AM is the Arctic Monkeys’ fifth studio album. A bit of a departure from the band’s upbeat, high-energy tracks and it is smooth as hell. A bit of a slow burn displaying influences from a darker styles of rock such as Queens of the Stone Age, their 2009 album Humbug, was produced by Josh Homme of the band, after all. AM appears to be a culmination of a variety of different sounds the Arctic Monkeys have experimented with and a reflection of a lot of different influences. While they were already huge in the UK, this album made them a household name in the US as well. Impressive in a time when rock music was not very popular in the mainstream. Many of the track titles are questions such as “R U Mine?”, and “Do I Wanna Know?”. While every single on this release is great in its own right, the magic about this album is that it is more than just the singles, the deep cut tracks are where you really dig into the band’s songwriting and playing style. You can hear singer Alex Turner maturing on AM. His lyrics about love seem to come a place that is wiser, expressing a wider array of emotions. Perhaps these emotions were always evident in Turner’s lyrics and now they’re emphasized by the Arctic Monkeys’ moody new sound on this album. The music is sexier, probably because of Turner’s vision for the album.


Here’s a run down of some of my favourite tracks:


Do I Wanna Know?

Built on guitarist Jamie Cook's slow, undulating riff, percussive thuds, and Turner's lyrical story anxiety and lust ("I'm sorry to interrupt, I'm just constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you/I don't know if you feel the same as I do") offset by handclaps and QOTSA-style falsetto backing vocals. It’s dripping with style and one of the more subdued offerings from the band.


Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?

A true highlight of the album, 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High' is not only impossible to get out of your head, but sees the band to unexplored territory, a loose psychedelic rock direction, met with some of Turner's finest melodramatic lyrics about a night out turned bitter. You'll be humming this as you stumble out of bars for the next decade.


Arabella

Track four with Turner spitting into the mic: "Arabella's got some interstellar gator skin boots, and a helter skelter and a little finger and I ride it endlessly. A song about a femme fatale-type loverro, from there, 'Arabella' takes on a meaty classic rock feel with choppy guitar work and a chunky rhythm section that points to the influence from their former touring mates, The Black Keys. A classic? Maybe, but this song is a fantastic guitar-led groove to jam out to.