While its hard to doubt that most people with an internet connection and a set of ears have heard the Arctic Monkeys, their progression since the release of the first album way back in 2006 has seen their fanbase diverge on two different paths.
Theres no doubting that the contrast between the initial 'Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What Im Not' and the previous 'Humbug' is stark. Not just in terms of the music but the stature of the band as well. When the debut broke, they were the hottest new thing making indie kids salivate with catchy anthems. These days they're... not. Its been somewhat of a natural progression when you listen to the discography, and the influence of Josh Homme is worn significantly. You might think that the stoner desert sound of Homme's influence would be hard to translate to a band from a country without a desert in sight, but they've taken it up with aplomb.
Unfortunately for those who want every album to have a 'I'll Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor' you can sense the communal disappointment. The British cheek has been subdued for something much more grandiose and, well, heavy. The album itself won't be out till June but I'm already finding myself excited. Its multi purpose music that can not only provide the soundtrack for an epic roadtrip but for the alcohol-induced hotel messiness that accompanies your journey.
I leave you with a case in point by comparing these guys to Metallica. If you got 'WPSIATWIN' and played it next to 'Humbug' you would have a diverse range of styles and noise, well written fun to seedy-grit. And you'd enjoy it all, for the most part. If you got Metallicas 'Master of Puppets' and played it next to say... 'St. Anger', you'd be left feeling awfully confused. From the insanity of awesomeness to the... well.. insanity of shite-ness. The point I'm trying to make here is that yes, the Arctic Monkeys are mixing it up, not playing the same stuff over and over, and they are STILL making good music. There are fewer and fewer bands out there that you can say that about.
Suck It and See comes out June 6th
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