The Arctic Monkeys have grown significantly as a band in the last few years. The band began their days with a signature punk sound that mirrored that of The Clash. It was a sound that made them relatively unique to popular music. Since their inception, they’ve been gradually getting more recognition.
With their newest release, the Arctic Monkeys have drifted away from that initial punk sound and stumbled into a melodic groove that anyone can enjoy. “AM” was released on Sept. 10 and is a perfect successor to 2011’s “Suck It and See.” It is the next logical step in the band’s progression.
Three of the album’s tracks were first released as singles, each one better than the last. While the greatness of the album does not solely rely on the singles released, they are some of the better tracks. The second single “Do I Wanna Know?” is the opening track to the album and a great composition. The song opens with a simple drum beat and features a hypnotizing guitar riff that plays steadily throughout the song. The mid-tempo song sets the pace for the record.
The third track on the album, titled “One for the Road,” is another highlight of the record. It is one of two tracks that feature guest vocals by Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age, the other track being “Knee Socks.” The track itself sounds very much like Queens of the Stone Age in pace and tone. It’s much like the opening track in that it is a very mellow song. Compared to songs from their first record, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” the songs on this record are opposites in pacing.
Lead singer Alex Turner has said that Outkast, Aaliyah and Black Sabbath were inspirations for the album’s sound. It is very easy to see the hip-hop influence on the album’s music itself. The drum tracks feel very hip-hop based.
The fourth track, “Arabella,” has an obvious guitar throwback to Black Sabbath, with the lick in the chorus mimicking the verses from “War Pigs” perfectly. The inspirations do not just end with the music itself; according to Turner, the album title is influenced by the Velvet Underground greatest hits record titled “VU.”
by Josh Deakin
The album’s closing song, “I Wanna Be Yours,” is a great ending to an amazing record. It ends the way it began — with a beautiful, melodic song. The songs are all similar in tone but it never feels like listening to the same song over and over. The songs are well written both musically and lyrically, and tell fantastic stories of love. It is only a matter of time before this record blows up. The Arctic Monkeys have produced a cohesive piece of work that is destined to stand as a monumental album in rock music.
Grade: A