“Do I Want to Know?” the first track on the Arctic Monkeys’ highly–anticipated fifth studio album, starts out with a thumping bass like the stomping of a marching band announcing its arrival. Soon enough, the electric guitar finds a smooth loop and Alex Turner reaches a soaring falsetto—confirming that, yes, the Arctic Monkeys are back. Titled “A.M.”—both an acronym for the band’s name, inspired by The Velvet Underground’s “VU,” and a reference to post-midnight rock—the album’s late–night underground vibe could not be more fitting. Their sophomore album, titled “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not”—the fastest selling debut album in British history—proved they were here to stay. With each subsequent album, the Arctic Monkeys have cultivated the winning underdog attitude that brought them to the spotlight, all the while adding in a fresh taste of retro hip–hop that ventures in a completely new direction.
Described by Turner as a “chemical reaction,” “A.M.” incorporates elements from multiple genres and features contributions from Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas, Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme and Domino’s Bill Ryder-Jones. Most specifically, there is a unique blend of retro rock and 90s hip–hop that comes across song after song. Standout song, “Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High?” is reminiscent of The Beatles’ “Why Don’t We Do It On the Road?” with a raplike stutter in the background. The glamorous shoo–wop in “I Want it All” incorporates a 50’s tune that could’ve been produced by Dr. Dre. “Arabella” is the most dynamic song on the album. The song begins with Turner’s witty lines delivered over a persistent bass. After Turner belts out “My days end best when the sunset get itself behind that little lady sitting on the passenger side” in the chorus, a pulsating guitar string transforms the simple ballad into a 70’s post–punk anthem. Following the melodic bridge towards the end, guitarist Jamie Cook throws in a guitar solo Jimi Hendrix would be proud of. Despite the chaos and diverse sounds, “A.M.” is one of the best albums 2013 has seen so far.
GRADE: A+
99-CENT DOWNLOAD: “Arabella”
BEST FOR: Post–midnight veg–out for when you’re feeling retro.
