Arctic Monkeys – AM
AM, the latest instalment in the Arctic Monkey’s compellingly entertaining evolution, is a rhythmic and wickedly suave portrait of four exquisitely talented rockers in their 20s having a lot of fun and – perhaps more relevantly here – a lot of sex. The groove on this album is spectacular: it features the dirtiest of snarling guitar riffs, greatly entertaining Rolling Stones-style ‘whoo-whoos’, chunky Dr. Dre-indebted basslines (the band spent the last year living on the West Coast), and smart layered harmonies that replicate the vibes of the funkiest 1990s r’n’b cuts. And, of course, there’s the bitingly sharp and intelligent lyricism that now comes as a given on any Alex Turner record. “I just want you to do me no good,” he croons on ‘No.1 Party Anthem’. It’s all really terrific fun. Continue reading
