Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Single: Crying Lightning
Label: Domino
Released: iTune Download Available Now / CD Release 17th August
Reviewed by: Andrew Banks
Arctic Monkeys shot to fame in 2005 with the outstanding ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’ from their debut album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, I Am Not’ which literally out of nowhere hit number one and rightly so…….
Fast forward four years to 2009 and you have the latest single ‘Crying Lightning’, taken from their hotly anticipated third album ‘Humbug’.
In between album two, ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’, and this one Alex Turner did what all talented songwriters do, he went away and came up with a whole new body of work under the guise of a little sideproject. His particular effort with Miles Kane of The Rascals went by the name of The Last Shadow Puppets. And what a success it was. Widespread acclaim followed and I don’t suppose Miles was particularly delighted when Alex started the conversation saying he was cutting his Puppet strings and climbing back into his Monkey suit. Which is where we find ourselves…….
Crying Lightning is the first taster from ‘Humbug’, an album which many moons ago Alex said would be heavily influenced by Queens of the Stone Age, is in fact produced by their frontman Josh Homme. So as such you would be forgiven for thinking that they will up the rock ante and go much much harder. If Crying Lightning is a precursor for what is to follow then I think they might just have softened! Previous tracks were instantly jumpy, punchy, short and to the point, a chance to let go for just shy of 3 minutes. Tracks like Dancefloor, Brianstorm, Teddy Picker……were BAM!
Crying Lightning is a slow burner, a mellower affair, a more mature effort. Dont expect it to be a track to go nuts to, it’s not. It is much more than that, probably to show a change of direction to match Alex’s new long hair. It is still unmistakeably an Alex Turner effort, his vocals are very distinctive, as are the way he writes his lyrics. Still in are the references harking back to an era of youth and a chance to reminisce. This one mentioning old school sweets, Pick N Mix, Strawberry Lace and Gobstoppers. It’s enough to make you demand a return of Pacers!
The track moves on a few different levels and even has a little guitar solo which personally I would have liked to have continued a bit longer, but then I am solo sucker!
Don’t think it will find itself at the top of the music tree winking from number one, although I suspect it will be pretty close, but this reviewer for one definitely wants more and will be interested to hear what direction the rest of the album takes.
(7/10).
Conclusion: As a track to whet the appetite for the new album it ticks all the boxes.
Pre order the new album now from Amazon
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