Customer Reviews

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

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1 star:		(22)

 

 

The Arctic Monkeys have rocketed to the top of the UK music scene on the basis on a couple of great singles, and when their debut album was released a few weeks ago, it broke the record of the one-week sales. NME declared "Artic Monkeys have delivered a Definitely Maybe" (referring to Oasis' debut album). Not so fast...

"Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (13 tracks, 41 min.) brings basically a great bar band delivering mostly up-tempo songs about the life of 19 and 20 yr. olds (which is what the band members are). Track 2 "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" is the break-out single and an irresitable 3 min. blast of great music. While the first half of the album staggers a bit, the second half truly takes off with the pensive "Riot Van", followed by the best track of all, "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured", a slightly reggae-flavored track that delights and delivers. Other stand-outs follow: "Mardy Hum" is a mellow singalong, and "Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..." is the meatiest track of all. "When The Sun Goes Down" is the other attention-grabbing single, quite good.

In all, this is quite a good album. But to say that this equals the towering "Definitely Maybe" does disservice to Arctic Monkeys. Let these guys (kids, really) develop and let's see where they go from here.

By now you have heard about the Sheffield, Britain Arctic Monkeys unless you have been living under a rock. They had the quickest selling debut CD in the U.K. They are storming the world right now and are the next big thing. How did this all start? They played amazing live shows and the crowd felt a strong presence and they created a small fan base. Quietly the band spread throughout the U.K. through word of mouth. Next they handed out demo's and hosted songs on myspace. Next thing you know, they are being hyped as the next Beatles!!! (Fame wise, not musically!)

First they started out with a catchy single "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" to get they're name out and just show that they can plain rock out. Next they release "When The Sun Comes Down" to show they can play a different type of song. That quickly hit #1 in the U.K. charts and soon enough everyone in the world practically heard about Alex Turner's Arctic Monkeys. 2 band members are only 19 years old (Matt Helders, Andy Nicholson) only lead singer and guitars Alex Turner (band leader and writer), and guitarist Jamie Cook is 20.

This CD is one of the greatest albums that I have heard in a long time. Now, may in be something totally unique and experimental like the Flaming Lips? No, but it does what it wants to. Just plain rock out and create songs that people can just enjoy and dance to. There are tons and tons of potential hits in the US such as I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Fake Tales Of San Fransico, Still Take You Home, Mardy Bum, Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong, When The Sun Goes Down....etc.
The best songs on the album, or the strongest IMO are The View From The Afternoon, and A Certain Romance. They are just the strongest lyrically and strongest structured.

The Arctic Monkeys just won best British Breakthrough Act at the Brits Awards. There is no weak song on the album, you may even find that the songs that aren't getting much play may end up being a personal favorite to you. Ignore the hype for 40 minutes and just decide for yourself and enjoy the biggest new band in the world. Believe the hype, the Arctic Monkeys are fianlly here.

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino, 2006)

Review By Timothy Cunningham


Taken as a whole, the Arctic Monkeys' debut, Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not, is really nothing new. Loud guitars, fast paced singing, and smacking drums adorn most of the album. What really makes this album so great? It has energy and lots of it.

The album starts off with The View From The Afternoon, easily one of the best songs on the album. Switching between fast punk rock and mid-tempo pop, the song conveys a vivid sense of emotion and craziness in search for love in pubs. The second song, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, further expands on this topic. You've had a few at the local tavern and that girl you've had your eyes on the whole night is eyeing you up. She notices you looking at her and she looks away. "I wish you'd stop ignoring me, because it's sending me to despair / without a sound yeah you're calling me, and I don't think it's very fair." Or maybe not? "And oh there ain't no love no, Montagues or Capulets / Just banging tunes `n' DJ set `n' / Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness." I mean c'mon. How can a song with lyrics like that not be great? Following that is Fakes Tales of San Francisco, a song about British bands trying to sound American. Then back to being infatuated in a pub or club - Dancing Shoes fits the bill. Insanely catchy, it puts to the forefront lead singer and guitarist Alex Turner's great voice. You can only guess what it's about. Building on the merits of the first song, You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Looking Straight At Me shows the drumming and backup vocal skills of Matt Helders. The song whips by in a flash. Literally, it really does. Next, Still Take You Home. Yeah, it's about that chick that is oh-so-hot but as dumb as a board. And, why not? Well, that's what Alex says! A nice punk rock song with a nice instrumental bit near the end. The Monkeys slow it down, just for a moment, with Riot Van. Not my favorite, but a song that suggests that they're not just a punk rock band. It's about the days long ago and squabbles with the police. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured comes up next and boy it is secure. It has one of the catchiest riffs on the record. Like most of the songs on the album, it flies by at a frenetic pace.

The Arctic Monkeys once again switch tempo with Mardy Bum. Alex's voice really shines here, though early recorded demo versions are far superior. What the hell is Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... about? I have no clue. But the song is pure punk rock. With lyrics like, "Cause all you people are vampires / And all your stories are stale / And though you pretend to stand by us / I know you're certain we'll fail," how can they fail? A jab at the older generation, always questioning what the younger generation is doing or will be doing? A jab at establishment or the music industry in general? When The Sun Goes Down begins with a nice melodic guitar, but soon explodes into a single note rock masterpiece. From The Ritz To The Rubble begins with a rap-rock tale of girlfriends, beer, and bouncers - once again a killer ending riff. The album concludes quite calmly (after a hard rock intro) with A Certain Romance, the longest track on the album. "And over there there's broken bones / There's only music, so that there's new ringtones / And it don't take no Sherlock Holmes / To see it's a little different around here."

What separates this band from many of their contemporaries is a lyrical wittiness and lightning fast vocal delivery from songwriter and guitarist Alex Turner. Filling out the line up is bassist Andy Nicholson and guitarist Jamie Cook. Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm not is quite a debut from these 19 and 20 somethings from England. They sure are in love with long titles!

Brilliant: Yes. Overhyped: Maybe. The debut from the latest british indie rockers to drop in the states, was hyped by the uk press so much that people nearly hated these guys before even taking a listen. I was one that was kind of put off by mags like NME that would not shut up about them even before their first album was close to being released. But I've got to say...I was proven oh so wrong. The lead single "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" serves up a pretty generic, straight-forward approach at getting the scenesters involved. However, this album really shines with the smashing first track "The View From The Afternoon" and from there the album never lets up...delivering blow after blow. This album, top to bottom, is one of the best of 2006. Give them a chance...you don't know what you're missing. Tracks of interest include; "The View From The Afternoon", "Fake Tales Of San Francisco", "Mardy Bum", "When The Sun Goes Down", "A Certain Romance"

The title says it all.. When I was 19 I was doing things up, not caring about much and doing what I could to get laid.. Now look at these lads at 19 and you can see that for their age, this album rocks!!! They show vast maturity and song writing excellence that sometimes is lacking from some of our most eldest of pop stars.. They are no nonsense, lyrical, tempo driven, musicians who have a knack for making good songs that are well crafted and easy to listen to and like within one listen.. There is so much crap out there today that is so overdone (can someone please stick a fork in grunge wannabes please?) that its really refreshing to see a band come along that is unique with a unique sound and most important, voice.. Alex Turners voice is a welcome change from the Puddle of Mud and Kurt Cobain wanna-bes out there.. Even some of the would-be children of the 80's are sounding repetitive.. Give this album a whirl, and recognize it for what it is.. Its NEW Sounding Music that you can dig from the start.. Its not more of the same.. Dont Stay the Course like we did with the elections of 2004.. Take your taste to a new direction and it just might change your life... At least it will enhance it...

You know when you're distracted doing all sorts of things and then your attention suddenly turns towards one thing alone and you forget about everything else? When I first listened to Arctic Monkeys some time ago that was exactly what happened.

Their debut single "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and the follow up "When the Sun Goes Down" are the best songs I've heard for a very long time. Not just that, but I don't remember being as thrilled as this with a band since I started to search for more underground bands.

Arctic Monkeys proves that a simple guitar riff can be much more exciting than one filled with all sorts of effects. Add a strong and independent bass and heavy drums (with a bit of resemblance to keith moon way of playing...) and there you go: the best band to show up in a number of years and that, if continue this way in the albums to come, will probably be the best for a very long time.

I managed to miss the hype. Maybe it has something to do with not living in England, or not being that interested in MP3 file sharing. Instead, I bought this CD based largely on reviews comparing the Arctic Monkeys to bands like Oasis, or Franz Ferdinand.

Maybe that was a mistake? This band doesn't remind me at all of those bands. Rather than the Beatles-inspired hard rock melodies of Oasis, Arctic Monkeys are nearly all rythmn section outside of the musical bridges, which are closer to Gang of Four, but lack the sparceness and originality that made that band interesting to me. Occasionally the singing will stumble near a pleasing tune, but then the vocalist seems to get bored, and he's off on some improvisation.

The saving grace of this band are the lyrics, which I find to be quite witty. But to me it's not enough. Folks interested in the "not quite singing clever lyrics" genre would do better with Art Brut.

This is a fantastic album. The band have taken Britain by storm writing pure pop songs which as they should describe the perils of growing up as a teenager. Bands may go on for decades but their most energetic songs come from their youth.

This album is pure. Kids singing in their own accents, copying no one and not caring a damn about what people think. The band are the first in the UK whose fame has spread by word of mouth and the use of free downloads. The best track for me Riot Van describing the police's treatment of kids, who like all the youth of Britain have been out drinking.

Whilst the album has been compared with past Oasis albums the difference in the bands is marked. The Monkeys don't 'do interviews' unlike the publicity seeks Gallaghers.

I am a 40 year old fart. This music make me rember being a kid.

This band is what the Libs would sound like without the slick production - pure, guitar, bass and percussion driven sound. It's a little punk and a little indie - almost a new Buzzcoks. And with only two releases thus far this band looks to be going nowhere but up. This album is their freshman effort and it screams of youthful aggression. The guitar is fresh and vocals aggressive and this is one that is sure to stick in your head for days and make your hands raw from tapping the steering wheel to the beat. Overall a fun and interesting album.

I actually wasn't exposed to any of the hype about Arctic Monkeys. In fact, when I found out that they were going to be on Saturday Night Live, I was like, "Who the hell are they?" Well, the Sheffield foursome proved themselves and then some on their debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.

Actually, some of the most interesting moments refer not to the album, but their SNL appearance. Take the irresistible single "I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor", for example. On the album, lead singer Alex Turner says: "Stop making the eyes at me/I'm still making the eyes at you" but on the show, he said "Stop breaking the ties with me/I'm still breaking the ties with you". It's also interesting that before the final musical breakdown on "A Certain Romance", Alex pointed out to the audience and said, "That man just yawned."

But neither of those things take away from the overall greatness of those respective songs, or of the album as a whole. It's very hard to pick a favorite song out of the bunch, but "Riot Van", a humorous story about underage drinking, easily comes to mind (funny how the subject is acceptable when non-rappers talk about it, hmmm?). All arguments aside, one also can't afford to pass up "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured" or especially "Mardy Bum", because the infectious rhythms of both songs easily draw you in. The fifth track is also good, but I doubt it'll be released as a single because I think very few people will call up their local radio station to request "You Probably Couldn't See For the Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me".

The only reason I didn't give the album five stars is because in the middle of the otherwise good "Dancing Shoes", Alex says "Get on your dancing shoes/You sexy little swine", which I doubt will turn any women on. I also don't know if the Monkeys will be doing as much touring right now, considering their bassist quit. At any rate, you can call them indie rock, garage rock, or whatever you want, but pick up Arctic Monkeys' album ad pop it into your stereo.

Anthony Rupert