Only a year has passed since Arctic Monkeys took the music world by storm, but it's all been a little quiet round High Green of late.
Do not go assuming that the Sheffield quartet have been lazy in the interim ‘tween then and now, though. Rather than spending the last 12 months counting their dough and taking as many drugs as possible while swanning around South America, Alex Turner and company have been busy exercising their craft to almost epic proportions.
Not just content with releasing a ‘safe’ comeback record, the Monkeys have abandoned their previously commercially acceptable sound in favour of something more adventurous; something undeniably loud and unsophisticatedly raw. And you know what? It rocks. Hard.
Apparently the band have been growing their hair long and listening to bands like Queens Of The Stone Age during their (albeit short) creative hiatus, and if the rest of the forthcoming Favourite Worst Nightmare album is anything like 'Brianstorm' then we're in for one hell of a late Easter treat when it’s released on April 23.
Lyrically as cutting and sardonic as anything off the band’s debut LP Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not, 'Brianstorm' takes the wind in its sails from the off as the main character (that’s Brian, then) finds his dress sense assassinated ("We just can't take our eyes off your t-shirt and tie combination...") before rolling through several more passing asides culminating in a parched, "We'll see you later, innovator". Throughout all the lyrical viciousness, a ferocious guitar couplet rages intently at the song’s forefront – it’s not too dissimilar to what Black Francis and Joey Santiago used to get up to back in the day.
Even the b-sides offer a marked departure from the considered norm, as 'Temptation Greets You Like A Naughty Friend' glides on a sub-reggae beat like the grandson of 'Dreadlock Holiday' before being given a rousing send-off by guest rapper Dizzee Rascal just as it enters its final stretch. 'What If You Were Right The First Time' is possibly the closest echo of the band’s older work contained on this release, but it still sounds several light years away from the likes of 'Leave Before The Lights Come On'. It could have been a single in its own right, and is sure to be a fan favourite. The fact it finds itself relegated to the status of second bonus track here once again leaves the mouth watering as to what lies ahead on …Nightmare.
It’s almost certainly inevitable 'Brianstorm' will hit the top of the charts, but this time around the hype surrounding its makers is fully justified. This will be the loudest, noisiest record to hit number one since, oohh,'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter' perhaps. Expect a million or so breakfast show listeners to choke on their cornflakes and gargle on piping hot decaffeinated for the next few weeks.
Download 'Brianstorm' now, here
i'm surprised at the 9
i thought this sounded really really tired, but maybe it'll grow on me somehow.
I think 9 is a little too generous
but as far as Artcic Monkeys songs go, this one is actually pretty good. A 6 or 7 would definatly be earned.
what would have been better
would be if they'd covered the song from the opening of Monty Python's "Life Of Brian"
now that would have been a tune.
But don't you think
this will be one of the best number ones of the 21st Century? It certainly beats the usual bog standard, TV advertised, rammed down your throat every morning by Moyles dross.
the drumming...
on the intro sounds great.
the artworks shocking.
Agrees
Shit Artwork, but I will settle for that if the tracks are going to keep on coming out as good as this!
The thing about Monkeys is that because they are so big now there are always going to be people that hate them, but at least they have not gone all commercial and crap like a certain band from Leeds!
agreed mr gourlay
agreed, i think it's a great single!
no
i reckon it'll be beaten numerous times in the next 93 years! ;)
Never ever understood
how people rate their lyrics at all.
I think this is a fine song. Good intro, rest is bland. 6-7 at most. For 10 I expect a classic. DIS rating's are out of whack.
Am I the only person who can't see the brilliance
of the line 'See you later, innovator?'
It just sounds crap to these ears, yet every review I've read of the song holds that up as a particularly shining example of Alex Turner's wit.
Then again, I generally don't have much time for his lyrics. To me, they're not half as clever as people make them out to be.
It just sounds like another Arctic Monkeys record to me. I don't buy this 'heavier' nonsense. It's in no way 'heavy'.
Musically it's all right.
But it's whack lyrically.
maybe
we just cannot escape the little nostalgic tug of
see you later, alligator
in a while, crocodile
rhyming + pun + nostalgia + putdown = victory
And the artwork is truely horrendous
I would expect so much better from a band constantly compared to The Smiths.
looks like
the voltron font with a horrible childs pencilcase style band logo scribbled beside it.
IKNOW WHY THEY GAVE IT 9...
ALEX TURNER HAS GIVEN THEM ALL BLOW JOBS.
This song is so shit even Oasis would relegate it to a b-side
They might get it right with the next album's lead single however, which is due for release this september.
great review
i agree on it being a 9 it is surprisingly very good. the drumming as someone else said is really good.
This song is brilliant.
Top review.
Yup
This is one of the most impressive singles all year for me, and I really expected them to flop.
Reviews spot on.
But the dancers in the video dont work.
Are they
not meant to be taking the piss out of other indie bands with dancers?
Summat like that
I think they're taking the piss out of rap and RnB vids where it's just a bunch of women shaking their arses.
Boring.
Starts off well, guitar sounds okay, then just so dull for the rest, glad it's only short.
I'll add to the praise the drumming choir
cause it's bloody good.
The song
Is a HUGGGGE step up for the monkeys!
Fuckin Aceness
Particularly the toms.
Chav indie
This unintelligent chav-indie is not healthy. Can't they all f#~k off back to listening to Oakenfold and Tall Paul and all that dance bollocks.
I don't like this song
But shut the fuck up you pompous knob. People can listen to whatever they want, without some snobby twat telling them to fuck off.
I take it
your not exactly trying desperately hard to cross social boundaries, or break tired stereotyoes then. Because if everyone listened to the one genre, wore the same clothes as everyone in their click, and hated evryone else for being different the world would be a better place....hhhmmmmm....as for the song, its bloody great. I was doubting their return and thought this would be crap, but theyve really outdone themselves. By far the catchiest song without a chorus this year.
9 is a bit generous
this song is typical arctic monkeys - good musically and technically and lyrically astute, but like so much they have put out horrendously overrated. they are and always will be just a good band, not the messiah as so many reviewers proclaim.
7 would have been more applicable
Dunno why
But now that you mention the Pixies, this song reminds me of Broken Face. I know it doesn't particularly sound like it but, ya'know.
i hate all you cunts
they arent succssful on merit you arseholes,they are genius
Of course
they're not successful on merit. Well said.
This sounds like the Voodoo Glow Skulls
oddly enough
Why, oh, Why...
do reviewers constantly cream their proverbial cecks over the lyrics? I bet Alex Turner has never read a book in his life. L8R INNOV8RS.
....
They are shit live
This is absolute shite
Seriously, it's dull as hell. Sure, the drumming is good and all, but it's just so fucking dull. I don't really see how it's that heavy, and it just sounds like most of their other songs.
Nice enough to drunkenly dance to, I'm sure, but in the sober light of day just...dull.
I have time for the Arctic Monkeys
'cos they're not in the mould of the Killers or Kasabian. They don't think they deserve the bigging up they get. They're not the best band in the world but they give it a go, and can write a decent pop tune. There's something good about this song but it'll be ruined by kids at sixth form preaching how 'heavy' and 'original' it is.
wow
they're actually going with that new logo then...
as for the track, i was impressed the first time i heard it as i've not been a big fan of the monkeys before (still think it's an awful name for a band as much as anything else), but it's unfortunately grown very tired very quickly.
BRAP!
BIG UP THE MONKEYS YO.
The tune is heavy. Fucking mint, yo.
Artwork:
Dangermouse?
Just...no
I completely don't get why everyone's gone utterly doo-lally over this pile of toss band.
I'm bored of them and bored of talking about them. Please go away :(
i
echo your sentiments completely.
The backlash can start somewhere else
I bloody love this.
really dull
like everything else they've ever done. I can't understand how something so mediocre gets such acclaim.
^
plus i just realised it's called BRIANstorm, which automatically makes it 0/10.
you two are off my christmas card list.
Torn
Yes I do like this song which confuses me as I haven't liked any previous releases by Arctic Monkeys however some of the other artwork is quite good and this isn't even good enough for a shit van halen tribute band! but as a single I am tempted to purchase it because the intro is ace
But it sounds the same as 'A View'...
One trick pony, obviously.
Why is someone..
wet because they have no thunder?
The riff is a rehash.
Arty pants
I fail to see how artwork or a band name has any relevance to the music. Unless the tracks were etched into artwork and played on a turntable. Now that would be relevant. Haven't heard this song, but hoping i like it, as fancied they'd be one album wonders, to coin a phrase.
er....
i thought this was O Fracas the first time I heard it. Trust. It's remarkable how much it sounds like them.
I couldn't agree...
...even if I tried (I admit I haven't, though). WTF has artwork got to do with the quality of a single?? Weird. Anyway, top single and proof positive that the Monkeys are not one album wonders (there are several more 'number 1s in waiting' on the album, Fluorescent Adolescent is the next one!). Going to be one of the 'heaviest' number 1 singles of all time. I'm just really pleased they haven't gone down the Razorlight and Kaiser Chiefs route and brought out a second album full of lowest common denominator, peurile pop.
hah
Arctic Monkeys new album is poor.
brianstorm is probably the best song.
but i wouldnt give it more then a 6.
If everybody didnt know, FWN leaked.
I get the feeling...
...you would have posted that 'review' whether you'd heard the new album or not, sadly. The album is better than the debut IMHO (and that was better than 99.9% recurring of most of the shit masquerading as music these days.) More mature in its sound, beautifully played and produced. A progression, but they are obviously waaayyyy too popular for some to not approach any of their new work without a pre-conceived negative attitude. Oh well...
I don't have a problem with them being popular
but I still can't tolerate this particular song. No tune to speak of, overrated lyrics, the worst band logo since Stryper and I don't really hear the 'heavy-ness' that is being bandied about. Also, the video is average. Apart from that, top song.
The Album...
Is pretty flat in places, a couple of alright tracks that i will probably jump around to in clubs when i am pissed but nothing groundbreaking.
The Arctic Monkeys
are rubbish.
And you're a shit reviewer, LOL Gourlay.
so
it really IS called Brianstorm? I assumed it was Brainstorm and everything I'd read had a typo or something.
I really can't abide them, sorry.
god iam hilarious....
Arcshite Cunteys
Beat that!!!!
oh and another one...
"Brian-Keep-Schtoom" by the Herflick (guy from allo allo) Monkfisheys (a type of fish)
Another Great Gag?
You bet...
"Ian Bert Ewan Luke Gert Owen Theo Dan Flo" By the "Adam Murrays"
("I bet you look good on the dance floor" by the "Arctic Monkeys")
"Thou shalt not stop liking a band as soon as they become popular"
Go on, how many of you haters does this apply to?
As for the song, it's great, I love it.
well deserved 9/10
this is a top tune and shows just how talented the Monkeys are. so different than any of the first album songs but still a scorcher. the album as a whole though doesn't compare to 'Whatever People...'