Listen to/watch: Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo

Being a fan of the British band the Arctic Monkeys, I knew I was going to enjoy this CD/DVD set. Arctic Monkeys at the Apollo is a two-disc set. The CD is a 2006 live show at Stubb's Bar-B-Q in Austin, Texas, where the Arctic Monkeys perform songs from their debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. The DVD is a concert at the Manchester Apollo in England, where the band performs songs from both their debut and their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, in addition to a few B-sides: "Nettles," "Leave Before The Lights Come On," "Da Frame 2R," and "Plastic Tramp." A DVD highlight for me is one of the special features, Multi Camera Matt, which shows four different camera angles of drummer Matt Helders during the song "The View from the Afternoon." I also thought it was funny that at certain points during the show lead singer Alex Turner pokes fun at the people up in the balcony section for their somewhat calm demeanor.

Definitely check out this CD/DVD if you are a fan of the Arctic Monkeys. In the time since the DVD was recorded the band has grown as musicians, so I also think it's interesting to see older footage of their performances.
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Arctic Monkeys at the Riviera Theatre, 12/6/09

Last night the Arctic Monkeys performed an all ages show at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. Opening with "Dance Little Liar" off their most recent album Humbug, the Arctic Monkeys (Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Nick O'Malley, and Matt Helders) attacked their songs with a ferocity much appreciated by the crowd. Not surprisingly, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," riled up the crowd and got one of the biggest responses of the night. "Brianstorm," "This House is a Circus," and "Fluorescent Adolescent" also ignited the crowd's energy. A cover of the Nick Cave song "Red Right Hand" was even thrown into the mix. While the Arctic Monkeys played songs from all three of their albums, a good chunk of the set-list came from Humbug, including the single "Crying Lightning" and my personal favorites "Cornerstone," "My Propeller," and "The Jeweller's Hands." For the encore they performed "If You Were There, Beware" and "505," which started out mellow and then built to an aggressive finish. This was my first time seeing the band perform live and I had an awesome night (my ears are still ringing).

Photos by Danielle Pacini

What we're listening to: Humbug by the Arctic Monkeys

Following up their 2007 release of Favourite Worst Nightmare, England's Arctic Monkeys have put out another great album in Humbug. They start off with "My Propeller," a song seductive in both the delivery of Alex Turner's vocals and its guitar refrain, not to mention the lyrics themselves. The Arctic Monkeys have a distinctive lead singer in the voice of Turner, due to his point of view shared in the lyrics and the fact that his Yorkshire accent is very prominent. Turner, who wrote the lyrics for all the songs on the album, has an amazing ability to tell vivid stories during short three to five minute songs.

"Cornerstone" is a fine example of Turner's storytelling skills and is also my favorite song from Humbug. In this song a guy describes how he keeps thinking he sees a particular woman around town (at The Battleship, Rusty Hook, Parrot's Beak, and finally The Cornerstone), but when he realizes it's not her he still asks the lookalike, "Please can I call you her name?" I just love the way this song builds as he goes place to place without having any success finding her: "I've asked everyone / I'm beginning to think I imagined you all along."

I won't heap all the praise on Turner; another reason I love the Arctic Monkeys is because their style of music moves between being aggressive and restrained. This album includes songs that are very aggressive and loud ("Potion Approaching," "Pretty Visitors"), contemplative and restrained ("Cornerstone," "Jeweller's Hands"), and a combination of both sides ("Crying Lightning," "Fire and the Thud," "Dance Little Liar"). I have enjoyed their previous albums of Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006) and Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), and believe that Humbug further reinforces their talent as a band, as it is their strongest showing yet.

Check out a copy of Humbug from Dundee Township Public Library District--
Find it in the catalog!

On Sunday the Arctic Monkeys perform at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago!