What's new...
So it's been really boring here lately. For some reason Alan and I have been bored out of our minds. I think we've pretty much been to everywhere we can go at least three times. It's his birthday soon and we're not sure about what to do. We'll see I guess.
So I got two new albums a while back but I just love them so much that I feel like I need to mention them. Not sure whether I want to write a track by track review of each yet...I'll see. So those albums are Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys. The other is The Boy with No Name by Travis. They're both great albums that I can give 4.5/5. OK OK! TRACK BY TRACK AAHHHH!
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Arctic Monkeys
This is what the music people call a "sophomore" album (that means it's their second album). They've had several LP's and demo's out there but only Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare are their official albums. Their critically-acclaimed debut album was the fastest-selling album in the UK of all time and won several awards, the 2006 Mercury Prize being one of them. They toured with for quite a while and released several LP's that also sold like wildfire.
However, there have been several artists and bands that make a great first album then screw it all up in their second effort. Fortunately, that isn't so with the Arctic Monkeys latest album. Rather than sticking to the old fun view of their life around the UK, they've portrayed a darker everyday life of people around the world, probably due to the constant touring they've been doing. They still do have some fun moments but several tracks have a much darker side to them. Here's my track-by-track review:
Brianstorm
This is the first single from the album and wonderful pick at that. It's loud, it's fast, it's heavy, it's crazy! I love it! Add to that Alex's singing sounding so calm and matter-of-fact about Brian who's just so perfect it's irritating and they begin drawing up this image of him and why he's just so perfect. "Cause we can't take our eyes off the t-shirt and ties combination".
Video
Teddy Picker
This is a kind of rock approach to N.E.R.D.'s "Rockstar". While N.E.R.D. say: "You can't be me, I'm a rockstar"; Arctic Monkeys sing: "D’you reckon that they do it for a joke? / D’you reckon that they make ‘em take an oath?”. It's a hit at those bands that popped up trying to immitate the Arctic Monkey's sound.
D Is for Dangerous
One of my favourites in the album. Alex sings to those "dirty little herberts" that just can't seem to keep their clothes on. "D is for delightful and try and keep your trousers on / I think you should know you're his favourite worst nightmare".
Balaclava
This song is extremely chaotic with a lot of order. How is that? Listen to it and you'll understand me. Prepare for a riot of a time in this song! Especially at the end of the song, where the drums and bass and guitar all weaken to allow a silly little click-clack bit where I can't help doing an extremely silly dance to.
Fluorescent Adolescent
The second single from the album and probably the kind of song the band has always wanted to make and the fans have always wanted to hear. I could just see everyone at the concert scream out "Where did you go? Where did you go? Oh no." Brilliant lyrics that tell the story of a girl who "used to get it in [her] fishnets...flicking through a little book of sex tips", remembering "when the boys were all electric". Oh and can I give a shout-out to the line "the Bloody Mary's lacking in tabasco". I have no idea why but I just love screaming out that line when it comes up.
Video
Only Ones Who Know
Take it down now boys. That what I can see Alex saying right before they perform this song. Alex can definitely sing and this song just proves. Again, I get shivers when I hear the line: "and I hope you're holding hands by new year's eve".
Do Me a Favour
I heard that they actually stopped this song from being placed on an LP just so they can get it into this album and give it more exposure and hallelujah to that. Louder than the previous song but could still be called calm as compared to their other songs. However, at the end prepare for an explosion near the end where the band start screaming "DO ME A FAVOUR AND ASK IF YOU NEED SOME HELP/ SHE SAID DO ME A FAVOUR AND STOP CLUTTERING YOURSELF!".
This House Is a Circus
The first line summarises the idea of the song: "This house is a circus, berserk as fuck". Again, another dark song, peformed with a creepy chorus that says "We're forever unfulfilled/ and can't think why/ like a search for murder clues/ in dead man's eyes". This song is a circus; the kind you'll want to go to over and over again.
If You Were There, Beware
I just need to say how brilliant the guitar and bass and drums are. I absolutely love the intro to this song and the little jigs in the middle. Near the end of the song, the band takes it down as Alex croons sounding like he's singing out of a 50's radio: "There's a circle of witches, ambitiously vicious they are / Our attempts to remind them of reason won't get us that far / I don't know what it is that they want/But I haven't got it to give / She hasn't got it to give" before they explode again.
The Bad Thing
What's the bad thing? Cheating according to the Arctic Monkeys. They tell you to go ahead and "do the bad thing/ take off your wedding ring" but warn us that "it won't make it that much easier, it might make it worse". Amazing song!
Old Yellow Bricks
"Dorothy was right though". There's no place like home. Sure, it can be horrible but it's home. A boy running away from home: "You're such a fugitive but you don't know what you're running away from." A girl who acknowledges this fact: "She said I want to sleep in the city that never wakes up / and revel in nostalgia".
505
The last song in the album and wonderful end. This shows Arctic Monkeys emotional side without making it too corny or lovey dovey or anything just right. Before the songs kicks up a storm halfway through, the crowds at concerts will be singing along "I’d probably still adore you with your hands around my neck / or I did last time I checked". A wonderful end to an incredible album. I just wish it was longer!
The lyrics to all these songs can be found on the Arctic Monkeys website: www.arcticmonkeys.com
The next post will be the review of The Boy with No Name by Travis.