For decades, Arctic Monkeys have been a piece of Sheffield the city has delighted in sharing with the world, like a movable Park Hill Estate, a bit rough around the edges but so firmly entrenched in local folklore that there’s no getting rid. It’s probably fair to say that only a few things have ever managed to put Sheffield on the map – Sean Bean, Arctic Monkeys, steel, and the retail nightmare that is Meadowhall – so this permanent association seems more than a little special.
Sheffield’s Legacy
Of course, whether the Arctic Monkeys stack up to the also-Sheffield-based The Full Monty in the public’s consciousness is debatable. The film that made Robert Carlisle seem positively well-adjusted for a while has managed to find its way around the world in just as many unusual guises as the Monkeys themselves, including in a 2013 episode of The Simpsons, according to IMDb, and as part of a free bingo page. The MrQ website namedrops The Full Monty in its 75-ball bingo room of the same name, although, you’ll no doubt be delighted to hear that it’s empty of half-naked, middle-aged men.
Arctic Monkeys will actually stop off in Sheffield twice during their 2023 tour, suggesting that the northern lads haven’t forgotten their roots just yet. Now firmly in their The Car phase, the source of recent hit There’d Better Be a Mirrorball, there’s still a wealth of classics in their back catalogue to date, so let’s take another look at one of the defining rock albums of the 2010s, AM.
No.1 Party Anthem
First, despite surging into some new territory, the album itself has very few flaws. However, some might contend that there are a few misses – even filler – within the midst of AM. One For The Road is a good example. It’s not necessarily a bad track, as the first half of the song is compelling and easy to listen to, but the urge to skip to the next one becomes apparent during the second half.
I Want It All, another catchy number, isn’t audibly striking either, while the bass guitar-driven Fireside features a few strong examples of Alex’s lovelorn lyricism (Like in my heart, there’s that hotel suite / And you lived there so long / It’s kinda strange, now you’re gone) but it doesn’t really go anywhere new. It’s a distinctly danceable number, though. x
All that might sound a bit cruel. Now a long way from the wilderness years of LateNightTales and Humbug, the Arctic Monkeys on AM are definitely at their refined best. The album is stacked full of good quality tracks like No.1 Party Anthem, a somewhat ironic beast that’s much more sentiment than a warehouse rave. Other notably good tracks include Knee Socks and I Wanna be Yours, which are not as acclaimed as others in the album but have to be seen as some of the most catchy on the album. Mad Sounds also deserves a place in this category, albeit as a relaxing track that bookends a flurry of fast-paced and loud tracks before it.
Arabella
Arabella is such a memorable track that was once labelled as Alex Turner’s favourite. In addition, Snap Out Of It may be a simple track but it is highly effective. Lyrically, it may not reign supreme (If that watch doesn’t continue to swing / Or the fat lady fancies havin’ a sing) but this one is liked by all. Finally, Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High is one of the most popular tracks on the album. It places Alex in the guise of a storyteller.
R U Mine? is an easy listen. It has an almost community feel that stems from the fact that just about every Arctic Monkeys fan out there seems to like it. It doesn’t get as much credit as Do I Wanna Know but deserves to be in the same category as it. It is rare to find the first two tracks of an album being among the best two. Do I Wanna Know is arguably the most iconic opener of all time and is popular even among people who aren’t rock music fans. It also has over a billion plays on Spotify, making its popularity undeniable.
