If you looked up the most current definition of the word 'hype', it would probably list Arctic Monkeys as a reference. the U.K.s hottest band played for NYC at Webster Hall Saturday. They sold more albums in their first week in the U.K. (360,000) than any other band...the Beatles et al included.
With all the instant praise quickly thrust on the young band from Sheffield, a haterade shower was bound to happen. Peep this quote from Morrissey:
"It's happening all too quickly for them. They haven't proved a thing and they haven't had to work very hard - that must make them insecure. It's all a bit unnatural. OK they've sold about 700,000 albums, but it can't be gratifying. They haven't been driving up and down the M1 for fifteen years."
Bitter much?
It's not as if the Monk-monks asked to be taken on an exponential ride to stardom...they are just doing their thing. For gosh sakes look at the title of their album: "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not". Noel Gallagher of Oasis agrees:
"But I'm sure that the Arctic Monkeys couldn't really give a monkey's - whether it translates to people in China or not. They're just doing their thing. And when this kind of thing happens in the first two years, people will dislike the Arctic Monkeys purely for all the hype that surrounds them but that's got nothing' to do with them."
I am a fan of the band. I really like "A Certain Romance", "Mardy Bum", and "Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts" the best of all the songs on the album. Okay so back to the show....
The music sounded great...but the AM's lacked a certain level of stage presence. The audience was doing their part to will the band to overdrive but the band didn't match the intensity. I think if you combined the Arctic Monkeys music with the live show of another current UK act, Editors ,you would have a sick ass band. One can dream....
The show was almost the entire album as well as one new song (I didn't catch the name). They were definitely video recording the show for something.
Village Indian has a roundup of the other bloggers reviewing the shows.
the Spinto Band opened...I don't know much about them except for their catchy pop tune "Oh Mandy". They were fun, some songs were better than others. I have been intrigued to check them out and see what's what with the band. Head over to I Rock I Roll if you want to download a couple of mp3s.
great pics!!
and haha, i'd love to see the arctic monkeys infused with editor's intensity on stage. they were a bit lackluster for me live, as well.
Posted by: Rachael | Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 04:47 PM