jonny

Okay, so this has clearly gone on long enough, so I'm going to announce all up to the top three tracks tonight, and then do those songs over this week, before I put the 'FWN' rate up. So, here we go: 09. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured (Avg. 8.2) Highest: NickF1 9.5; Lowest: Theo, RabbitFurCoat and Jester 7 08. Still Take You Home (Avg. 8.25) Highest: RabbitFurCoat, DalekTurret32 and Jonny 10; Lowest: Jester 4 07. The View From The Afternoon (Avg. 8.3) Highest: DalekTurret32 and Grandwicky 10; Lowest: Jester 6 06. Fake Tales of San Francisco (Avg. 8.35) Highest: NickF1 10; Lowest: RabbitFurCoat and Theo 6 05. From the Ritz to the Rubble (Avg. 8.45) Highest: Grandwicky 11; Lowest: Jester, gavindeejay and NickF1 7 04. Mardy Bum (Avg. 9.35) Highest: Grandwicky, Iz, Jester and RabbitFurCoat 10; Lowest: gavindeejay 7 So that leaves three tracks battling out for the top spot: 'When The Sun Goes Down', 'A Certain Romance' and 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor'. There's just 0.3 points which separate the top three, and an incredible 0.05 which separate the top two! Just a few comments from me on the tracks in the middle - some of my favourite AM songs of all time on this list, especially 'Red Lights' (which I still think of every time I take a taxi), 'Still Take You Home' and 'From the Ritz to the Rubble', which they recently played live for the first time since 2011 at a charity gig in London. I've posted the video of that performance below. The only songs they play from that album with any regularity these days are 'Dancefloor' and 'The View From The Afternoon'; unfortunately, many of these songs haven't been able to find their way on set lists for the best part of ten years! Finally, it's interesting how one's own tastes can change in such a small space of time. I gave 'Mardy Bum' a 9 during the rate, but a few weeks later I probably wouldn't give it any more than a 7.5. This wouldn't have made too much difference to the overall score, but it's interesting to think how your personal preferences can be altered in such a small amount of time. SuGiYiPWfo4 And here's the only other track they've played on the 'TBH+C' tour from the first album, apart from those mentioned above: an a capella verse from Mardy Bum: y2OSlMGTaxI

10. 'Dancing Shoes' Average Score: 8.05 Highest Score: 9.5 (DalekTurret32) Lowest Score: 7 (Theo, Jonny, Iz, Jester) Lyric: I said, the shit, shock, horror. You've seen your future bride, yeah. Yeah, but it's oh so absurd. For you to say the first word so you're waiting and waiting. Genius Commentary You can read my above comment for an analysis on this one; another song about romantic naivety and folly. A staple of their earlier performances but not one that I remember with too much fondness, and I've actually grown to like it less and less over the years, and it's possibly my least favourite AM track from this album, on balance. That being said, 'Dancing Shoes is Arctic Monkeys' 8th most played song during live performances, and they last played it during the 'AM tour in 2014. Below is a performance from Reading 2014 PNZZPUXbpOM

11. 'You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight After Me' Average Score: 7.3 Highest Score: 9.5 (DalekTurret32) Lowest Score: 5 (Theo) Lyric: And oh, I'm so tense, never tenser, could all go a bit Frank Spencer and I'm talking gibberish. Tip of the tongue but I can't deliver it, properly, Genius Commentary I have always personally really enjoyed 'You Probably Couldn't See...'; I found it catchy, lyrically very clever and one of the more memorable tracks on AM's first album. What is essentially a song all about one's naivety in believing that someone is looking at, and ostensibly admiring, you, when in reality it is more likely that they are just looking past or even through you, I suppose it appealed to my 13-year-old self and the foolish thoughts that I was having at the time. I love how candid he is with the lyrics: "You had us all standing on our heads", "One look sends it coursing through the veins" and "Say anything and I'll agree" are statements which I'm sure that anyone who has suffered from a childish, non-mutual crush has experienced. They last played this track during the 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' tour in 2007 - I for one would love to see it come back to their setlist. 4trT3axNV54

12. 'Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But...' Average Score: 7.2 Highest Score: 9.5 (DalekTurret32) Lowest Score: 5 (Theo) Lyric: I ain't got no dollar signs in my eyes. That might be a surprise but it's true, said, I'm not like you. Genius Commentary 'Perhaps Vampires...' is a solid track which chronicles the Arctic's dismay and disillusionment with individuals who were jumping on to the bandwagon at the time their popularity started to grow. One of the first bands to become truly popular due to the 'MySpace culture' of sharing and popularising their music, they appear to be attacking the 'vampires' who are keen to suck the enjoyment out of their music for return for financial gain. I've always thought the sound of this one was good, and very typical of the sound of the album as a whole, but it tends to get lost in array of stronger tracks. This is another track that they haven't played live since 2006 - below is a video of the penultimate time they played the track, at Reading Festival. Were you there?! eIp46obBeBQ

13. 'Riot Van' Average Score: 7 Highest Score: 9 (DalekTurret32, NickF1) Lowest Score: 4 (Theo) Lyric: "Have you been drinking, son? You don't look old enough to me." "I'm sorry, officer, is there a certain age you're supposed to be? 'Cause nobody told me." Genius Commentary I must admit, this isn't a track which has stuck with me very much over the years. A little slower, more openly reflective than the majority of other tracks on their debut, Riot Van is a rather blunt, rather sardonic take on a group of people who simply want to have a laugh and don't care too much for the consequences. The Monkeys haven't played Riot Van live for nearly 12 years, so maybe it isn't one they hold particularity dear to their hearts either. 9aLxLJsy9aA

Apologies for the delay - I can finally bring you the results of the 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' rate. Results will start shortly and continue throughout the week, with the 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' thread posted over the weekend for people to vote in Part 2! A few little facts before we begin: There were a total of 10 voters.The average score, across all 10 voters and all songs, was 8.4.The highest average score came from DalekTurret34, whose average score came out to 9.7!The lowest average score came from Theo; he only rated each track at 7.3, with Jester the only other with an average score below 8 (7.8).Everyone handed out the highest possible individual score of 11; the lowest score amongst all posters was again from Theo and Jester, who each scored one song 4.Predictions welcome! Here are the links in case people would like to listen as the results come in: Spotify Playlist YouTube Playlist Go5_YzjkbaQ

Bit late, but results will start one evening this week. Thanks to everyone for voting. (:

Today's the final 'official' day of the rate, although I won't be collating/posting until Sunday, so I guess you have until then to vote. It's very close at the moment between nearly all of the tracks - plenty of love still for this album it seems!

8.5 The View From the Afternoon 8.5 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor 9.5 Fake Tales of San Francisco 7.0 Dancing Shoes 9.0 You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me 10.0 Still Take You Home 8.0 Riot Van 9.5 Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured 9.0 Mardy Bum 7.5 Perhaps Vampires is A Bit Strong But... 8.5 When the Sun Goes Down 9.0 From the Ritz to the Rubble 11.0 A Certain Romance Closing date is now Friday 1st June, 11PM. Results will continue throughout the week - 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' will be up the following weekend for people to vote for.

https://www.last.fm/user/likeanEPITAPH If anyone wants to add. ^^

I love it as well now. I don't know why I ever doubted them!

Will leave this up until FRIDAY now as I have a busy week this week. Will have at least 10 votes, though, as I am still to vote. :cheer:

Four votes so far; there'll definitely be five, including me. Hopefully we can get into double figures!

05 A Dustland Fairytale 07 All These Things That I've Done 08.5 Bones 09 For Reasons Unknown 01 Here With Me 04 Human 02 Just Another Girl 02 Miss Atomic Bomb 08 Mr. Brightside 05.5 Peace Of Mind (no music video) 11 Read My Mind xx Run For Cover xx Runaways xx Rut xx Shadowplay 02.5 Shot At The Night xx Smile Like You Meant It xx Somebody Told Me xx Spaceman xx The Man xx World We Live In xx Tranquilize (feat. Lou Reed) xx When You Were Young (I'll keep updating the post throughout the week when I get around to it.)

I have not included the b-sides/other tracks that were released around this time - if there is enough interest, I will do those as a separate rate. Two of my top five AM tracks of all times aren't album tracks!

Arctic Monkeys 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' With the release of the new album, I thought I'd start a series of rates of the Monkeys' previous albums, starting with the first one. All the tracks are listed below. All tracks are to be rated between 0 and 10. You can give one 11, one -1 (although there is no compulsion to do so) and I will also allow half (.5) scores as well. xx The View From the Afternoon xx I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor xx Fake Tales of San Francisco xx Dancing Shoes xx You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me xx Still Take You Home xx Riot Van xx Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured xx Mardy Bum xx Perhaps Vampires is A Bit Strong But... xx When the Sun Goes Down xx From the Ritz to the Rubble xx A Certain Romance I will leave the voting up for two weeks, so the deadline is Sunday 27th May, 11 PM. Spotify Playlist YouTube Playlist Go5_YzjkbaQ

There's a few tracks that I don't mind listening to in isolation, but a full album of them is a little over-indulgent, let's say.

I put a taqueria on the roof, it was well reviewed Four stars out of five And that's unheard of I think, as Alex alludes to, he's started to realise that his band/music have transcended the need for 5* reviews. I've listened to it a few more times and I do appreciate what he's doing - he's clearly decided that he has nothing left to prove and can take the band's direction wherever he chooses. I think if it was a solo record people would be more understanding but, as it's under the Monkeys' name, people are expecting that AM sort-of sound and he's just decided to move away from that, which I think is fair enough. I remember seeing a similar level of dislike when 'Humbug' came out and they were able to regain all of their popularity a few albums later so I don't think they'll concerned.

'The Midnight Organ Fight' was probably the second or third album I really listened to to death. I fell in love with the morose lyrics and Scott's harsh voice. It was one of those albums where I really felt like what he was singing was directly about me and it gave me a lot of comfort during a time when I wasn't particularly happy. He was always really honest about his battles with depression and the difficulties that it caused him in his life. It's probably the first time that I've ever felt a sense of personal upset or loss about the death of someone I didn't know. As someone mentioned before, the lyrics to 'Floating in the Forth' are particularly pertinent (and eerie) to listen to now. Rest in peace, and thank you, Scott. SBTuyF1T7zA

I think I would agree with this. I'm prepared to give it as many listens as I can to see if it clicks, but I can't think of many other artists I'd be willing to do that for.

Pitchfork didn't even review this one - I can't imagine it would've been too encouraging mind you. I've listened to it plenty of times and although there are some promising moments in the first half, the second half is pretty dire and the overall quality isn't fantastic. Too many samey, impersonal and dispassionate songs asking: "do you love me?!?!" ):

It's growing on me but I think that's more due to confirmation bias than anything else, aha.

I'm a bit late to the partie, but Black Kids, who released one of my favourite albums of all time in 2008 ('Partie Traumatic') released a new album last year called 'Rookie'. It didn't seem to get much coverage or press at the time and it seems that the reason why is because it is... well, not very good. I've listened to it three times through now and it's just not getting my attention at all. I don't mind 'Iffy' and there is definitely potential there in a few songs but overall I'm really disappointed. It's all very samey and it seems to be missing the creativity and spark which made their first album one of my favourites. Here are a few of the new tracks: 'Iffy' 2RZ35mN2kEE 'In a Song' YoZI87CL2n0 Obligatory Drugs 9P-cPP_C_c0 And for comparison, here is my favourite track on the first album from ten years ago. 'Hurricane Jane' 5S1l8qq7EVA

I'm really really really (really) sorry but due to work commitments I'm not going to get this done. Sorry.

Cheers. :funky: