OUTKAST, R Kelly and Black Sabbath influences have reared their head on the Arctic Monkeys fifth studio album AM. At its core, AM is a rock record with moments created through the view of rose tinted spectacles. Arctic Monkeys have used rap and hip hop to create something rock has never seen before. The album is heavily influenced by frontman Alex Turner’s new Vox 12 string guitar and the blueprint of R U Mine?; oh and there’s the first ever use of a drum machine by the band too- but don’t worry its nothing less than perfect.
With tracks Do I Wanna Know? and Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High already out in the public domain- and in that order- fans have fell in love with the band all over again as their lyrical maturity and boundaries continue to peak as they reach their seventh year in the music business.
The new-found groove that Arctic Monkeys have captivated and rattled into their fifth album that, as Helder puts it: “The album we have been waiting to make,” shows they have done nothing but broaden their musical horizons through all twelve tracks. Turner said that a lot of the recordings had been made on a four track cassette recorder, with the album taking flight from there.
Do I Wanna Know? was made famous from their largely talked about Glastonbury performance. AM kicks off with the hypnotising track that hones the bellowing bravado of AM from the outset. Its a powerful beauty of a 21st century booty call love song that band member Jamie Cook says: “It was Alex’s riff. I was like woooah…. what’s that? I don’t think we’ve done anything that slow.” It is only right that this is the album opener, homing into your subconscious almost, as it directs you through four minutes of absolute class. With extremely infectious lyrics, Do I Wanna Know? has done exactly what AM set out to do- put the band at the top of their game.
R U Mine? is one of those tracks that doesn’t weaken when the buzz wares off. Instead, the QOTSA inspired riffs race through you as the lyrics take hold, time and time again. Riffy, slow and heavy rock are the components of R U Mine? that not only open up a question, but gave fans an insight into what Arctic Monkeys wanted to create with album number five.
One For The Road opens with a haunting higher octave vocal from drummer Matt Helders which then meets the perfect level of Turners lead and is pure hip hop at its core. This is the first track which opens up fans to the hip-hop influence that features on this album, and does exactly what Turner said he wanted to achieve. “I wanted it to sound less like four lads playing in a room.” As the beat and haunting keys are layered onto One For The Road, it reaches its peak. And as the song meets the mid-track instrumental, the guitar is layered over the hip-hop beat, drums and high-pitched repetitive lyrics. Absolute class.
Arabella is a hypnotic ride through beats and dirty guitar licks. Staying with the hip hop and rap influence, the track focuses strongly on a hip-hop beat in the opening verse then ventures to the dark side of the electric guitar which is so strong it blows you away. A Black Sabbath beast is unleashed in the riff showing the song as strong and bold that takes you on a powerful sound trip only to break back down for the second verses extraverted beat-led performance. The track then develops into a psychotic mishmash of heavy drumming, robust electric guitar melodies and those jaw-droppingly catchy lyrics from Turner giving Arabella the edge that ensures its the track on the album fans are going to be excited about.
“It sounds like a Dr Dre beat, but we’ve given it an Ike Turner bowl-cut and sent it galloping across the desert on a Stratocaster.” Alex Turner on AM.
It may have taken them seven years, but it was inevitable that the Monkeys would take inspiration from the god of glam rock, T Rex. And when the intro of I Want it All hits you, its outstandingly Marc Bolan yet unmistakably Artic Monkeys. This is a true standout on the album, with Turner’s higher octave lyrics grabbing glam rock by its shaggy hair and pulling it right into 2013.
A cousin of the beautifully-clever Cornerstone, No. 1 Party Anthem goes all grand piano and theatrical on us. Picking up from where Cornerstone left off, No. 1 Party Anthem is passionate, achingly slow and begging for the replay button.
Mad Sounds plays homeage to the legendary second album from Lou Reed, Transformers. Mad Sounds does quaint and lovely perfectly well with Turner admitting: “I actually wanted the whole record to have a bit of a Transformers feel about to it- like you’d need to have a shower after it.” Well hose me down; this track is more than transforming the Monkeys into the pioneers of music from our generation.
Fireside demonstrates the new emphasis and attention to the drums. With Helders admitting: “We did pay more attention to the drums this time around. You know, changing the snares every five minutes.” And this rhythmic kaleidoscope of a track is powerful through its hectic beats and, typically Monkeys, haunting backing vocals.
Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? hit the road running last month when the band released it as the follow-up to single Do I Wanna Know? As the band pose another question, they take fans onto the hip hop journey that sees them create a song that’s worthy of the streets of Compton, if the homeboys like a quiff, some leather and a comb in their pocket.
Snap Out Of It is nothing short of a toe-tapping, finger-snapping, rock ‘n’ roll belter. Catchy, light and melodic from the first beat dropped, Snap Out Of It may not be as strong as the rest, but its holding its head high in the vintage stakes.
The funky twenty second opener from Knee Socks has QOTSA’s Josh Homme all over it. Turner admits this exact opener is his favourite from the album. Homme has described AM as a sexy, after mid-night album and this song encapsulates that completely. The feisty riff leads into a drum-led verse with the hypnotic beat and haunting strums that open up to the chorus showing the lyrical harmonies in great light. A teasing and tantalising track.
Closing with I Wanna Be Yours, the band reach back to the haunting riffs reminiscent of 505, mixed with great layered vocals, synths and a slow-trotting beat- this track hits all the right notes- closing the album in a calm state of hypnosis.
Arctic Monkeys have produced an album that will stand the test of time; from the non-repetitive verses, to the Sabbath-inspired riffs, the beast that is AM wanders around in conversation through beats and rhythms that encapsulate grit and swagger better than ever before.
Words: Nadine Walker
