ARCTIC MONKEYS - AM - Vinyl

Who would have thought it possible to experience music in monochrome? Arctic Monkeys' fifth studio album is a wickedly seductive masterpiece, draped in black leather and wielding a switchblade. Over the years, Alex Turner and the band underwent various transformations, from pointed indie to sun-stroked desert rock and whimsical psychedelic pop. It wasn't until "AM" that they crystallized a sound so assured and spellbinding.

The album's foundation is built on thick grooves. Unyielding drumbeats and basslines dripping with fuzz create an atmosphere of dread and paranoia, reminiscent of the chest-rattling foreboding associated with Black Sabbath. Jamie Cook's guitar adds to the haunted ambiance, flexing its muscles over the hip-swaying rhythm. Even in the familiar Motown swing of "Snap Out Of It," the bubbling G-Funk of "Why Do You Only Call Me When You’re High," or the Velvet Underground melodies on "Mad Sounds," a sense of violation prevails.

Turner's vocals exude sinister overtones, almost demonically possessed. In songs like "R U Mine?," "One For The Road," and "I Wanna Be Yours," he is joined by a chorus of fellow doomed souls. Turner's once fresh-faced cheek has withered. While he retains his humor, the lines linger longer, your hair stands up straighter, and like Turner himself, you find yourself irresistibly drawn back.

"AM" is darker, sexier, and superior to anything Arctic Monkeys have done before or since. Play it after midnight, turn off the lights, and watch your back.