September 26. 2013
FINALLY. I have been a long time listener and fan of Arctic Monkeys for over seven years and let me just say that it is about damn time that I was finally able see them live at the Fox Theatre in Oakland. It's been a while since I've been completely mystified over seeing a band perform live and I think that having never seen them before definitely helped with that. They played new songs off their most recent album AM like 'Knee Socks' and 'Arabella' but I also appreciated the fact that they didn't forget about their stellar oldies like 'I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor' and 'Pretty Visitors'. Honestly though, I was so impressed with how tight their performance was. They definitely live up to the hype that surrounds them, they know what they're doing, and they're incredible musicians who are well versed in the art of crowd entertainment.
The fact that they had me screaming like the girl that I am and basically yelling out the words to each song (you can't call what I was doing, singing) says two things: 1. yes I am a fangirl... but 2. they are just that damn good.
Arctic Monkeys have never disappointed me - continuously evolving in the best way possible - and their new album 'AM' is no different.
Leave it to Arctic Monkeys to get me out of a musical funk as I longed for a band to get me excited and make me feel like I was seventeen again. This album makes me want to take my neglected leather jacket from my closet, put it on and never take it off ...And then get into my car and drive at night for hours with the album on repeat at an inexplicably loud volume.
It's sexy, sultry and in-your-face with a hard rock and roll edge. Everything a night out full of regrets should be like. Except deep down inside you know you enjoyed every second of it. Yeah. This album is that good.
Add to that some hints of R&B and The Velvet Underground vibes and you've got yourself a great sounding juxtaposition that works in all of the right ways.
Strong favorites include:
Do I Wanna Know?
R U Mine?
Arabella
Knee Socks
Also, the folks over at one of my favorite music sites, We All Want Someone To Shout For, wrote an excellent review of this album. Check it out HERE.
