Yesterday Arctic Monkeys released their second single called “Body Paint” from their upcoming album The Car, which is to be released on October 21. This new song was not everything I was expecting from one of my favorite bands but it was quite enough and a just a tad bit more. Eventhough the tune is still reminiscing of their sci-fi/vintage-sound from last album (Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino) which was sooo good, I have hopes that there are gonna be new elements or even pre-TBHC elements in what’s coming.
As I said in my previous RR, I want to dedicate this edition of Random Ratings to the Arctic Monkeys. The last one I did for just one musician was the Dr. Taylor Swift edition. In this edition I’m doing a personal review of their albums ordering them from the one I enjoy the most to my least favorite (doesn’t mean I don’t love them all) so anyone who reads me can get a glimpse of why I love them. This is a band that I have very strong feelings for and I do think they keep rock and roll in the mainstream.
So here it goes:
Suck It And See: This was the first album I listened from them. My fandom started when they released “R U Mine”, so I get to say I knew them well before AM 😛. I got hooked with that song and began the whole discography journey that made me fell in love with every single song they have.
This album reminds me of a long roadtrip through the Baja California peninsula I took with my family, I burnt a CD with this album (this was before I knew about Spotify), took my CD player and that was the only thing I listened to for days. I feel like Suck It And See has a very good combo of soothing balads, smooth rock and their high-energy signature guitar riffs.
Fav songs: Love is a Laserquest, Reckless Serenade, Library Pictures.
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not: The prodigy first child. I don’t think this was exclusive of my hometown but where I live there were sooo many Arctic Monkeys tribute nights where you’d go out and a local band was playing only Arctic Monkeys songs, mainly the first ones.
Of course this whole album is full of classics in itself, this is also a no-skips album. The fast-paced tempo makes you move your feet and the lyrics with the raspy voice makes you want to sing your lungs out. There’s also some spaces and long intros for taking a break in between songs.
Fav songs: From The Ritz To The Rubble, The View From The Afternoon, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, When The Sun Goes Down, Mardy Bum, really every song.
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino: This was my summer in Europe album in 2018. I lived in Budapest for 6 months and by the summer, before going back home, I took a long trip with my family and I couldn’t listen to anything else that wasn’t Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.
I used to listen to Golden Trunks on repeat all day always waiting for that line: “And in response to what you whispered in my ear I must admit, sometimes I fantasize about you, too.” Aaaaah, I melt. Like I said, the sci-fi retro feeling, the story, the setting, the drama, it takes me to another world.
Fav songs: Golden Trunks, The World’s First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip, Batphone, Star Treatment.
Favourite Worst Nightmare: I didn’t want to put this one here, I enjoy this album too much, but in comparison to others it fell all the way to my second half of favorites. That’s how much I love this freaking band.
Another one full of non-skip, high-energy modern classics. This album is very well balanced and it shows with the big difference from the moshpit starter first track to the tear hanger that’s 505, their last song. Definitely one of the albums that you should listen to before going to an AM concert.
Fav songs: Old Yellow Bricks, Only Ones Who Know, Teddy Picker, 505, This House is a Circus.
AM: I do think Arctic Monkeys were in the mainstream since their beginnings, at least the UK mainstream. But with AM, I felt they became US mainstream and that’s not a bad thing. This year, 2013ish, was a very very beautiful year for rock enthusiasts: Queens of the Stone Age, Cage the Elephant, The Vaccines, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon,… I was living.
This album is sexy. This album is fun. This album has the perfect tracklist to enjoy the Arctic Monkeys and not feel like your ears are going to fall out. I also think it has perfect like, concert songs, like you can sing every single part of them, even the guitar solos and airdrum to the beat.
Fav songs: R U Mine? (of course), Arabella, Snap Out Of It, I Wanna Be Yours, Fireside.
Humbug: A slow paced, darker mood album for sure, but still one worth the listen. I would say this is the best lyric wise, it feels like listening to poetry or someone reciting to me with every detail what happened and what they were thinking in specific scenarios.
The next time that I caught my own reflection
It was on it's way to meet you
Thinking of excuses to postpone
You never looked like yourself from the side
But your profile could not hide
The fact you knew I was approaching your throne
You get what I mean. That happens a lot through every song in this album.
Fav songs: Cornerstone, Crying Lightning, Fire And The Thud, Secret Door.
I am more than eager to listen to what they come up this year. I’ll leave a playlist with my all time 10 favorite songs from them. Let me know if you love them, how would you rate their albums, which are your favorite songs???