Few bands have made the impact that theArctic Monkeysdid with their debut studio album,Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.Their raw lyrics and relentless guitarsgripped the 2000s indie rock sceneand epitomized the characteristics of the genre. But, as the band has matured, they have evolved their sound to hone a more relaxed, retro style found in the sophisticated 2018 release,Tranquility Base Casino & Hotel.Critics have placed later releases in higher rankings, but the early stuff was the high point of the band’s charming essence. In the pursuit of musical refinement, did the Arctic Monkeys separate too much from their beginnings?
The True Grit of the Early Arctic Monkeys
The debut album by theArctic Monkeys,Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,was released back in 2006. It was an almighty rude awakening into whom the band were, where they came from, and what they were about. The Arctic Monkeys had a tongue-in-cheek attitude that teetered on recklessness, think of the jangling verses of “A Certain Romance.” Despite their distorted guitars, heavy drums, and feedback, the band actually could not be considered brash or reckless by any measure. Both the debut album andFavourite Worst Nightmarehave such a sound of urgency that it is incredibly gripping, and thatimmediate focus gives no time for a delayed connection to the music.There is an instant attachment born from that enthusiastic ambition.
Through their lyrical narratives, the Arctic Monkeys candidly describe the daily life and nightlife of their hometown of Sheffield in Northern England. This includes tales of drinking, flirting, chaotic youth, but also shines light upon the darker side of less fortunate characters, which are handled tenderly. They captured youth in real time, andthey were cleverbecausethey were honest.The Arctic Monkeys would take the edge off with a tone of teasing, like “Mardy Bum,” telling the story of a lovers’ tiff in the kitchen, gently poking fun at the seemingly trivial conflict in the relationship.
It was the attitude of the Arctic Monkeys more than anything else that formed such a visceral connection with listeners. Their unfiltered realness cut through any sort of polished pop, which was something to be excited about. Over the years, some fans feel this is missing in their more stylized approach.
The Best Hidden Gem on Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ Sounds Like It Belongs in a Movie
Radiohead’s prophetic vision of a dystopian future resonates more than ever.
Arctic Monkeys' New Sound: A Sophisticated Shift or Losing Their Roots?
The new sophistication of the Arctic Monkeys started with their 2013 album,AM, which was recorded in Los Angeles and Joshua Tree. It’s their most-streamed album, perhaps signaling a higher commercial appeal in their cleaner sound. But, in their physical distance from home,their music feels much more distant and much more out of reachthan the relatability of “Mardy Bum.” This notion of distance has always been a huge appeal to the traditional rock star. Think of the beautiful, Godly figure in the lights, a divine symbol of stardom and brilliance.
There are retro references that started to come through around the time ofAM,andAlex Turnercould have actually beenmistaken for Elvis Presley.2018’sTranquility Base Casino & Hotelditches the heavy indie rock pace for a more 1970s lounge feel, prioritizing pianos over guitars.Turner explained that using keyboards“suggested to me this idea of a lounge-y character, which never would have occurred to me had I been playing a guitar.” This eye-opener edges the band closer to those God-type classic rock figures who ooze glamour and sophistication. “Four Out Of Five” from the record could beplaced very comfortably on the likes of Bowie’sStation to Station.
In their early work, I’m not quite sure the Arctic Monkeys realized just how clever they were. By the time they could catch wind of it, intellectually fueled poetry had become a central element of their work. It seems as though the more the band became associated with this intellectual angle, the more it started to feel like anoverly stylized characteristic that distracts from who they once were.
The Sex Pistols Ruled ’70s Punk Rock, But Another Band’s Song Truly Defined the Genre
This song paved the way for punk.
Honesty seemed to be overtaken by poetry for the Arctic Monkeys. The postAMwork is beautiful, butit feels like a really deliberate attempt at a mature stance in poetic writing.What they had before was poetry, just in a more legible font. Perhaps the reason the writing feels so different is that their lives are so different. The Arctic Monkeys have always been a band that writes about their mundane experiences and everyday events. It’s just that the mundane life of a Los Angeles rock star isn’t quite the same as Alex’s down the road in Sheffield. Of course, there is a natural progression into a developed version of the indie band that the Arctic Monkeys started as, which must be allowed, but the glossiness of it all just seems a little self-indulgent.
Ultimately, the Arctic Monkeys have evolved into a shinier, mature version of what they once were, but this doesn’t mean that they have necessarily eroded. Their new music offers a creative and well-informed approach rich with references and impressive recording equipment. But it does beg the question: has passion been traded for polish? The raw sparks that were there inWhatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Notare irreplaceable and iconic, and that bound attachment is what makes the legacy of that record so strong.
