Street Scenes
There is nothing unique about the sound of the Arctic Monkeys. What makes this band stand out is the way in which lead singer Alex Turner weaves together tales of hipster posturing and sexual frustration as the music of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Notremains in a state of constant flux.The shifting guitar rock provides the right amount of flexibility for Turner’s streaming social commentary. The music is cunning and intense at times, but is careful not to obscures Turner’s vocals. On “Fake Tales of San Francisco,” he sings of a scene in which a band of wannabe Rock stars are playing to an unenthusiastic crowd. The only person who enjoys it is the singer’s girlfriend, which leads Turner to note “Love is not only blind, but deaf.” The sly comment is followed by an onslaught of guitars and drums that threaten to drown out further points of his enemy’s phoniness. “I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor,” depicts Turner as he is haunted by a girl whose “Shoulders are frozen, cold as the night” and “Dances to electro-pop like a robot from 1984.” He can be heard wanting to give into temptation as he swoons over her. However, he is weary that “Lighting the fuse may result in a bang.”
As an album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is effective both musically and lyrically. The music is catchy and confident throughout. However, what makes it truly addicting is the way in which Turner’s gritty lyrics detail vivid scenes of British street life with unbridled charisma and attitude.