vocals still dominate.
This was a year when rock bands who previously looked like they might be creatively knackered reminded the world that they could still deliver. Suede revisited old glories with Bloodsports, while Franz Ferdinand bounced back with Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action. But for thinking bloke's rock Arctic Monkeys win my vote hands down. They've come a long way from being namedropped by Gordon Brown. Never mind AM, Alex Turner for PM.
Overleaf: Watch the video for "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"
rating
Share this article
The future of Arts Journalism
You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!
We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d
And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
Add comment