This is unbelievably good. The whole package; killer song, stimulating video, people fronting it… everything just works.
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This is Alex Turner (from Arctic Monkeys) and Miles Kane (from The Little Flames) as The Last Shadow Puppets, in the video clip for their debut single “The Age Of The Understatement.” It is complete and utter brilliance. It reminds me of something you’d see and hear during a musical number from one of those hilarious Lepa Brena movies!
The single is released on April 14th, with the album following on April 21st.
I’m incredibly excited about this album. Going by everything I’ve read on this project, it’s definitely going to showcase a slightly more pop/accessible sound from Alex, who I truly believe is not only one of the greatest lyricists, but also songwriters of our time. Kane and Turner’s voices work very well together too, but, not surprisingly, it’s Alex’s pipes which stand out the most in this track. Something else to be very happy about if you love the Turner as much as I.
The album was produced by musical wizard James Ford (member of Simian Mobile Disco,) who also put his hands to producing on the Klaxons‘ “Myths Of The Near Future,” and is currently twiddling knobs for the new Scissor Sisters record. As Paul would say, there is some serious, serious fizzing at the slit going on right about now.
I really, really, really heart you Alex Turner.
Yes, it’s a new site! Details on why/etcetera here…
I haven’t talked about these guys for a while - it’s been a bit quite on the Arctic front - but their material is still a vital part of my days playlist, and now that there’s something a bit new on the horizon, it’s time to talk them up again. The third single from the Arctic Monkeys outstanding album Favourite Worst Nightmare will be Teddy Picker, and is released on December the 3rd. Brilliant choice for the follow up to Fluorescent Adolescent.
Teddy Picker’s still the most played song from that album in my iTunes, sounding as fresh and as relevant now as it did the first time I heard it.
Alex, Matt, Jamie and Nick filmed the video clip with director Roman Coppola (yes, son of Francis) - who has clipped about with Daft Punk and Greenday in the past - in one day, which isn’t surprising seeing as there’s not a lot going on. The actual song though was performed live for the clip, and is quite a great listen.
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I like this new video. It’s an improvement on the clip for Adolescent which - even though I understood - annoyed me with its lack of the Monkeys pretty faces. And whilst my heart will always lie with Alex, I really need to make a point of how good Mr. Helders is looking behind those drums in that musical fillum.
The CD single comes with 3 (!) B-Side’s; The Death Ramps, Nettles and Bad Woman, which sees the frozen rockers team up with Pulp man Richard Hawley. UPCOMING MONKEY MADNESS EXCITES THEE.
Just when I thought (almost) everything I’d been dying for musically in 2007 had already leaked or been released, news of new Monkeys material pops up. What a lovely surprise!