18 May 1, 2007 THE RETRIEVER WEEKLY Arts & Entertainment Heard the The Arctic Monkeys don’t disappoint with Music? New CD Favourite Worst Nightmare

that someone interested in you is married and SARAH EVANS deciding if it is worth all the problems that an Retriever Weekly Staff Writer affair will cause. Then the album moves into “Old Yellow Bricks,” a song about someone The Arctic Monkeys are a band that fi rst who runs away from all of their problems rose to fame with the help of an underground including love. Running away causes you to following of fans on the internet and burst not actually live life and the last line of the onto the music scene at the top of UK charts song is “I know I said he wants to sleep in in 2006 with their fi rst album Whatever People the city that never wakes up but, Dorothy was Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not. Crowned by right though,” obviously alluding to the line the British press with the potential to become “there’s no place like home” from The Wizard one of the greatest bands to come out of of Oz, and implying that you can run all you England, the Arctic Monkeys prove that want, but avoiding life will never be as good sophomore slump is not a problem with their as living it. latest album Favourite Worst Nightmare. I loved the entire album and the way A band made up of four guys from a that it all connected through the lyrics. Each suburb of Sheffi eld, England, the Arctic song came from a different point of view and Monkeys are a British alternative, punk- those that directly preceded one another gave inspired band whose obvious infl uences opposing view points. The style of music was include bands like The Clash, but with a also one not often heard anymore, and being combination of the alternative and popular an avid fan of the different forms of rock music of today. With Alex Turner on vocals/ music from the 60s and the 70s, I thoroughly [Courtesy of Domino Records] guitar, Jamie Cook on guitar, Matt Helders We Don’t Monkey Around: Some critics think the Arctic Monkeys might be one of the best rock enjoyed hearing a style a lot like true punk. on drums, and Nick O’Malley on bass and bands to come out of the UK. The Arctic Monkeys are a band that will background vocals, the group stands out from continue to impress audiences with their the indie rock bands of our time and don’t backstage at one of their shows. Basically, as are all of the songs on the album, and until music with lyrics that are fi lled with thought quite seem to fi t into any standard category Brian is really great at picking up women, and you listen to the lyrics, you would never guess and a style that is uniquely their own. of rock music of the present. the song is dedicated to his abilities. Another that the song is about having an affair with a They also break the mold in the angle on love and relationships is found in married woman who is initiating the whole Sarah Evans is a Staff Writer for The way the band rose to success, which was “Fluorescent Adolescent,” a song detailing thing. Although it may not be a pleasant topic, Retriever Weekly and can be reached for unconventional, yet could be the start a relationship that has faded, especially the lyrics chronicle what it is like to realize comment at [email protected]. of something new in the music industry. sexually, until the woman cheats just to get Without the help of a record label, the Arctic some excitement in her life. It resonates very Monkeys came into the public view via the true, as everyone knows that people can get internet and fi le sharing and as a result, complacent in a relationship, which can lead were already popular before being signed to its downfall. to Domino Records. Because there are so The song immediately following many undiscovered bands that have great provides the other end of the spectrum on love potential, the internet is the direction that and relationships and goes to the beginnings new musicians are heading in just to get their of one. “Only Ones Who Know” is a ballad name and music out. The Arctic Monkeys about how no one believes in true love were probably the fi rst to really profi t from anymore, except those who are completely this move and have most likely spurred a trend in love and immune to the pessimism. This that bypasses most of the music industry. song is also the only ballad from the Arctic Rants about such an unfair and diffi cult Monkeys and comes complete with a slowed music industry could be found in the band’s down, island sound with slide guitar and lyrics fi rst album, along with the stories of life in a to match. This song was one of my favorites, small town and teenage problems. This is a partly because of the quality of Turner’s voice, far cry from Favourite Worst Nightmare which which is so sincere and slightly raspy, making is about love, whether it is fading away, just it even more endearing. beginning, or has led to adultery. This starts In contrast to being completely in love with the fi rst song on the album, “Brainstorm” is “The Bad Thing” which is about cheating that is a fast paced, synthesized song about on your spouse. This song was a favorite as a guy named Brian who the band meets well, mainly because it is a very catchy song, TANNING

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