6. Arctic Monkeys - AM
In at 6 is AM, the fifth album from Sheffield Indie rock band the Arctic Monkeys. This record starts as it means to go on, with opener Do I Wanna Know? full of attitude, with it's simple drum beat focused on groove and feel, and sparse guitar work making it feel like less of a rock song and more of an introduction to an R n' B record. The use of stamps and claps in place of the snare on this track make it seem like it was almost written to be played for an audience. The second track on the album, R U Mine? contain unusual vocal patterns from singer Alex Turner, focused on more rapid delivery, less based around melody. The song doesn't have a conventional groove to it, but is driven along by some frenetic drumming in the background, which nicely apposes the previous track. One for the Road is one of the stand out highlights of the album, with perhaps the catchiest chorus of all, with Turner so confident in his feelings of lust for the person at the centre of the song it's almost as if he can sing them over to his side. The mid-point of the album is slowed down by the 80's arena rock inspired piano number, No.1 Party Anthem, before the undoubtedly Velvet Underground inspired Mad Sounds serves to perk the listener up. At one point Turner sounds so much like Lou Reed it made me double take the first time I heard it, but this is a welcome addition to the bands sound, and that homage (along with naming the album AM, much in the same way that the Velvet Underground did with VU) not only elevates Mad Sounds to the next level but also provides a nice insight into the bands wider influences. Another track worth mentioning is Knee Socks, perhaps the sexiest song on the album, featuring a brilliant, haunting vocal contribution from Josh Homme as the song closes out. One of the biggest attractions to this album is Alex Turner's vocal performance - his delivery exudes all the confidence and cockiness that make him a true rock star.