You're bad....see what I did there

Finally, a band not tied down by conventional lyric prisons that locks so many bands into the same routine and becomes utterly monotonous and distasteful. The Arctic Monkeys are a decisive indie rock band hailing from Sheffield, England. They combine just the right amount of rock edge to brilliant unfettered lyrical styles and poetic motifs. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not produces a full sound using the traditional combination of indie rock instruments that is categorized by flashing guitar and a subtly versatile but all the bit important rolling bass line. Musically the album stays self contained providing a rhythmic backdrop to the transcending story based lyrical devices.

History

The Arctic Monkeys began when two members, Alex Turner and Jamie Cook, asked and received guitars one fateful Christmas in 2001. With the rest of the members filling in instruments as necessary the band was formed. They grew to prominence through the use of internet file sharing and fan made demo tapes. As the word spread through London and the surrounding areas the Arctic Monkeys began catching the eye of critics and record labels. In 2005 after selling out many venues the Arctic Monkeys were signed to Domino Records and continued success was on its way.

Lyrics

Alex Turner, the lead singer, provides the meat of the band through his use of decisive story telling and rhythmic tongue turning lyrical devices. His voice is not much more the hybrid of signing with more of a talking element. He brilliantly moves between the more upbeat rhythmic vocals to laid back chill songs. As the principle song writer he keeps it simple. Most songs are to the point telling stories of fighting, drinking, and women of the night. He is very keen to the environment that surrounds him and incorporates this into his work. Much unnecessary criticism has been set up rifling through the very lyrics written by Turner. The humble ideas which the album is strung together around may not hold up to the scrupulous view under a microscope, however when looked at as whole they have a subtle clarity and unobstructed delivery lacked by many other acts.

Music

The Arctic Monkeys open up on the attack with the pulsing drums and wall of guitar beginning The View From the Afternoon. The song is constantly changing with the campaign of new guitar parts and humming bass lines. The song feels like a busy street, but there is not time for red lights here as the Arctic Monkeys burst forth. I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor opens with a sharp little guitar riff tying back into Turner’s driving lyrics. With the mild calling of his bandmates echoing his sediments as turner mixes a vibe of head nodding modern rock with lyrical suggestions to 1500 playwrites. Fake Tales of San Francisco arrives more at the doorstep of the groovy Arctic Monkeys, the song relies heavily on Turner’s lyrics with a very simplistic repetitive guitar line that doesn’t carry the full blooded howl of the earlier numbers, but just as you begin to yearn for it, it comes and fills you. The song has a rare evolution not prevalent one many of the other tracks.

Dancing Shoes, has a full hearted bass line the tumbles through the song. It revisits the ideas created on I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor. Turner’s lyrics are full of flavor and are very enjoyable to ramble along with him. You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me is a rhythmic tune clarified by a sharply picked guitar. The humming of the guitar bleeds right into the vocals creating a dynamic tie. They do a nice subtle job of removing and adding instruments back to create a constant flow of new and reoccurring elements. Still Take You Home is one of the hardest and edgy songs on the album that opens with mildly exciting guitar solo. The real focus is the churning bass line which gives the song a visible flare.

Riot Van is a more subdues almost ballad of sorts low key song. It is a drastic step back from the bare knuckle bar brawling attack on the earlier songs. This is a nice relax though, as it really lets lyrics shine through without the driving chords. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured has a sound similar to Still Take You Home, maybe the only problem prevalent on Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. The songs seem to tend to run together as the lyrical stylings are similar and the guitar progression is also similar. This problem helps create a very cohesive album, but also can tend to let the mind wander without bright changes. Mardy Bum is a very telling sort of song it is a clear telling of the Arctic Monkeys. The lines a brilliantly compelled and the guitar is not over bearing. It has a rhythmic relaxation that feels right.

Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... is another progression song that has deep tolling of bass and brash hearty guitars. The song demonstrates Turner’s use of his environment to set up a brilliant song. If read to deep this song can become harmful, but as a grungy song, the song plunges down into the deeper, darker side of the Arctic Monkeys. When The Sun Goes Down wraps up the ballad slower portion of the album, and maybe has one of the best storylines of the album. Speaking of the immoral night life particular common in the world. The song develops from a hollow begin to the more firm full bodied sound more accustomed to the Arctic Monkeys.

From The Ritz To The Rubble has a different lyrical approach that has a different rhythm and more angered feel than the rest of the album. This idea is confirmed by the explosion of the guitar before relaxing back into the usual Arctic Monkeys standard. The Final song on the thirteen track album (if you’ve been counting) A Certain Romance is a summation of the album incorporating rhythmic elements, heavy guitars, light jumpy bass, and the undeniably perfect touch of Turner’s lyrics.

Overall, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is cleverly crafted album that is characterized by a nonstandard approach which breathes fresh air into the music craving soul. It has a light bouncy edge that can easily become a tidal wave of sound. It is one of the rare albums where the sound reflects the atmosphere the lyrics are painting to create a dynamic album. It is defiantly worth the listen, you will not regret it.