Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys is a group of independent Rock English, originating in Sheffield and formed in 2002. Their musical style is based on Indie Rock/Dance Punk/Trip-hop.

Course

Genesis

At the time of a Christmas, Alex Turner receives for gift an electric guitar. It then decides to bring together his friends and to found a group of Rock. As of the first concerts, their energy transcends crowd. The group is made known gradually thanks to concerts in bars where they distributed free their albums engraved by their care (because they thought that their music was not enough good to be sold). Some their songs are even downloadable freely on the Net. Very quickly the “Word of mount” functions, and they are then located by the label Domino, being made thus better know large public.

" Working class Heroes" as of the first album

Their first individual I Study Bureau You Look Good One the Dancefloor , left in 2005 is classified number 1 of the charts to the the United Kingdom. The group then beats the record of record sales in one hour and one day: They sold 360.000 specimens of their album Whatever People Say I Am, That' S What I' m Not the week of exit, more than the Beatles and the Hear' Say which held the preceding record! Their success is marked by an obliging title which bars the photograph of Arctic Monkeys as a cover for the Times of the January 30th 2006: “Bigger than Beatles” . In spite of that Arctic Monkeys state not to like the press, one their currencies being “Don' T believe the Hype” . It should be specified that to avoid it, they had refused the cover of NME (New Musical Express train) by three times.

Crisis and doubt

After Europe, Arctic Monkeys fly away for the the United States where although the fans are of number, criticisms rather coldly receive the appearances of the group. However the pressure during the American round is enormous, especially for the bass player Andy Nicholson, overpowered by the rate/rhythm of the round; tiredness owes him misfortune to be made draw aside from the group before the European round. It is currently Nick O' Malley, an old friend, who ensures the changing. At the same time, the singer Morrissey declares in connection with Arctic Monkeys that “they did not still prove anything” .

The confirmation

At this point in time the group leaves on April 24th, 2006 a EP five titles, including four news entitled Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys . The disc receives warm welcome of criticisms, speaking about beginning of maturity compared to their first opus. According to the magazine Rolling Stone “in order to beat the iron of their success as long as it is still hot” (n°40 of May 2006) . The individual last of the group continues to confirm their energy but also their talent of writing: Leave Before the Lights As One rose directly in the 4th place of the charts. It is again the dedication, since they gain in 2006 the Mercury Prize and the price of the British revelation to the Brit Awards. In 2007, they gain the price of the best group and better album with the Brit Awards. April 16th, 2007, individual the " Brianstorm" with more complex sonority but at the rate/rhythm resolutely vibrating announces in " force" the album to come. Received at the same time by the critics and the fans, the album " Favourite Worst Nightmare " will place itself directly at the head of the hit English parade! Rare thing in the world of the rock'n'roll, the totality of the songs of the album is placed in signal 200 thanks to the number ever reached of remote loadings and pre-orders. With semi-2007, the group thus indeed confirmed its statute of great group of Pop-rock'n'roll.

Influences

In spite of the freshness of their sound, one can find the influences of the Jam for their side MOD and of the Clash for their energy. The group associates in fact words of a realism cold and sordid with promptness (what is not without pointing out the Kinks), even with the spasm of their vibrating music. They were compared to " Libertines of the nord" and their musical style is connected with post- Punk or Dance-punk. The beater, Matt Helders, acknowledges being set on Rap thus trying to give to a its rhythmic chopped side. He also says to influence beater of the Deftones for his sophisticated play. On his side, the singer and guitarist Alex Turner, seem to widen his panel of influence after having spoken a long time about the Strokes, it quotes more readily of the groups more dancing like the Clash and Fatboy Slim. With the exit of the album " Favourite Worst Nightmare ", the group quotes groups older like " The Electric Plums " and " Shocking Blue " revealing that the Psychédélisme forms integral part of their creation. It is precisely on " Favourite Worst Nightmare " that the group launched out in many sound effects (cut, reversed band, destructurée…). Alex Turner often mentions the influence of the cinema on the work of the group. One finds musical topics thus pointing out the film " the Good, the Rough one and the Gangster " in particular in the song entitled " 505" , but also graphic universe of " Charlie and the chocolate factory " with the image of the small pocket of the LP.

Members

Alex Turner (Song, Guitar)
Jamie Cookie Cook (Guitar)
Nick O' Malley (Low)
Matt Helders (Battery)

Former members

Andy Nicholson (Low)

Discography

EPs

Five Minutes With Arctic Monkeys (2005)
Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys (2006)

DvD

Scummy man (a small film - 2006)

Albums

Participation in compilation Rhythms Del Mundo (meets between the musicians Cuba ins of the Buena Vista Social Club and of the pop artists/rock'n'roll, with the profit of an association of assistance to the victims of natural disasters): Recovery of Dance hall Shoes .

Individual

Record

In the first week after the exit of their album " Whatever People Say I Am, That' S What I' m Not" a new record of sale in the history of the English rock'n'roll was established: 363.735 discs sold in 7 days!

The preceding record was held by the album of the Hear' Say, the English Star Academy, since 2001.

External bonds

Official site
Page of the group on their label, Domino Records
Site nonofficial French

Simple: Arctic Monkeys

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