So...... "Humbug", the album where Arctic Monkeys started to change. Or at least embarked on a different direction in terms of sound. The majority of band members grew their hair longer, the recording process took place in California and was overlooked by Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme, all of which contributed to the moodiest* ten songs that the group have released.
It was 2009, and the Monkeys hadn't released an album for two years. "Crying Lightning" came out as the first single; many people were impressed. I didn't like it that much on first listen but it has grown on me since. Nevertheless, The Monkeys were back.
The album was released, and I thought I might as well hear it. It's a new Arctic Monkeys album, you know? I downloaded the individual songs, listened to the whole thing throughout, and didn't think a lot if it... but "Dangerous Animals" though. That got me.
"Dangerous Animals" is the third track, coming after "Crying Lightning". Straight up, it is a song about sex. If you look at the lyrics, and the title you'll probably understand why eventually.
It is a great track though. The stomping of the drums, the catchy guitar hook that never ceases and repeats until it's embedded in your brain.... The title being spelt out during the chorus. Ah, man. It's the only one from "Humbug" I have on my iPod. Just because it sounded like something that could have been on "FWN".
A cool track on an alright album.
*Not moody as in depressing, but moody as in it covers a whole range of moods. If you get what I'm trying to say.
It has been a year since I started doing this. Feels like it's been a year too.
I did actually start posting on the 22nd February last year which I completely forgot about until I checked earlier on today, but it was two days later that I took on the challenge of writing about (almost) every song that I have on my iPod. Click on here to start all the way from the beginning.
Since I last posted, nothing much has gone on. Just living life and listening to a lot of music too.
So here is the return of 'My iPod' and the Ds. For how long, I don't know. But I've seen the number of songs I have that begin with the letter 'D'. There are many. A lot more than 'C' for sure.
But we begin with the third song from Arctic Monkeys' second album "Favourite Worst Nightmare" - "D Is for Dangerous".
I remember that this was the track when I first bought the album in 2007 that caught my ear straight away. "Brianstorm"- I had obviously heard many times before and "Teddy Picker" took me a few listens to get into, but it took me that first listen for "Dangerous" to sink in.
It probably isn't even the best song on the album. It's pretty short and quick, only 2 minutes and 20 seconds long if you round it up, but everything is delivered with such slick execution. Cool guitar playing, a great bass line by the then-new Monkey Nick O'Malley and vocals by both Alex Turner and Matt Helders. Pretty much all I can say.
Whether they thought of the name of the album before writing the song or vice versa, I'm not sure. But it is in there. Also watch out near the end, when it sounds like the track begins to skip. I thought something had gone wrong with my computer the first time that happened.
That album by the band is my favourite of theirs. It's probably the last one they've released that I can listen to the whole way through and not become..... bored? I don't think that's the right word. Basically, I haven't been as hyped for Arctic Monkey albums since then.
For many it just doesn't compare to "Whatever" or possibly even "AM" now, knowing that a lot of people are liking that. But "Nightmare" is just really solid. Maybe it's the production or something, but there's something in all twelve tracks that makes we want to carry on listening to them. Can't really say that for the albums that followed. Hate on me if you want.
Michael Jackson. A name that brings up so many memories... so many questions. Too many that I won't go through in this blog. Whether you hated or loved him, you can't say that the guy didn't make some damn fine music. That will go down forever in history.
I remember where I was when the news came out that he died.... I was in my bed, asleep. My sister came home from a night out screaming to my aunt that Jackson had died. "Pffff... no way," I thought to myself "It's just a rumour."
Next morning on BBC News - BREAKING NEWS: MICHAEL JACKSON DEAD. Holy shit... he was gone. I didn't really care for the guy, his music was fantastic and all. It was a shame though. It was raining. Everyone on the public bus to school was quiet, except for this one guy blaring Michael Jackson songs in his ears. My friend hastily ripped of the front page of The Sun and stuck it on the notice board in our form room as some sort of 'tribute', and MTV played Michael Jackson videos all day. It was crazy. Four years has flown by.
Enough with the sadness. Let's talk about "Black or White". I can't remember the first time I heard the song. Michael Jackson seems like a name that had been around forever. I have a feeling my sister had a cassette that showed all the videos for "Dangerous" somewhere. It must have been on that. The faces morphing into different people near the end of the song is something I can remember. It's very vague.
"Black or White" was the first single from "Dangerous" in 1991. I wasn't born, my sister had been for a few months. It's a very happy song, singing positively about equality and people getting along with one another. The chorus of the song is, if you... were thinking of getting with Michael, it didn't matter if you were black or white. If you were fine - and not like 'feeling fine' but if you were fine - then you had a good chance with him. And this is all sung over a joyful riff, not played by Slash of Guns 'n' Roses. It reached number one almost everywhere, and was another song to add to Jackson's classics.
