11. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y4EFsu7lU0 Artist: Arctic Monkeys Album: 'Suck It And See' Year: 2011 Best lyric: "Makes me wanna blow her candles out just to see if you glow in the dark." Ironically, I talk about complexity as if it's black and white. As if the world's better when it's twisty-turny, and that Britain are probably better at Scrabble than the US because it rains over here. Every rule has an exception though, and Alex Turner wouldn't be complicated if he was always dark, wry and worried about a female. Sometimes the direct route is more scenic, and 'The Hellcat...' is a case in point. It's a packed tube train of a verse freed by a euphoric chorus and a glittery riff that cascades like a cool breeze. It's Turner taking a day off from watching rubbish Rotherham bands, Mecca members with their saucier days behind them and tramps with propulsion devices, to just sit back and relax. I really don't have a downer on simplicity: how can I listening to this? 10. R U Mine?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7K3KhkCdqA Artist: Arctic MonkeysAlbum: 'AM'Year: 2012Best lyric: "She's a silver lining lone, ranger riding / Through an open space / In my mind, when she's not right there beside me." There's usually a moment from a band when they feel fresh, young and impulsive. They could be prancing about on Top of the Pops strewing roses or destroying their drumkits; it's the music that connects. 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor' was the first of these moments in the life of Alex Turner. Yes, almost uniquely, he's had two of these moments, and second came with 2012 single 'R U Mine?'. It was the flip of an image, but we didn't know what was coming next: a standalone statement that the Arctic Monkeys were still capable of pulse-quickening rock and roll. 'R U Mine?' is a leather-clad love letter complete with air-guitaring fun and an unashamed abandonment of giving a damn what people think. Which, on its own is so Arctic Monkeys, but it also happens to be bloody brilliant. It's the music that connects.