My Amazon Reviews: Arctic Monkeys "AM"

They Want The Airwaves
4 Out Of 5 Stars

After the tentative "Suck It And See," Arctic Monkeys ditch any subtlety and go right for the big boom stomp on their "AM" release of steam. It's obvious they've been paying attention to the outside world, as the first time I heard the CD's opener "Do I Wanna Know," I thought it was a new Black Keys songs. All slam drums and guitar distort, "Do I Wanna Know" finds lead singer Alex Turner growling "Have you no idea you're in deep" with appropriate menace, while the ballad "Number 1 Party Anthem" tears down a bar to its after hours essence of "Lights in the floor and sweat on the walls, call off the search for your soul"

There are still a couple of the jagged barbs of guitar that recall the teenage racket of their first couple of CD's, but for the most part, this is a grown up album. Allegedly inspired by Alex Turner's breakup with model and TV host Alexa Chung, the songs here are both snippy ("Why'd You Only Call Me When You're Drunk" to the wistfully resigned "Mad Sounds." Queens Of The Stonage honcho Josh Homme (who had produced the band in the past) contributes spooky "be my baby" falsetto to "Knee Socks," a song that almost matches Franz Ferdinand's choppy disco rock.

There's plenty of satisfaction on "AM," which has one ear to current trends and one ear tuned to the radio, Given the two way interpretation of the title as both the band's initials and the old fashioned delivery system of popular hits, Arctic Monkeys have comeback with arguably their best album since their debut.

     

My Amazon Reviews: The Kooks "Junk Of The Heart"

Kooks with no Hooks
3 Out Of 5 Stars

The third Kooks album is showing the signs of slippage. The debut flew in with the flock that included buzz bands like Arctic Monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and others with a smart and punchy rock album in the classic sense of The Kinks or even Oasis. The second album, "Konk," played up The Kinks connection even more, with punchier songs and snappy lyrics. I was really hoping for continued progression with "Junk of The Heart," however, the songs are retracting their claws.

"Junk Of The Heart" is a softer, sweeter Kooks. The songs are breezier and weirdly inoffensive, given song titles like "Eff The World Off" or "No More Mr Nice Guy." Now, both the title track/lead single and the clever "Eskimo Kiss" maintain that Kinksian air about them, while the strings that saturate "Time Above The Earth" are a first for the band, just before leading into the Police-influenced "Runaway." The rest of the songs often feel unfinished or weightless. Lead singer Luke Prichard still has appeal, and I am hoping "Junk of The Heart" is just a blip.