By Samuel Rubenfeld
The Arctic Monkeys are the most hyped band in Britain – ever. But is it justified?
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, the band’s debut, is a solid album, but proves undeserving of the praise by NME, the BBC and most of Britain.
Before its release, NME already claimed it to be the fifth best British release of all time. With all the hype, the band had an impossible role to fill. The album sold 360,000 copies in its first week, the best first week for a debut album in British history.
The main question remains, is the album really that good? It may be, but it’s not excellent. The songs are all catchy and infectious, but lack originality. Parts of the song “When the Sun Goes Down,” sounds lifted from Franz Ferdinand’s “Dark of the Matinee.”
The band borrows heavily from its influences, flaunting a dancy, post-punk sound. “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” the lead single off the album, is a quick shot of angular guitars, and goes through three different riffs in 30 seconds before vocalist Alex Turner begins his lyrical ingenuity.
Only weeks after its release, Whatever has already achieved juggernaut status in Britain.
For Americans, this album may end up as one for hipsters to show off to their friends not as immersed in the indie rock scene.