Arctic Monkeys' album AM, an iconic album, shows the world that this four-piece band from Xie Village is such a unique presence in this era.
Thomas Smith revisits past interviews with the band's key members to pick up the classic album. Are you ready? So let's get started...
No. 1 Party Anthem音乐：Arctic Monkeys - AM
Text: Chen Xiao fart
Editor: Jimbo
On September 9, 2013, Arctic Monkeys released AM. The album quickly grabbed the headlines of almost all festivals. It ranks first in sales in ten countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia and Ireland, and in the top ten of the other fifteen countries, including the United States. As of May 2018, it reported that it had sold nearly 3 million copies worldwide.
Of course, Arctic Monkeys have long been a famous band. This is especially true for NME readers. "AM" pushes the band to a higher echelon, and also gives them the courage to break free from the shackles and pursue the so-called impossible.
New fans of Arctic Monkeys may be too young to understand the era when they could still use Bluetooth to pass "I Bet You're Cool on the Dance Floor." It was AM that gave them access to the greatest British band of recent decades, after Oasis.
The first release of Whatever People Say I AM, That's What I'm Not, made Sophie Williams, an iron fan from Cardiff, learn about Arctic monkeys, but she was only five years old at the time. "AM" was the first Arctic monkey album she listened to.
"This album gave me a sense of excitement that I had never felt before. This excitement is filled with tension and puts people on the brink of hysteria," Sophie said.
Live at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival
"This album gave me a sense of excitement that I had never felt before. This excitement is filled with tension and puts people on the brink of hysteria. ”
—Fan Sophie Williams
The success of AM gave Arctic Monkeys the opportunity to now tour its sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, on a global tour, and to the British band's fame in the United States and beyond. It all starts with a successful haircut. Well! It seems so.
Are You Mine? （RU Mine？ ）》
At the V Festival in August 2011, a group of British viewers caught a glimpse of lead singer Alex Turner (nicknamed Rumble), which had appeared on the NME cover a week earlier. If the rumbling new look marks the great transformation of the Arctic monkeys, there is no doubt that a new era for the band is about to begin. Of course, his hairstyle will always be the talk of the people.
The band transition has been going on in secret for some time. In February 2012, Arctic Monkey released the independent single "Are You Mine?" on record store day. In fact, it was done during the recording of "Suck It And See" a few years ago.
505音乐：Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
In this song, fans can feel the rhythm of "Good Drama Behind" and "Humbug", which is so strong that people can't help but shake involuntarily. At the same time, its brand new production is more sophisticated and fascinating than ever.
In 2013, a month before AM's release, Rumble revealed to NMEs their experiences writing these songs, "Not that I was bragging about it or whatever. In the constant groping, there was a kind of 'We have to try this!' ' thoughts. ”
"The treble part is almost universally opera-like, and they (drummer Matt Helders and bassist Nick O'Malley") control the space chords. In this direction, we continue to explore. ”
"That high-pitched part, it's almost a cosmic opera-like melody, and they (drummer Matt Halders and bassist Nick O'Meli) control the space chords."
—Alex Turner
So they went back to Los Angeles. There, the band teamed up with producer James Ford to record "The Good Drama Behind Us." The band did not choose to record at the Sound City Studio, but went to DIY instead.
In an interview with NME in 2013, James Ford remembered that about a year before the recording of the AM album, the band members began to prepare in the Chi Yin rehearsal room.
"Before I went, they had been there for months, using the four-track broken antique and doing a lot of small samples." Ford said, "That studio was so important to them — in an independent creative space, you can be as impatient as you want, it's just too much." ”
It was there that the band gave Los Angeles the opportunity to see their astonishing creative talents: Lies, influenced by the Queen of the Stone Age, and Arabella, with its black Sabbath War Pigs temperament.
Arabella Music: Arctic Monkeys - AM
Even in Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High, you can see some of dr. Dre's classic album 2011.
Long long said in 2013: "It does sound like Dr. Dre's rhythm, with the qualities of Ike Turner's watermelon head." It's all so cleverly combined, with a Stratocaster guitar, it's like speeding through an endless desert, unstoppable. ”
Don't worry. Before the big unveiling of "AM", there was another performance of great significance.
Pyramid stage
In June 2013, two months before AM was finally released, Arctic Monkeys appeared on the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival.
Before the new album was finished, they dared to sing "Are You Mine?" on such an important occasion. and three other new songs. Few bands are so bold.
R U Mine?音乐：Arctic Monkeys - AM
Last time, in 1995, after John Squall of Stone Rose broke his collarbone, the pulp band from Xie Village took the lead and sang most of the songs from their new album Different Classes.
That show proved crucial for arctic monkeys. Rumble told NME that he has always been worried about the new album, invested a lot of energy, and may eventually repeat the mistakes of "Chinese Democracy" and cannot be released in time.
In a 2013 NME interview, he said: "We spent four years and invested millions. But I felt like a vortex was starting to devour it all. I almost got caught up in it, but it was the show that saved me. ”
For Emily Ivis (Glastonbury Festival organizer), the collaboration with Arctic Monkeys was all too natural. "We haven't heard 'AM' yet, but I know it's going to be what the audience wants." Emily said very frankly.
"I don't think it's impulsive. In our opinion, they are one of the greatest bands. I remember going with my dad to Brixton College in London to see their first album. The audience was shocked! After Oasis, no band has ever caused such a sensation. ”
"I remember going with my dad to Brixton College in London to see the show on their first album. The audience was shocked! After Oasis, no band has ever caused such a sensation. ”
— Glastonbury Festival, Emily Eves
Glastonbury's performance became a milestone in the band's career. Before that, they had made a splash: in 2007 they were the darlings of the news; at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games, they sang a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together".
But that's nothing compared to that Friday night, when a brilliant star shone on the pyramid stage in a way it had never had before.
Come Together音乐：Arctic Monkeys - Isles of Wonder: Music For the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
At the Glastonbury Festival, the performers on Friday night are said to be the most atmospheric, and arctic monkeys must have remembered this. Before the show, in an interview with NME, Halders admitted he felt "excited, tired, honored, and a little nervous," but Turner saw the opportunity.
"That's what we're doing now. Today is destined not to be an ordinary day. A lot of that has changed since we were last here, but I think that's right. ”
When the riff of the opening song "Do I Wanna Know?" rings through Worthy's Farm, you know it's all right. In addition to the songs from the upcoming new album, the highlights of the performance list are from their first two albums.
However, these songs are different from the past, with a rebellious energy. At the same time, everyone was very happy with the re-edited "Pretty Visitors" and "Crying Lightning", as well as the live orchestral version of "Mardy Bum".
More notably, "AM" and the performances of this festival have allowed people to witness a change in their live performance style. Today's Arctic monkeys take off their standard loose hoodies and no longer hide behind musical instruments without smiling. They became real performers.
In November 2013, bassist Nick O'Meli told NME, "It's inevitable. Can't always be like before, four silly boys standing with their heads bowed, staring at their shoes for 90 minutes. ”
Today, they are outstanding performers. Guitarist Jamie Cook put on a perfectly cut suit; Heldes at the back of the stage showed his somewhat "shameless" smile.
And rumble is so unexpected. When he sang a few slow songs from the album, including "I Wanna Be Yours", in his charming, deep voice, the audience was conquered by him.
I Wanna Be Yours音乐：Arctic Monkeys - AM
"At that moment, he just threw the guitar in his hand away and walked around the stage." Matt Wilkinson, a former author of NME and host of Apple Beats 1 Radio, recalls, "If you watch that show again, you may feel like you're in the rehearsal room, watching him walk from the piano to the drum kit and then to the guitar." ”
"Glastonbury, it's more like a big launch of the new Album of Arctic Monkeys and different performance styles, and they're just here to tell everyone: 'We're going to have a new album, and there's a lot of great touring after that.' This salute! Good bye! ’”
— Emily Avis
"In a way, I think this show is important." "In the field, all the new stuff was successfully presented and on the BBC news," Avis said.
Glastonbury Festival is more like a big launch of the new Album of Arctic Monkeys and different performance styles, and they just come to tell everyone: 'We're going to release a new album, and there will be a lot of great tours after that.' This salute! Good bye! ’”
After that, the band announced plans for a major tour of the UK's major stages in 2013, while promising to produce works that would conquer major European music festivals in the coming time.
The second song of the new album, "Why You Always Think of Me When You're High," was released on August 13, 2013. It reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, the best result since the release of Fluorescent Adolescent in 2007.
Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?音乐：Arctic Monkeys - Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?
In just eight weeks, they were on the cover of NME three times. In addition, he has been interviewed by radio stations or other media outlets around the world.
It was these efforts that contributed to their success. Wilkinson said: "They have been going all out between 2011 and 2014. They are really happy to achieve such an achievement. Maybe before, they were still a little uncomfortable, after all, the fire was too fast, too sudden. A lot of bands will question themselves, 'Does this really make sense?' Are we really that good? ’”
"They're really happy to have achieved that. Maybe before, they were still a little uncomfortable, after all, the fire was too fast, too sudden. ”
—Beats 1 radio host Matt Wilkinson
"When interviewed by the media, they had endless words, shared their stories, and of course celebrated the release of the new album. A lot of bands don't tell you any of the secrets behind the production. There is too much behind the production of "AM" that is worth telling and worth exploring. It's rare that they can be so open and honest! ”
Hollywood Four Horsemen
It didn't go so well, and there were still voices of criticism. People condemn their souls for having been eroded by the United States. In the Horvis company's advertisement, the lead singer actually had a Hint of american West Coast accent.
Not only that, but they also ignore British fans. In the latest NME report, before the release of AM, Arctic monkeys responded to these accusations.
"You can't care what everyone thinks!" Rumble told NME.
Some say that Arctic monkeys have fallen into Hollywood and only know how to party all day long. Rumble was dismissive of this, "I think, if everyone thinks that way, then just think about it." Even if this is the case, it does not affect us to write good songs. The rest, leave it alone..."
Knee Socks音乐：Arctic Monkeys - AM
After the release of AM, it received strong feedback from the UK and the rest of the world. Although Pitchfork Music Network gave the album an 8, it called it a "work that can't stand to look at directly." NME still gave it a 10 out of 10. In addition, editor Mike Williams hailed it as "the greatest record of the Arctic Monkeys' musical career." Fans apparently agree with the latter two.
In its first week of release, it sold a staggering 157,329 copies in the UK, and became the best-selling vinyl record in the UK in the last decade, with 73,000 copies sold as of May 2018.
As sales have increased, fans have also changed. Sophie Williams, who calls herself the "number one fan of Arctic Monkeys," has witnessed the shift. "I think this album has really had an impact on the fandom, as can be seen from the change in fan type to size.
Mad Sounds音乐：Arctic Monkeys - AM
After all, "AM" is by far the most acceptable work of arctic monkeys. "Entering the mainstream music circle has really brought them a larger audience, especially young people." After all, they've become a hot topic on social media. ”
The new album had just been released, and before they could rest, the band rushed to the United States to perform at multiple Live Houses (the following year, arctic monkeys returned to the United States again because of the schedule), and then performed on major stages in Europe.
By the end of 2013, there were 88 performances, with 62 more performances planned the following year, including a full-day performance in Finsbury Park in London.
Remember to give me an invoice for the microphone
Life always has ups and downs, and AM is no exception. At the Brit Awards in February 2014, Rumble gave a speech after winning the Best Album award in the UK, "You know, that, rock, rock, it's not going away. Hearing this, the rest of the band was nervous.
He went on to say, "Yes, rock 'n' roll, sometimes it seems to be forgotten, but it never fades away, it always exists, that's it!" ”
After saying that, he dropped the microphone on the podium. No, before falling, he also asked the organizers to give him an invoice for the microphone. In the eyes of some, this is too arrogant and childish. Fans don't think so. It is too rare for a person who is originally very shy to have such an honest emotional outburst.
Snap Out Of It音乐：Arctic Monkeys - AM
Later in 2014, Rumble explained his behavior to Mr. Fashion.com, "I think on that occasion, rightly or wrongly, I felt like I represented guitar music, or rock 'n' roll. While trophies don't mean victories, in a sense, at least prove that our music is successful. ”
A week after the end of the Brit, NME presented the Arctic Monkeys Award for Best Live Band, and Rumble delivered a speech: "Last week I finished everything I could say, so thank you. See you later! He was still the same as before.
Disappearing sequel
After the Tour of Brazil in October 2014, the band members went home to reunite with friends and family. The four of them appeared together again, four years later. During this period, Cook and O'Malley returned to the family, while Halders joined Iggy Pope's all-star band, which included Josh Holm and Tyne Fertita of the Stone Age Queen.
At the same time, Rumble was not idle. In 2016, he starred in the debut album of American composer Alexandra Severe, with whom he co-wrote a series of songs. Over the next 18 months, a lot of time was devoted to promoting the last shadow puppet band's second album, Everything You've Come To Expect.
Despite his busy schedule, fans are still expecting him to write AM II for The Arctic Monkeys, and can feel that he himself wants to continue AM.
Back in November 2013, NME asked about the possibility of writing a sequel. Turner said, "I think I can capture something that I can't fully affirm or deny, but I can probably imagine its outlines." ”
Matt Wilkinson said in an interview that a sequel seemed impossible, "I talked to Alex. I distinctly remember him saying, 'I've been writing lately and I feel like I can make a sequel to AM'. Obviously, it wasn't written. ”
The Grand Hotel Casino at Serene Base was heavily influenced by, but better than, the postmodern sci-fi film Eight and a Half by Italian director Federico Koferini and the novel Endless Joke by David Foster Wallace. "I didn't think much of it before that I could write so many books and movies that I read into songs like I do now." Rumble told Radio X earlier this year.
Leather jackets and dark sunglasses are gone; today, they tie up and don delicate tan suits.
Whether Rumble wrote "AM II" or not, it is left to the fans of the RedDi community to discuss. You know, a sequel may never be as legendary as the premiere. What they've really been doing after AM over the years is more noteworthy than a sequel that may never exist.
Like you, we can't wait to see what arctic monkeys do next.
Reference：https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/5-arctic-monkeys-fifth-album-made-immortal-2374030