In a seven year time span (2006-2013), the Arctic Monkeys released five studio albums. In the four years since the release of their fifth album, their grand total of studio albums is...still five. However, with other interests and involvement in other bands, these British musicians keep busy when they're not working on their commitments as the Band-Otherwise-Known-As-The-Deathramps.
As I may have explained before, I discovered the Arctic Monkeys, amongst others, by playing Guitar Hero. It was after hearing Brianstorm for the first time that I sought out the Arctic Monkeys discography at the stores and libraries, assuming that all of their songs would be of a similar rushing pace and banging sound. To my pleasant surprise, only their first album and a half is like that, with enough variation in their songs to make them interesting and lyrically magnetic.
This is the kind of band that I can stop listening to for months at a time and then suddenly pick back up obsessively. Even when I haven't listened to any of their albums for so long, I can still sing along to pretty much the entire of the Favourite Worst Nightmare or Humbug albums. The instruments are usually what attract me to a band at first, and their instrumental sounds range from new age punk to mellow lounge jazz, and the different effects that are chosen for the guitar to harmonize with the varying vocal range of Alex Turner reverberate in my ears constantly in a good way (I'm trying to sound way much more intelligent and academic than I really am here). The lyrics have, for the most part, centered on the various life issues of being a British suburban man, from the weirdness of teenage romance to the arrogance of celebrity, all the while triumphantly acknowledging the glitz and grit of the partying lifestyle most secular millenial men like Alex Turner and company come across.
In random celebration of the music of Arctic Monkeys, as well as just to give me something to write about, I will be giving you my Top 10 songs that I most enjoy from their studio albums (the choice of album songs is a distinction that I will clarify in another post). My choice in songs is based on what I consider the best of the best from each of their albums, from the most popular songs to my personal favorites, all the while attempting to showcase the variety in pace and tone you find in Arctic Monkeys discography.
For what it's worth, on the record, my take on ranking their albums overall is:
5. AM (2013)
4. Suck It and See (2011)
3. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)
2. Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)
1. Humbug (2009)
10. I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor (WPSIA,TWIN)
What's to Like: Lightning fast basic guitar sounds on top of caveman drumming, all the while remaining well timed and held together by the lyrics flowing from Alex Turner with support from Matt Helders (the drummer) in the background. This is the kind of song that highlights what first attracted people to the Alex Turner's lyrics, expressing teenage horniness and dreamy excitement in a flat suburban setting.
Tune Out (a.k.a What's Not to Like): Nothing too weird to turn you away from the song, unless you don't like allusions to teenage lust or biting guitar riffs.
Best Lyric That Would Make a Great Painting: Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
9. Don't Sit Down Cause I've Moved Your Chair (Suck It and See)
What's to Like: The dark echoey guitar that's somehow reminiscent of psychedelic rock from the late 60s, early 70s. This is one of the rougher, rockier sounding tunes from the Monkeys, but it's also counterbalanced by ridiculous, jokey lyrics and a slower pace. With references to the Macarena and whatever shell suits are, as well as some gritty technical effects on the instruments, you know you're in for a bizarrely entertaining time.
Tune Out: References to old wive's tales and the devil that you may take seriously if you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Also, if you're not a fan of grungy bass and guitar sounds, turn away now.
Top Lyric You'd Want to Try in Real Life: Kung fu fighting on your roller skates.
8. The View from the Afternoon (WPSIA,TWIN)
What's to Like: This is the first song on the first album, and it kicks things into high gear right from the start. The drums almost steal the show with how quick and hard they're being played, and their duel with the guitars gives you that punk-ish vibe that the Monkeys started out with. Alex Turner's voice is still being developed but that makes it all the more appropriate for a song that requires a gruffy sound that goes from high and low sounds.
Tune Out: If you didn't know this song was put together by a bunch of teenagers, you'd think this really was from a drunk guy who's dealing with issues at the bars and casinos that he's playing at.
Lyric Most Likely Describing Your Night Out: Anticipation has the habit to set you up/ for disappointing evening entertainment but/ tonight there'll be some love, tonight there'll be a ruckus
7. Dancing Shoes (WPSIA,TWIN)
What's to Like: The balance between the instruments in the background is groovy and makes you want to get to your feet automatically. The lyrics fade in and out and are only really beneficial to shape the frame of the story, about two young lovers falling in love to the beat of a nice groove. I especially like how this song jumps from funky to rock, and this is one of the earliest examples of an Arctic Monkeys song finishing on a fast loud hammering sound.
Tune Out: A teenager's idea of romance in a pop culture influenced suburban environment.
Top Backhanded Compliment Lyric: Get on your dancing shoes/ you sexy little swine
6. R U Mine (AM)
What's to Like: Very engaging buzzy guitars. It knows it's not a complex song for any of the instruments, but it rocks and rocks hard. Alex Turner throws in some fast, witty lyrics that showcases what he can do in a lower vocal range in a different kind of voice while still giving Matt Helders and Nick O'Malley (the bassist) the chance to showcase their falsettos.
Tune Out: To me this song (and this entire album really) is just a showcase of the terrible attitude that comes from the non-commital clubbing and dating scene and pretends to be something deeper than what it really is,
Biggest Attempt at Being Poetic Lyric: She's a silver lining climbing on my desire
5. Crying Lightning (Humbug)
What's to Like: This song demonstrates how this album, Humbug, changed the Arctic Monkeys sound in a good way. The bass is featured prominent as it lays a medium level and groovy pace. The guitars have plenty of effects pedals going, but they're not intrusive and give the song a somber yet anticipatory sound. The drums balance well between the snare and the cymbal sounds, with some fun quick rolls thrown in. These lyrics are some of the most poetic, image-driven lines from Alex Turner that are directly about relationships and suburban life issues without sounding like it (i.e. they're not as direct as on their first album)
Tune Out: The strange thing is there aren't any lyrics or sounds that I would generally warn you away from, there's just something about the structure of the song that keeps me from considering it to be the best Arctic Monkeys song of all time.
Lyric You Most Want to Know the Backstory To: And how you like to aggravate the ice cream man on rainy afternoons
4. Cornerstone (Humbug)
What's to Like: Pleasant gentle guitars with flowing keyboard sounds in the background. The mellow vocals that bemoan a missing lover. It's a sweet song and tells a tragic yet engaging story. This showcases that the Arctic Monkeys can do slow stuff well when they really want to.
Tune Out: Ultimately by the sounds of the lyrics, this was one of those one night stand relationships that eventually end with a prostitute type girl replacing the lost lover. So, if you take away the circumstances of the song and just focus on the loss and heartbreak in the vocals....
Top Lyric That Could Make You Sound Like a Creeper:I smelled your scent on the seatbelt/ and kept my shortcuts to myself
3. Brianstorm (Favourite Worst Nightmare)
What's to Like: This song keeps the high speed intensity of the first album tracks without making the guitar sound overly aggressive. There's a little breakdown moment with just the drums and vocals that is really strangely catchy. The lyrics paint a strange picture of a strange fellow, but in a likable way that is easy enough to follow when you're not focusing on the hard rock instrumentals.
Tune Out: I got nothing for this one. It's their best rock'n'roll song.
Choice Lyric That Sets the Tone: Cause we can't take our eyes off your t-shirt and ties combination
2. Dance Little Liar (Humbug)
What's to Like: Despite a well paced and thumping drumbeat, the strange guitar tones keep things slow and melancholy. This is a contemplative type of song, almost cinematic in how the lyrics tell a story of conflict and the instruments carry emotional weight to them. It's hauntingly beautiful in a way despite the tragedy in the vocals. This song also carries the signature song structure of the Humbug songs where they start soft and slow but end in a very loud rambunctious din.
Tune Out: It's a song about a person in a committed relationship who is trying to cover their cheating affair.
Top Lyric That Let's You Know Things Are Dark: When there's dirt beneath the dirt....When there's dirt between the dirt
Honorable Mentions
-Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But... (WPSIA,TWIN): This one is goofy and probably not a favorite of most other fans compared to other songs on this first album. It's precisely the goofiness of the song that I most enjoy. Plus the jam is groovy and fun.
-Flourescent Adolescent (Favourite Worst Nightmare): This is one of those songs that sounds lighthearted and fun based on the instruments but when you pay attention to the lyrics it's actually kind of depressing. Another example of how suburban British life is not all fun and games for some people.
-Old Yellow Bricks (Favourite Worst Nightmare): It's just a really bouncy and fun song. Also, the kind of song that sounds like a fun concept for an album about the Wizard of Oz series.
-Potion Approaching (Humbug): This is a multi-layered song with various switches in pace and tone without going into the strangeness of prog rock but still contains strange sounding guitars and punchy drums.
-The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala (Suck It and See): I was close to putting this on the list because I wanted to showcase the gentle side of Arctic Monkeys even when they combine soft singing with electric buzzing guitars
-Do I Wanna Know (AM): In all honesty, a great majority of why I like this song is because Alex Turner uses an old, uniquely shaped 12-string electric guitar for it. This one was hard to get into because of how slow the drums were paced on this, as well as a crass music video. However, that guitar really adds bonus points to this song.
1. 505
What's to Like: That haunting keyboard humming throughout the entire song. The image-drive lyrics sung in a forlorn yet passionate way. The gentleness in the sounds of the beginning followed by the intensity near the end. The teamwork in the instruments to stay in the background until things explode in the final verse. It's the kind of song that feels relatable even if you have not been in this specific situation before or not really been in love like this before. The whole atmosphere is urban yet it has a neo-western feel to it as well.
Tune Out: Perhaps the extended reverberation on the guitar can get annoying after awhile.
Most Heartbreaking Lyric: It seems that once again you've had to greet me with 'Goodbye'.
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