http://www.epinions.com/content_216835067524
Urban Legends...
A 2005 ranking of British coolest men, compiled by New Music Express, the Bible of cool britons, featured singer Alex Turner from the band ARCTIC MONKEYS on the forefront.
Alex WHO?
Don t blame your ignorance...This is no bliss. ARCTIC MONKEYS is a supernova British phenomenon. They don t have a debut record yet (wait for January 16th). They have released a handful of singles, but their fame is built almost solely online. Downloads, blogs, lists, Orkut, Kazaa, MySpace, the official site etc. All Music Guide won t help you this time.
For some, this may be too unimpressive. However, what about 16 million downloads in 2005 only?
Outside the Kingdom, we can only trace ARCTIC MONKEYS by a 2-song sold-out EP, counting on thousands of dollars on E-Bay (of course I can t afford it, I m Brazilian dude, but thanks to Kazaa, you re not gonna miss my review on it), released on May 30th 2005. You can also opt for their October single I Bet You Look Good On The Danceflor.
OK. Is this band that good, worthy of that NME hype? Is there any justness for the eagerness engendered by their forthcoming debut? HUM...Almost.
ARCTIC MONKEYS have their hips on the right place, differing from LIBERTINES, THE STROKES etc. They know what a groove is. Apart from the NY Punk-Pop textbook, they learned a trick or two from British Hard Rock of the 70s (or, the only one worthy of the brand 'hard'). They know that a good hook and a fitting bridge is almost as important as fashionism (they should teach their peers).
That s why I m into this 2-song downloaded EP. Partially due to the online phenomenon that caught my attention in the first place; secondly, the music is worthy some bucks and after all, all in less than 10 minutes!
Apart from the coolest man in the isle, ARCTIC MONKEYS comprises Andy Nicholson (guitars), Jamie Cook (bass) and Matt Helders (drums). No synths, no DJs, no personal trainers, just strained, bare-bones Punk-Pop-Rock. If there is such a thing!
Fake Tales From San Francisco arrives swinging to the beat of a steeled drum. The bass is not on the forefront, but it stands up...And the vocals are chewing-gum sleaze (really cool, man). Add decent dynamics, a stop-start bridge reminiscent of THE WHITE STRIPES, tuneful guitars, funny lyrics...And the best choruses SUPERGRASS forgot to record. You got what the britons call 'the 3-minute magic'. 3.02 minutes, indeed.
Sardonic From The Ritz To The Rubble starts as freakout singer-songwriter, then percollates into a New Wave shiny rifferama. Production values are not the only difference from, say, THE VINES. This band seemed to have found the exact amount of every single element to make Post-Britpop the best mold for Pop gems. You can see the flames consumming your LIBERTINES records in the aftermath. In less than 2.59 minutes!
OK, 2 wonderful songs, even SUGAR RAY had theirs, let s wait for January 16th to come. But thrilling anyway! See ya.
Tracklist:
01 (* * * * *) Fake Takes From San Francisco
02 (* * * * 1/2) From The Ritz To The Rubble |
