Posts Tagged: Arctic Monkeys

Feature / Music — 19 Comments
29
Oct 09

Best Album of 2006 Poll

Best Albums of 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09

Alright guys, we’ve made it to 2006. You know the drill by now. Because we’re approaching the not too distant past, it’s becoming harder and harder to make these top 10 lists. I feel like most of these albums are fresh in my mind (in fact, I still listen to most of them today). As always, there will be some omissions you will probably not like at all, like Bloc Party’s absence in 2005 — pretty good album, but hardly came close to Top 10-dom. This year’s omissions feel extra painful because I love the albums left out almost as much as I love the Top 10 itself. Albums left out include works by Sunset Rubdown, Band of Horses, Neko Case, Liars, Beirut, Bob Dylan, The Thermals, among others. But let’s focus on the albums that “made the cut”.

A. The Knife – Silent Shout
B. TV on the Radio – Return To Cookie Mountain
C. The Hold Steady – Boys and Girls in America
D. Clipse – Hell Hath No Fury
E. Ghostface Killah – Fishscale
F. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
G. Joanna Newsom – Ys
H. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not
I. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife
J. Grizzly Bear – Yellow House

Good luck finding your favorite, because we’re having the toughest time.

Music / Tour Dates — 1 Comment
23
Oct 09

This Week’s Touring News

This Weeks Touring News musicI don’t usually post tour dates on the blog, but I figured a lot of you might be interested in what cool shows have been announced in your area for the near future. I know I usually rummage the internet for such information.

Here is this the touring news for the week ending 10/23, including dates for JUSTICE, Arctic Monkeys, Wilco, Julian Casablancas, Weezer, The Antlers, Neko Case, Andrew Bird, Free Energy, The Drums and These United States. Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music / Remixes — 2 Comments
25
Aug 09

Arctic Monkeys – Dangerous Animals (The Raged Remix)

Arctic Monkeys Dangerous Animals (The Raged Remix) listen
We thought the new Arctic Monkeys album could have been a bit better, but I can’t think of anything The Raged could have done to make this remix of “Dangerous Animals” better.

According to the message he left, The Raged is looking for a label to release their original stuff. If this remix is any indication of what The Raged is capable of, I say someone better sign him fast.

Arctic Monkeys – [download id="160"]

Also give The Raged’s original track, “Home Experiement” for a spin, it’s highly recommended.

The Raged – [download id="161"]

Feature / Music — 90 Comments
21
Aug 09

Best Songs of the Decade (2000-2009)

Best Songs of the Decade (2000 2009) feature
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Album Reviews / Feature / Music / Reviews — 31 Comments
15
Aug 09

The Rise and Stumble of the Arctic Monkeys

Humbug review and CD + LP giveaway.

Remember when the Arctic Monkeys were supposed to be the next big thing? It was back when a bunch of new bands were hitting the scene and everyone was drinking the We Are Scientists Kool-Aid. It was late 2005, and the Arctic Monkeys were the talk of the town, the saviors of indie rock, the heir apparent to the newly built Franz Ferdinand throne. “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” had people dancing across a number of continents, and their cheekily titled album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, was the fastest selling debut album in UK history.

It was a fantastic debut album, and the Monkeys had a good mix of musical chops and cocky confidence. They seemed disinterested in label games, willing to alienate radio and label heads in favor of a grassroots fan-base.

But despite not seeking press (or perhaps because of it) there was a fair amount of media involved in the construction and rise of the Arctic Monkeys. Sure, the band had built a committed following online, they had brought the noise on their debut, and they had crafted a bunch of really danceable rock tunes. But a debut album is by no means a body of work, and when NME named Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not the 5th best British record of all time, people started to scratch their heads. The follow-up LP from the group, Favourite Worst Nightmare, saw all 12 tracks crack the top 200 on the UK singles chart. And then we started to get nervous.

Well, the nerves probably started earlier than that, but suffice it to say that not everyone bought that initial buzz hook, line, and sinker. It seemed a bit like we were pinning big hopes to a young brash band that might not follow through. Were we just swallowing whatever they songs they gave us and proclaiming excellence out of fear of it being anything less than incredible? Were the Arctic Monkeys just The Killers on a one year delay? Only time will tell, as the saying goes, and that time has come. Now, shortly before the release of the band’s third full length, Humbug, we find ourselves in the modern dilemma of pinning great expectations on a band that didn’t ask for them. The Arctic Monkeys have to prove that they are grown up before they have actually grown up. Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music — 3 Comments
6
Aug 09

The Rifles – The Great Escape EP

The Rifles The Great Escape EP listen
Say hello to the newest cheeky Brit pop band to cross the pond.

Perhaps best described as a hybrid of The Kooks and The Arctic Monkeys (with a touch of The Cold War Kids), The Rifles are looking to break through to North American audiences.

Presenting The Great Escape EP — an energetic, light-hearted sample of what The Rifles have to offer.

I thoroughly enjoyed all four featured tracks. The Rifles exude a jangly, playful vibe that is conveyed in each of their sample tracks. Short guitar licks and light, upbeat percussion give the EP an all-over energetic, slightly retro grunge-band feel.

The band was formed in 2004, and their debut album, No Love Lost, peaked the UK charts at #26. The Rifles recently signed with Nettwerk in North America and will be touring our side of the Atlantic come autumn.

Pleasant, and feel-good, if this EP is any indication to what the LP will sound like, I think there’s room for The Rifles to make a name for themselves and capture the hearts of North American Indie fans everywhere. Keep an eye out for this fantastic four; they’ll be doing big things in the next year.

Read on for the tracklist and mp3s Continue reading →

Listen / Music — 6 Comments
3
Aug 09

Arctic Monkeys – Cornerstone

Arctic Monkeys Cornerstone listen
I haven’t been given the chance to give the new Arctic Monkeys album a real listen. So far, it has been one track here and there (I know, terrible thing to do when listening to an album for the first time). So far it seems as though Humbug makes more sense as a follow up to The Last Shadow Puppets’ album. It’s moody and melancholy, something that really shouldn’t be released before October. The Arctic Monkeys are harshing my summer buzz and I’m not really appreciating.

However, “Cornerstone” has sat well with me and as been the only track off Humbug that I put on repeat. I quite like it, but I usually enjoy Alex Turner’s almost tongue-in-cheek ballads (read: Mardy Bum). You ought to listen to it. Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music — 19 Comments
6
Jul 09

Arctic Monkeys – Crying Lightning

Arctic Monkeys Crying Lightning listen
Mere hours before British radio was supposed to premiere the Arctic Monkeys’ new first single for their forthcoming Humbug, “Crying Lightning” hit the internet. I love when that happens.

The Arctic Monkeys opted to stray from their traditional, straightforward approach and have crafted a song far more complex than say, “I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor.”

The hook isn’t as hook-y as the aforementioned song, but signature Alex Turner melody and lyric is spot on. The guitar work on “Crying Lightning” is especially great. Guitarists Turner, Cook, and Bass Guitarist Nick O’Malley are spinning a web rather than rushing into a raw explosion of sound that has become common in Arctic Monkey records. Listen to “Crying Lightning” here Continue reading →

Arctic Monkeys B-Sides & Rarities Project / B-Sides / Favourite Worst Nightmare / MP3 / Music — 5 Comments
1
Jul 09

Arctic Monkeys B-Sides & Rarities Project – What If You Were Right The First Time?

Arctic Monkeys B Sides & Rarities Project What If You Were Right The First Time? arctic monkeys b sides rarities project
Luis: It’s baaaaack

Hello you Pretty Much Amazing addicts. It’s Will from the less glamorous-and-famous little blog known as We All Want Someone To Shout For. I want to personally apologize for the delay on the Arctic Monkeys b-sides and rarities project. I have been so busy working 3 different part time jobs, as well as maintaining my own site and some sense of a personal life. How about we get back into the swing of things? I owe Luis an apology for how overdue this post is. However, I am finally back and ready to get this bad boy kicking again!

The timing is actually appropriate. The Arctic’s 3rd album Humbug is set to come out in August. The album seems to see the boys sounding more mature and different from their previous efforts.

The b-side that I decided to share with you guys today is “What If You Were Right The First Time?” from their fantastic Brianstorm EP. The song fits perfectly with Brianstorm with their darker, more aggressive sound. There is something about Matt Helders drumming that gets me every time in this song. At one part the band actually sounds sorta….metal. It is one of the Arctic Monkeys best songs in my opinion. (It is my 10th most listened to song on itunes!) This is the Arctic Monkeys darker and harder than ever! Listen to “What IF You Were Right The First Time?” here Continue reading →

Arctic Monkeys B-Sides & Rarities Project / Covers / Live / MP3 / Music — 7 Comments
7
Apr 09

Arctic Monkeys B-Sides & Rarities Project – The Lovers (Rod McKuen Cover)

Arctic Monkeys B Sides & Rarities Project The Lovers (Rod McKuen Cover) arctic monkeys b sides rarities project

The Arctic Monkeys B-Side & Rarities Project was inspired by Matthew Perpetua’s Pop Songs 07-08 project, and was first introduced on November 19, 2007 and it ended there. On March 21, 2009, Pretty Much Amazing reached out to a person with a lot more Arctic Monkey credentials, the man who named his music blog after a string of words Alex Turner wrote while try to figure out “Who The Fuck Are The Arctic Monkeys”: Will Oliver from We All Want Someone To Shout For.

The goal of this series of posts is fairly simple, I am going to write a post about all of the Arctic Monkeys B-Sides, non-album tracks, bootlegs and other rarities. I have no clue how long this will take, or even if I will finish it, but it should be a fun ride. You might be curious as to why I’d select the Arctic Monkeys as the subject of such scrutiny. To be frank, the Arctic Monkeys are one of the only bands of which I can honestly say that I saw flounder and flourish from beginning to present. I feel that I can relate to their music, along with everyone else that’s young and living their life in all its blundering glory.

Arctic Monkeys – The Lovers (Rod McKuen Cover)
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