Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Good album with some interesting choices in instrumentation and very good jams/ grooves although few and far between. Lush and grandiose instrumentation fell flat on some tracks but slapped in others. Not a big fan of the vical style but just like the orchestral bits they sometimes work very well together with everything else going on. 3.5.
Ok
p good
Niks aparts
I would say it was just okay. I liked the western ballad theme but every song sounded too similar.
- Very cool - Better than any arctic monkeys i listened to 3.5/5
Always seemed to clean and overproduced to me, lacking the edge that made early Arctic Monkeys great.
Mostly boring, but some great songs are included
It was alright. But samey at times, definitely a ‘tried a tested’ approach. In some ways I preferred it to earlier Arctic Monkeys albums, especially the songs with more going on (I don’t like you anymore being my favourite), but then they take it too far - Jamie nailed it by saying they sound like they’re trying to write a Bond theme at times. Overall, I prefer it to older Arctic Monkeys, it’s not as good as newer Arctic Monkeys (from AM), and it’s not a touch on anything James Ford has done with Simian / Simian Mobile Disco. Never listened to Miles Kane beyond his singles, and I can only assume this is better than him on his own
Sounds like they are trying to write James bond soundtracks, quite like the title track but it's a bit samey after that.
A few interesting sounds, but I found most of this unremarkable. Less than the sum of its parts.
Thought it was okay, had some good tracks but many of the tracks sound quite similar. Highlights were "Separate And Ever Deadly" and "Only The Truth".
I like Alex Turner generally, although I don't think he's as clever as he thinks he is at times. This wasn't bad but feels like it's missing something.... Knew the first 2 tracks. I was pretty obsessed with "aviation" when that was released for a while, but alas, not oh this album.
Love Alex Turner and was really excited for this but it was just alright. Not bad by any means but I guess I am just struggling to see why it belongs on the list.
Just ok I think, nothing amazing, but overall enjoyable to listen to.
Flink theatraal en extravagant. Oei. Als ze ooit een James Bond Western film maken kan dit de soundtrack zijn. Ik vind de stem van Alex Turner eigenlijk ook niet zo fijn merk ik, zeker in deze combinatie. De beste momenten zijn voor mij de momenten waarop de muziek het meest op Arctic Monkeys lijkt, bijvoorbeeld bepaalde stukjes in "Black Plant" en "I Don't Like You Anymore". Het is niet slecht, maar ik hou niet zo van deze stijl.
It was OK, but I didn't love it.
Alex Turner has such a recognizable voice, and it doesn't matter if its early Arctic Monkeys, the recent lounge-y dramatic Arctic Monkeys, or the Last Shadow Puppets' cinematic 60s coolness. Maybe it's just nostalgia from when I first heard "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" in 2005, but I miss that vibe and energy from Turner's singing. I'm all for bands and artists growing and maturing and evolving, but sometimes we just pine for the sound we first fell in love with. The Last Shadow Puppets is a cool side-project experiment, and the rapid rise from the Arctic Monkeys debut to Turner and company putting this together with the London Metropolitan Orchestra must have been pretty cool. They seem to have accomplished just what they set out to do, creating a sound that would seem completely at home as a 60s movie score, and it made for an enjoyable listen. However, in hearing this and the singles from Arctic Monkeys' new album I can't help but long for Turner's early work.
Sounded like the soundtrack to a 60s Bond movie...which I guess is what they were going for?
This album sounds like it’s from the time period captured in the album cover. These guys have a far out, groovy sound from 1962. Congratulations on picking out perfectly matched album art. The sound is fine, but I heard it 20 years ago when it was already 40 years old.
Guter Indiesound.
I enjoyed this album more than I expected.
It was good. It reminds of the Vines
Inoffensive forgettable 2000s indie
Sesenteros. Correctos.
Nice album. I enjoyed it a lot more on release than I do now. The songwriting is strong, but the songs themselves don't have much staying power.
If you bring an orchestra into the studio, I expect something exciting.
I've never heard of this band but I very much enjoyed this listen! Many of the songs had a Bond theme song feel to them that I really enjoyed. Good music, good vocals
I didn't know about this album or its music at the time, which is surprising, considering this would absolutely have been something I would have listened to. It sounds oddly nostalgic to me in that sense. Prolly closer to 3.5 stars.
I absolutely LOVE Arctic Monkeys so of course I know this band already lol It's nice to go back and revisit Alex at his more verbose. This is an interesting mix of classic AM plus the more orchestral instrumentation they would eventually adopt. It's dynamic and interesting, the songs swell and sway along with Alex's lyrics. It's a perfect combination, I'm sad that this wasn't ever fleshed out with AM in a similar way.
Very good
Objectively good songs but not for me. I don’t like the arctic monkey style vocals which date it significantly imo
Arctic Monkeys front man side project. Has a "grand symphonic" feel but soens totally do it for me, not bad though. The opening title track is the standout.
This album isn't bad, but I found the attempts at more extravagant arrangements to be kind of overbearing. I usually love this kind of stuff, but this really didn't do anything for me. There were a few interesting tracks, but I'm unlikely to revisit this. Fave Songs: The Chamber, My Mistakes Were Made for You, Calm Like You, Time Has Come Again, I Don't Like You Anymore
Pretty good, but not as good as alex's stuff with the arctic monkeys 3 stars
Crumbs & butter
Decent
Alex (from the Arctic Monkeys) side project. Feels more retro and orchestrated. Doesnt really leave a lasting impact ...its kinda a lush indy with usual AM sassy lyrics. 3
It was OK like artic monkeys without the urgency or the adrenalin. So meah
Enjoyable pre-post-britpop jangly guitar stuff w/acerbic lyrics. File next to Albarn, D. if room on shelf.
Quite good honestly
Very 60s cinematic sound. I like both artists, but in their usual realms. Doesn't quite pull me in enough. Not bad, but a little boring.
Pretty boring but had a few cool moments, 6/10
6/10. It's like an evolutionary step between Arctic Monkeys and Imagine Dragons, but also they are trying to write a musical. Bizarre, and ultimately enjoyable
If it wasn’t for Turner’s voice, this album wouldn’t be on this list. Other than the random strings, this album hardly stands out compared to other AM work. The production is messy and makes it hard to differentiate the songs. The second half was especially messy. Overall, not a bad listen, but nothing spectacular.
If only the artic monkeys had done this album we might have been better off!
Indie music with strings... alright
Good but not great. One and done.
This album is not bad not great either. Some songs are really good, but overall it's just OK. It feels like it wanted to reproduce the sounds and feelings of another time, but didn't quite manage.
Pretty good. Franz Ferdinand with a bit more influence from 1960s movie soundtracks.
Never even heard of this group. Plea stay surprised. I was hearing a little early British pop with a Latin flair. I will be listening to more of this.
Not bad given it was made by someone in arctic monkeys. Not a huge fan of his voice.
Don't know....
They have a neat sound but it's kind of the same trick 12 times. Best track: Time Has Come Again
Pretty good but not my usual style not bad not great.
Brit-rock-y goodness from Arctic Monkeys bloke.
I'm not quite sure what to make of this. It's like they took a bunch of Arctic Monkeys songs and said, \"Let's see how much we can make these sound like James Bond theme music.\" It's not bad, but I'm not sure how well it works (for me at least). I like the album cover a lot. 3 stars.
Learnt a lot about myself with this one. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to dislike it. I think in part because when bands/artists get a lot of critical success I analyse their music more and can’t find it as enjoyable because of it. The album itself was good, the only track I really liked was ‘In my room’. Totally appreciate it’s full of well written songs and sounds good but just didn’t stand out to me
si lo escuche es copado
Ok album. Kinda good.
Post-Brit pop super group movie anthems
An understated album, appropriately. Great accoustic qualities, the album occasionally feels almost like a 60s-era folk pop album. Wavers between that and more generic late 2000s rock. Another one for "perfectly competent album that seems to be padding out the '1001' reqirement".
Listened Before? N This was a pretty nice symphonic pop album. A little bit of good electronica mixed in as well. It didn't stand out from the crowd, but it was definitely very listenable. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Calm Like You
seems like a lot from a modern band. fine.like any other mid 2000 sound. fine.
The Age of the Understatement is the debut album by The Last Shadow Puppets. This band is a hodgepodge of English musicians from other bands - most notably Alex Turner from Artic Monkeys - and they wanted to try something new with this pop rock album. This new band used a symphony and classical music elements to spice up their normal rock sounds. The album was popular with old and new fans and sold well. It has been certified platinum in the UK. I liked the album, and it left me craving more 2000's British pop rock afterwards.
Ballads
pas sure sure
Just like everyone says: Cydonia meets the Arctics. It's ok but feels too clinical and controlled which isn't suprising since it's a 'supergroup'.
oblivious to its title's premise
Don't love this by any means. It's fine, but just kind of reminds me of a poor man's Nick Thornburn and now I'm just listening to Islands records.
I think they may have been listening to Scott Walker when they wrote this. Influenced by is almost an understatement….. but I suppose it is the age of! Ok, nowt more!
Really, Really enjoyed this album. 3.5/5 It's a really fun listen. I'd definitely add it to my playlist. Is it amazing? Not really, but, I am glad I got to know it.
Really consistent, the middle was a little same-y but overall really nice. Reminds me of James Bond for some reason
Slower songs at the end were a nice listen.
Surprising 60s sound from a noughties album
Well produced and nice compositions, but a bit boring and forgettable, sounds like Alex wanted to test new vintage soundscapes which he would later lobby into Arctic Monkeys. 5/10
Baroque pop. Pretty good.
Yeah, I'm sure this is good and all but it just isn't my bag, baby.
Had a couple of interesting songs in there but overall pretty mediocre.
Has a feel of 60s Bond soundtracks and songs of sorrow and longing. Not unpleasant, but not entirely keeping my attention. Dreamy sweeps, subtle dramas.
Muss man, glaube ich, mehrmals hören. Schlechte drei, denke ich.
There are some good songs, but I wouldn't search out the majority of them.
Alex Turner and coat tail hanger on Miles Kane dabble with Walker Brothers esque 60's rock. That's it. Best Tracks: The Age of the Understatement; Standing Next To Me; My Mistakes Were Made For You
A fun, breezy indie LP that's aged quite well. The orchestral additions on top of Turner's unmistakable AM sound make for some interesting tracks that feel a bit highbrow without seeming pretentious.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the album. But songs like ‘The Meeting Place’ and ‘My Mistakes We’re Made For You’ were very enjoyable.
This album is a bit of an overstatement and rather underwhelming. Now on paper this should be one of my favourite albums ever - surf and spy stylings written by indie pop song maestros and sung in a Yorkshire accent - but it falls shorts on the songs. It sounds gorgeous though - but I can’t think of a.l standout song - not because they’re all excellent but because they’re all average. It’s sounds like this was a fun side project just to scratch the itch to bring this sound out.
It's not terrible, but it does not really blow me away. I would say it's pretty average. I did not mind listening to this, but I don't know if I would choose to listen to it again.
not on tidal. not going searching
I enjoyed this, a few stand out tracks
Theatrical indie rock stylings. I see the name Alex Turner so makes sense. The UK bias on this list is p bad. In any case, this album was inoffensive. I guess it's a fitting title. 3/5.
An album in which Alex Turner gets to indulge his grandiose side, dreaming of Scott Walker backed by John Barry. It’s perfectly decent but I’d much rather listen to any Arctic Monkeys album and Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino in particular is a far greater expression of a grand, lush sound in the persona of a lounge crooner from the sixties (or the future).
I have never heard of The Last Shadow Puppets, and all of the music from The Age of The Understatement was new to me. The vocals reminded me a bit of Robbie Williams. The vocals combined with the backing orchestra, gives the album a retro, yet new feel. Nothing stood out to me much on this album. By the time I'm done with this list I may not remember that I have heard of this band.
This was unusual listening for me: not unpleasant, but somehow not outstanding, as I initially expected it to be. (A supergroup with Alex Turner? Hot diggity!) In my opinion, there were a lot of great things happening here – from impressive instrumental work to thought-provoking lyrics – but a lot of it felt disconnected, like colourful puzzle pieces not fitting together; I couldn't catch the "feel" of a lot of the tracks. Also, I thought that Turner's voice, which I would maybe describe as a grating but educated-sounding whine, and which I normally like, somehow didn't fit here.
Bueno en su mayoría.
It's no arctic monkeys 3
Genre: Indie Rock 3/5 As a huge fan of the Arctic Monkeys, specifically Alex Turner's songwriting gift and genuinely powerful guitar work, I was happy to see this supergroup/side project of his made the book. The Last Shadow Puppets, composed of Alex Turner, Miles Kane (The Rascals), and James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco, budding record producer), all join forces to craft an almost baroque rock record. What they end up crafting is not just a blatant nod to The Beach Boys, but as a whole is nowhere near as rockin' as you might expect it to be. Especially given the roster at hand. The first 3 tracks, the title track (The Age of Understatement), Standing Next to Me, and Calm Like You, are the best 3 they got, frontloading the album with what you'd expect to be the norm. However, they retread back to chamber and baroque pop a little too often, with a little too much emphasis on reverb for my tastes. While the album is generally well-arranged and a decent listen overall, the overproduction washes out songs like In My Room and The Time Has Come Again until they all begin to sound like Phil Spector ripoffs. A bit underwhelming, but well played and well made.
A down the middle offering. Neither liked or disliked it.
Decent
Never even heard of these guys before. Some good songs.
Wears its influences too firmly on its sleeve..More excited than exciting.. Wouldn't have it in my top 1000..in 1 ear and out the other..
Detta var svängigt!
Spy movie soundtrack with lyrics. Kinda cool, but doesn't do a lot for me.
Rambunctious and filled with grit otherwise pretty eh 😂
Very interesting music and some nice tracks I enjoyed.
As Wikipedia is indicating this is a "supergroup". Maybe the article was written y a band fan. Liked but not define it with that terms ... The Last Shadow Puppets are an English supergroup consisting of Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Miles Kane (The Rascals, solo artist), James Ford (Simian, Simian Mobile Disco, music producer), and Zach Dawes (Mini Mansions). The band released their debut album The Age of the Understatement in 2008. Following a lengthy hiatus, they returned, releasing second album Everything You've Come to Expect in 2016. Thanks to the wikipedia article, learn about Baroque pop Baroque pop (sometimes called baroque rock) is a fusion genre that combines rock music with particular elements of classical music. It emerged in the mid 1960s as artists pursued a majestic, orchestral sound and is identifiable for its appropriation of Baroque compositional styles (contrapuntal melodies and functional harmony patterns) and dramatic or melancholic gestures. Harpsichords figure prominently, while oboes, French horns, and string quartets are also common. ... and Chamber pop Chamber pop (sometimes called ork-pop, short for "orchestral pop") is a music genre that combines rock music with the intricate use of strings, horns, piano, and vocal harmonies, and other components drawn from the orchestral and lounge pop of the 1960s, with an emphasis on melody and texture. Artists such as Burt Bacharach and the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson (especially the band's 1966 album Pet Sounds) were formative acts during the genre's original wave in the 1960s.
A solid album with those sexy smooth Arctic Monkeys feelings. There aren't any standout tracks, but the overall feel of the album is great.
Hmm ok but patchy
I really like early Arctic Monkeys stuff, not so keen on their later stuff. This sounds like Arctic Monkeys later stuff, to me. It seemed like a very long 35mins.
C'est bien. On dirait quand même un groupe de rock/pop anglais des années 90/2000 comme il y en a beaucoup dans cette liste. Cependant, l'album se démarque un peu plus que les autres que j'Ai entendu jusqu'ici. 3.9
I liked this, though to be honest I'm not sure the orchestra really added that much to the songs. I have a feeling this one could grow on me with more listens.
Fuller sound than expected from band. Not bad.
Nice sort of a recreation, albeit in a thick British accent, of the Pulp Fiction soundtrack
Had attic monkeys on the mind the whole time.
Jag känner att musiken int passar ihop med covern!!! Dom har int samma vibe!! Det stör mig!!
Pretty well executed aesthetic. My friend would like this album
Catchy but unsatisfying
I liked this pretty well - I'm always up for some lush orchestration - I'm not certain the lyrics behind it aren't mostly flash without much substance though... But it's a superficial impression and I might come around if I spent more time with it. Weirdly only an EP version available on YouTube music, I had to find an unauthorized upload of the full album on Youtube.
It’s sounds like Arctic Monkeys. If you like Arctic Monkeys you’ll like this. Twas alright.
Ok 2000s rock. did not not like it, but did not love it either.
Va sorprendre que el que suposadament era un entreteniment d'Alex Turner fora d'Arctic Monkeys amb el seu amic Miles Kane de The Rascals acabés sent tan interessant. El començament, amb 'The Age of Understatement' i 'Standing Next to Me', és magnífic. Després baixa força de pistonada i tret d'algun tema com 'My Mistakes Were Made for You' o 'The Meeting Place' no deixa de ser un bon disc de génere, amb moltes referències retro i molt ben aconseguit
Look, it's fine. But I really don't like the singer's cadence from The Arctic Monkeys so it is definitely not my thing.
I was like "wow this guy sounds just like Arctic Monkey's vocalist"... well
Alex Turner side project, not by any means unenjoyable and AM fans will get lots of enjoyment out of his usual droll delivery and lyrics, with a sixties flavoured backing. Without quite the crunch and thrill of the Monkeys though.
A surprisingly retro sounding album with a strange malaise lying over the whole thing. I like the sound but I don't know if and when I'll return.
Ну, вроде неплохо. Арктик манкис не покидали голову
upbeat brit-pop with a 60s vibe. Pretty good
cowboy pop
Nice 50's vibe. Will listen again
This was one of my CDs before the days of streaming. I got a lot of mileage out of it back then, but don't find the need to revisit it much now. I think it's a tight record, cohesive, and a mood.
Not a bad album I'm not a big Arctic Monkey's fan but I did enjoy listening to this album, but nothing makes me want to listen to it again. 3 🌟
It's ok, not sure it should be on this list though
Removed Album #32 (List: https://pastebin.com/cSThNiK9) From the Vault #20 (May 11, 2026) Never heard of this album or artist before, and I'm not entirely sure what to expect from this album cover. It looks like a classic 70s pop/piano rock album cover, though there is, of course, a woman in the image, which throws my theory into disarray. I think I'll hedge my bets on an indie folk album given how many words are in the band name and album title. Here goes. Nope, baroque pop. It makes me feel better knowing that I could never in a million years correctly guess the genre of this album. Anyways, this music is kind of a bummer. I'm firmly split down the middle on it. I commend the concise runtime and symphonic flourishes of these songs, but the actual meat of this album isn't there. I can see the explosive vocal style appealing to a certain brand of rocker (i.e. the Kings of Leon-ers), but the intonation isn't for me and the songwriting lacks focus, which makes these songs feel somewhat vacuous and lackadaisical. The frenetic acoustic guitar sound is decent, but nothing I haven't heard before, which can also be said about the rough electric guitars. As I've mentioned previously, what really hurts this album is the lack of focus. It has many influences, but neither the conventional rock stylings nor the symphonic flourishes work with one another to create a greater whole, leaving much of the music feeling somewhat raucous as a result. While I do commend the short run time, I'd be lying if I said that this album didn't have a hard time holding my attention. Overall, this was a dull listen. Time to figure out why this album was removed from future editions of the book. Let's see. The Age of the Understatement was added to the 2010 edition of the book and removed from the 2011 update. That is farking broootal. Like Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp, this album can adequately be described as one of the least-essential albums of the list given that it only held its "must-listen" status for a year-and-a-half. I, sadly, don't have a scan of the 2010 book, so I can't go looking for reasons as to why this album is in here. To Wikipedia we go. This album was created by the frontman for Arctic Monkeys and marked a pivot in their indie rock sound by focusing on a wide range of symphonic and pop influences. Received a Mercury Prize nomination. The album garnered a mild-to-positive reaction from critics and performed respectably on the charts. It topped the UK charts and was the 70th best-selling album of the year in that country. Belgium also liked it, with the album peaking at No. 4 and being the 62nd best-selling album of the year. Other than that, it performed more modestly in the other Western and European countries where it charted and wasn't able to crack the American market, peaking at No. 111 (even if the album did perform well on the indie charts). So, why was this album removed? I can't say it boils down to a lack of prominence this time. I suppose the critics weren't crazy for it and the band is more of a national act than a global one (not that such a reason has stopped these listmakers before). I can commend this album for having a bombastic sound that is a decent representation of where popular music was at during the time, but I think we can stand to replace this album. If faced with the choice between two Arctic Monkeys albums or one Arctic Monkeys album and this album, then I think just about everyone would pick the former option, which is befitting of their standing as an artist. Again, I'm not familiar with their music, but I'm pretty sure Arctic Monkeys were key players in the evolution of indie/alternative rock throughout the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s. For that reason, I switcharoo this inclusion in favour of whatever the next best Arctic Monkeys album is.
It can be a thin line between consistency and boring. This one crosses it several times. I didn’t realize the second song had started. It’s not bad - just not required listening
It’s alright, if not forgetful, but I’ve never been on board with this Arctic Monkeys era of indie rock. Has the decency to be half an hour tho
An album that curiously feels incredibly small, cramped on itself. It doesn't breathe, particularly the back half but that's not the point that bothers me the most. I guess it sat out to give a retro feel, and it succeeded in that ambition but at the cost of a dated sound, in which there is not much that I find interesting and not derivative. What I do find interesting, is that I used to listen to this as a kid, and I guess my taste grew cause this doesn't hit the same, and the nostalgia works at first until it doesn't. It's still not terrible however, so come on no 1.
I like all the constituent parts of the act, but the sum total is merely fine. Some good tracks, some duds. All in all I'm feeling a 2
My nose started bleeding as soon as this album popped up on my screen. For whatever that's worth. Ahhh supergroups. So rarely do they live up to their billing. This was really ambitious - sometimes too ambitious. These guys seemed so set on making this thing as dramatic and cinematic as possible that they kinda lost themselves in the sauce. Don't get me wrong, this has some lively arrangements and decent enough singing from time to time. But I couldn't bring myself to follow the lyrics too closely. It's just missing that *something*. A little restraint and a little variation would've gone long way. Everything feels so imminent, and by proxy, forced upon the listener. "I Don't Like You Anymore" was the final straw for me. Too much of the exact same song repeated over and over again, this time with some noticeably bad singing. All of this for what, a sound that came and went by the end of the 60’s? A bit disappointing and doesn't need to be on this list 2/5
Intense album - def need to be in the mind set to listen to complete album
Another day, another light weight, forgettable UK band. I’ll throw them a bone and add a star for not making any tracks so intolerable I had to skip them, but seriously this album is so utterly forgettable I can’t even repeat a single song in my head, and the damned thing just stopped playing.
Dieses Album ist alles, was ich an Pop hasse. Es ist einfach so nichtssagend, so 08/15 und klingt so hyperoptimiert aufs Radio/die Charts. Wäre es eine Farbe, wäre es Beige. Keine Ahnung wie es dieses Album auf diese Liste geschafft hat. Es ist gut produziert und eigentlich hätte das Album eher eine 3/5 verdient, aber ich hasse alles, wofür es steht.
Boring
A pointless inclusion of what was essentially a vanity project. It is never a good sign when a 35-minute album feels twice as long.
This did very little for me. I get a sense that the band members were enjoying their craft here as it seems like something of a love letter to some of the mod scene and 007 movies from a bygone era. Neither of those things particularly appeal though and so the songs themselves sounded clustered and too busy, the orchestral arrangements drowning out the lyrics and other instrumentation. This might have been a production choice, to have it more front and centre but not one that worked. The songs themselves were of not great quality, the album itself blissfully short.
Ein unnötiges Album - ich glaube nach wie vor dass es nur existiert weil Arctic monkeys sich nicht getraut haben ihren Sound zu erweitern um die NME/ Lad Mag Fans der späten 00er nicht zu verprellen. Was in Anbetracht der Entwicklung von Indie Rock natürlich lächerlich ist, was ja die Arctic Monkeys selbst merken. Musikalisch hätte den Songs ne Dosis Bandprobe gut getan und ich weiß nicht ob Owen Pallett der richtige Griff für die Orchestrierung hier ist - vielleicht hätte man besser mit den Überlebenden des früh 1970er Artpop zusammenarbeiten sollen? In Summe belanglos, obwohl da coole Ideen dabei sind.
Nop
Meh. Overproduced. Throwback to older overproduced times. Some decent hooks.
another interesting album that is just not anything I am interested in. very lounge music type stuff
Another album that I really liked when it came out that I hadn't listened to for years. Standing Next To Me is still great but the album tails off towards the end
New to me, beyond uninspiring but not quite dreadful enough for one star. Tom.
Yawnsville
Didn't do much for me!
I can't stand this Alex Turner guy. I'm not sure what it is, but his music is like nails on chalkboard to me. I don't think its the accent...I think it's more than that. I think the Arctic Monkeys stink...this is a bit better though cause the music is a bit more interesting to me. I like Ennio Morricone and James Bond movies... ...it almost makes me mad that he's referencing things I like...
All the songs kinda blend together. Really can’t get behind this 2000s British alt crap.
Wh
Big fan of Alex Turner and moderately familiar with band before listening with high hopes. Maybe that was my mistake as the album ended up underwhelming. Side projects and supergroup efforts are often challenging for me like that - i grow accustomed to the sound or style in their original form and struggle to adjust. This effort doesn’t standout enough to warrant further exploration. No single song favorited. 2/5
Better than Coldplay
2.5 - lyrically good but felt very forgettable overall
Interesting, but just not my jam.
4.5/10
Should have been an EP, or maybe even just a single.
Like more orchestral arctic monkeys—slinky but in a cringey way that they were able to wrangle later on in their albums.
This didn’t do anything for me, average
Didn't like this it was arctic monkeys (which i like) but less fun. felt like they tried to make the most generic snoozefest british indie rock album
Quizás tenía las expectativas muy altas con este proyecto, pero me esperaba algo mejor al ver los nombres de los que formaban la banda. Me gustó un poco más la parte final del álbum
Wondrous Place was my personal favorite. Beside of that I don't feel that much impacted by the album
Vocals make this unpleasant to listen to. The music is slightly reminiscent of a western b-movie from the 1960s.
It's as if a spaghetti western were filmed in Northern England. It's not nearly as cleaver as it pretends to be.
Disliked: Only The Truth, My Mistakes Were Made For You, In My Room, The Meeting Place, Time Has Come Again Not a big fan of this sound.
I see why people call this landfill indie.
Its like a psych experimental pop rock bamd from the 70 but from the 2000. Too little too late. Nothing special essy listening thou
Nothing wrong with homage. But most are just decorative. Though google tells me this isn't, i now know of and about landfill indie. Though as it's a derivative tag, not sure needed to, but if it's the rock of a generation other than mine , not my place to Diss it. This is fairly standard fair, rock aping 60s Baroque pop but lacking anything like the song craft. Musically it was middle of the road but was so non essential can't give it more than 2.
Nice enough and an easy listen. But this is supposed to be albums you have to listen to. You don't have to listen to this. Pretty average really. Even at it's release unremarkable so seems out of place in this list.
Not my bag
It's not offensive but it's certainly not very interesting. Are they really trying to sell this as "influential" though? It's not anything original for the time. Sometimes I have to wonder about the people that pick out these albums.
meh sounded like a movie soundtrack
Title track sounded like a Muse song to me. The rest sounded like early Arctic Monkeys. Def not something that needed to be on this list though.
I've always had this pop up on my recommended but not really fully listened to it? I love AM but unfortunately this wasn't it for me? Rhythms are so similar between each song and AT doesn't do enough to interest me on vocals. Real shame!
It’s fine, it’s forgettable orchestral pop like it’s the soundtrack to a 1964 French western. I don’t know why it exists. But listen 1,001, this isn’t a must-listen and you know it. Stop feeding us bullshit! Where’s Cat Power? Where’s Neko Case? Where’s Gaga? Where’s Bill Withers? Where’s anything after 2005? I’ve listened to about 400 albums on this site and too many of them sound like frosted nothing. Get people programming on here who know music, not just their personal playlists.
It works. It does exactly what it sets out to do. But I was never keen on Artic Monkeys and Alex Turner sounds like he is singing with a mouthful of cold spit.
Sounds like the soundtrack of a Shrek movie.
Not really a fan of the Arctic Monkeys, but The Last Shadow Puppets was an interesting experiement. Lifting from 60's baroque pop acts like Scott Walker sounds like it would be good, though, the 2000's scope makes it different enough to not hit in the way I would've hoped. An interesting experiment, for sure, but with very 'meh' results.
Fine
Like a Tupperware drawer that's been slowly filling and filling for years.
Bof! Bof! Pas fan...
ok
not my type of music sound that I like
De boa pra ouvir uma vez, nada memóravel. Curti ''My Mistakes Were Made for You''. 2/5
If you like Arctic monkeys you may like this. It for the most part just played like background music to me. Nothing of real interest stood out.
Tää bändi ja levy oli uusi tuttavuus. Ihan ok, vähän tasapaksuja biisejä ja mikään ei jäänyt mieleen...
4.5/10
To say I was disappointed to see this completely average and inconsequential Alex Turner side project make the list is something of a massive understatement so that’s one thing the album or at least its name manages to get right.
Just wasn’t feeling another average English band today. Simply put, there is nothing special about this album. It’s not bad, but I would have stopped halfway through if I were just listening on my own.
There’s too much 60s on this list already, and now we get a mediocre 00s band trying to sound like the 60s. Ooff. This is not very compelling, rather overproduced and very indulgent. Honestly, the album has no soul, no guts, no truth behind it. It’s musical posturing and it’s transparent. It’s clear that this mistake was not made for me.
I really enjoy when bands incorporate an orchestra so I had high hopes, but was let down. I just think the talent level for this type of project isn't there. They have a great concept, but lack the skill to pull it off. Not a dig to the musicians here, this feels like something that is extremely difficult to get right. So I give credit for a very good effort, but this is not a success.
Didn't vibe with this at the time, still don't. It's not terrible but it's not a must listen.
Forgot this album existed. Would have been better off that way
4/10
pra mim tem 3 boas nesse no resto a gente sabe que 100% genérico gosto mto do meu mano alex turner mas esse vou ter que passar legal
Didn't hate this, but very forgettable.
this album stinks
Very meh. I'm not sold on Arctic Monkeys, and this sounded similar to TBH&C. Kinda bland to my ear.
I’m usually a sucker for modern bands doing an older style of music. But this didn’t grab me. It’s better than the Arctic Monkeys, but not by much. I think maybe I just don’t like that guy’s voice
Okay, unremarkable.
Maybe 2.5
What!?! A post-punk Britpop album? Who would have dreamt there would be a dozen or more of these on this list! This one's even a "super" group comprised of members of various other post-punk Britpop groups that are super mid. I can roll with the Arctic Monkeys, and I'll give them a place on this list. The is 14 steps too far, though.
Hmmmm. Not much variation in the songs here. Lots of lyrics too. Sometimes less is more and this is certainly one of those instances.
The Age of Understatement Standing Next to Me My Mistakes Were Made for You
🤷
Jeg ved ikke hvor mange Arctic Monkeys plader der er på listen, men jeg tror hellere jeg ville have haft en AM plade mere! Det var fint nok.
Toothless..
I guess Dimery is a big Alex Turner fan, but this is far from the Arctic Monkeys and certainly not list worthy. I remember this being a big disappointment in 2008. It still is.
2 sterne
An interesting listen, especially given what else I've heard from the Arctic Monkeys guy. Probably not something I'll listen to again, though.
I'm assuming this is on here because it influenced someone. It's not cool enough to be Arctic Monkeys, but not dorky enough to resonate with queer people. The result is... Fine, but I don't believe it's anyone's favorite album anywhere
Snoresville 2.5/5
These songs just seem like they are from a musical and I just ain't in the mood for it today. Props for keeping these mid songs short.
Unfamiliar with this, my first impression was that it sounded like an Arctic Monkeys-Muse mashup, which I guess was half right. It’s good. Hints of 60s era theater tunes and Sergio Leone. Maybe could have used a banger hit to distinguish itself.
The Scott Walker comparison was apt but while well produced/generally well played, nothing really that interesting/new about it.
made to sound older than it is
Very bored by this. Nothing grabbed my attention except for the first few seconds. Meh or maybe worse than meh.
Sounds like what it is, an Arctic Monkeys side project. I don't know how essential the Artic Monkeys are, this project even less so.
If I didn’t see the release date on this, I would have thought they were a dime-a-dozen pseudo-psychedelic pop-rock bands from the mid- to late-60s. Being “retro” doesn’t really make them any more compelling.
2.33
Quite average rock
It's giving FIFA 10 character creation menu. Boring. 2 stars.
1st album review it was cool just very loud and fast not into indie rock but the chamber was good.
it deleted my notes. it sucks anyway
Didn't love it. Felt bland. 2 stars.
Alex Turner's 12 desperate attempts at making a Bond song. 2.5/5
Uinspirerande
I don’t really know what I thought of this album. It was very 2000s indie Brit alt rock which was fine. Idk, nothing special I guess
Pretentious 1.6
I've been due to give a 2, good god modern UK rock post-Strokes is a snoozer
I think this is great art but like many of the other albums on this list, I feel like it's an album that someone who likes a specific kind of music would like and consider important. I listen to a lot of death metal and I don't know that I would include any foundational DM albums on a list like this.
really really boring
Sounds like a work out for a new James Bond movie. Has its moments and lacks credibility.
Meh. A 2000's indie rock album that sounds like a lot of other 2000's indie rock albums.
Just not clicking
Very forgettable often interesting intros to songs but end up sorta fleshing out into well produced indie rock troupes. The instrumentation is very lush but every song sorta blends together and the drums sound to cleanly compressed if that makes sense not bad but like a very good imitation of drums. The Chamber is a stand out track with a more sparse arrangement letting the song breath and the song concept is very straightforward yet clever. Overall though the songs just don’t really make me feel too much on a songwriting front even if the soundscapes can at moments vivid if a little artificial. The song The Meeting Place is also a highlight with its throwback Lee Hazelwood production being very enjoyable. Not a horrible album just bit cluttered on the instrumentals and bland songwriting add up to a little less than average album.
HIgh production quality with lots of symphonic additions and multi-instrument parts. Might require mutiple listens to get the hang of the lyrics. Otherwise the album is good but not thrilling. For it’s not worth a re-listen. Gave it two starts but could have been only one
Pretty mediocre.
I am baffled by the author's obsession with Brit Pop and why we should hear SO much of it before we die. It's not that this album is bad or anything. It's just nothing earth-shattering or groundbreaking like a lot of the other albums on this list are. It's just bland BritPop. 2/5 because it's boring and nothing special.
Proof it’s possible to have a great sound but no good songs
OK
alex turner really likes america huh. its an okay album highs: standing next to me, black plant lows: nothin truly offensive
Trying too hard
I mean; it didn't feel like it was doing anything Arctic Monkeys wasn't already doing except lulling me to sleep
Uinspirerande
Dull
lots of mush along with some good
Kids, we have Scott Walker at home.
Fine, but I don't get it
This album is competently played and well-produced, but basically consists of 60s soundtrack clichés layered on top of run-of-the-mill songs.
++: Only the Truth, My Mistakes Were Made for You, I Don't Like You Anymore, In My Room +: The Age of the Understatement, Calm Like You, Separate and Ever Deadly, Black Plant, Meeting Place, Time Has Come Again +-: Standing Next to Me, The Chamber 5,5/10
Ok the first like 15 seconds was LIT like omg western themed song??!! But then a man started singing :/
Interesting concept, but rather dull execution. I didn't enjoy the vocals, and there was a distinct absence of hooks. Two stars.
I don’t know what it is but I’ve just never really got into the Arctic Monkeys as a band. Not sure if it’s the lack of tuneful melodies or what but I just find a lot of their songs rather boring and awkward. As for this, it didn’t feel much different from that but if anything was even less inspiring and duller so didn’t really enjoy it that much.
Definitely the most undeserving album to be included on this list. Just utter nothing landfill indie. Alex Turner at his most mediocre. I’ve no idea what dirt Miles Kane has on him to continually be involved with his music projects, but the man brings nothing to an already empty table. Doesn’t even warrant the notoriety of getting 1 star.
<listen with cocked eyebrow>
Someone submitted from this album in Music Experience II, let's see who it was... Wow it was Mando and it was this opening track, which I guess I gave a whopping 6 score. A lot of fun stuff going on here, but I think I understand why this got 23rd place in the 2008 round. Black Plant > The Age Of The Understatement > Calm Like You > My Mistakes Were Made For You > The Meeting Place > I Don't Like You Anymore > Time Has Come Again > Separate And Ever Deadly > Standing Next To Me > In My Room > The Chamber > Only The Truth Yeah I think that first song is still hitting haha. Do I want to listen to more of this album, though? It's good but unremarkable, maybe the most mid an album can be? Like there's stuff that is catchy but it falls out of my brain the moment it switches to the next song. There's no heart in it. It's a 60's mod pop style experiment. It's parody. Maybe I'm just tired today, but I'm getting less into this album the more I think about it and the more it plays on. Wow, now it's making my blood boil! I may need to revise this rating later when I am less temperamental.
This really didnt move me much, almost feel like giving it two stars is being too generous but I didn’t hate it, even if it is just some doo wop Beatles.
Artic monkeys wish edition
pretty alrightish record, very average and nothing special, but a fine one time listen. Favorite track: In my room. Overall score: 4.5/10
It had some redeeming qualities
Too many artists like this
I thought I recognized this vocalist! It’s the arctic monkeys guy! Honestly this album wasn’t bad at all I just don’t understand why it’s on this list. Like this is a 3 star album but a 1 star list inclusion. I did not need to hear this before I die whatsoever.
2+ Stars (6/15)
Nah
i dont love this kinda music and i dont like arctic monkes
I don’t know what I thought about this album. Here are my thoughts: * I first thought I was listening to the James Bond Theme played by the Arctic Monkeys. * there was a lot of Tommy James and Shondels influence from the late 1960s, which paired with the keyboard orchestra samples made it feel A LOT older than 2008. * the album itself had some strong points like Calm Like You and My Mistakes, with a lot of listenable though less memorable tracks along the way * some of the tracks felt like they disappeared into the background, which have just been my mood * it’s really British … I’m going to listen again on a different day to see if it was me or the album but overall it was “meh” for me.
Short and sweet! I thought I would enjoy this album more than I did. It sounded quite interesting at first, but then it became a bit repetitive.
point9.
Nope
The definition of boring. This was totally inoffensive and therefore I won't give it 1 star, but I'm sure if I went somewhere where this was playing, I wouldn't even realise I'd heard it before. Instantly forgettable album
Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 📸🔳👩 Production: 👂🔪🩸 Music: 🤠🇬🇧🎻⁉️ Rating: 😳(😳)/5
Yet another mediocre follow the bandwagon album
Listened to it but don't really remember it so didn't create much of an impression
i really did want to like this album, i even gave it a second listening yesterday. I also really like the lead singer from Arctic Monkeys and the idea of supergroups that happened in the mid 2000's (Them Crooked Vultures is a favorite and if you haven't checked them out, you absolutely should). All that being said... this album couldn't bring me in. It felt like it was too disjointed, like the styles of each song couldn't really figure itself out and ultimately this album just felt flat.
I was bored with it. Cool vibe but nothing super memorable. Not bad but not notable. 2 stars.
There is a fine line between creating a diverse yet cohesive album that has a singular point of view but also keeps it interesting for an hour... and just playing the same song for an hour. This is the latter. Not that it's a bad song. But this whole album could have been edited down to an enjoyable single.
2.5/5
Not really sure why this is on here. Nothing worthwhile about it that I could find
The first thought I had while listening to this record is that it sounds just like the Arctic Monkeys, turns out it’s the same vocalist, that makes sense. I don’t really dislike this album, but i am getting a little tired of the generic British pop rock that this list seems intent on bombarding me with. It’s fine, it’s catchy and fun, the Beatles influence is very obvious. It’s also just kinda boring? There’s nothing to set this apart from dozens of other bands that sounds exactly the same. Not something I’ll listen to again. 2*
Musically, this album is whatever. It’s inoffensive, boring, entirely forgettable NPC British indie rock. I have nothing to say about it. What’s a little offensive is that this is included on a list of 1001 albums you MUST hear before you die. Come on now. This is the opposite of groundbreaking. Knowing the predilections of the list’s author, I have to imagine at least one Arctic Monkeys album is on this list which renders this album wholly redundant. If this is on the list and Arctic Monkeys aren’t, that is ridiculous because this just sounds like a worse Arctic Monkeys. Same frontman, apparently. To give space to so much entirely forgettable, lame-ass British tripe when there is so much lesser known, incredible music that deserves recognition is frustrating. Are there amazing artists I have never even heard of? Of course there are. Is this project a good way to find them? So far, not really. Boo/10. I want to give it 1 ⭐️ as a revolt against bullshit of this nature but this album is not nearly remarkable enough to warrant a strong opinion in either direction.
Poppy early 1960s sound even though they are more modern. There is a lack of bass driving this album. I think that’s what gives it that older sound. All in all, nothing jumps out to me. The band as a whole is pretty solid but they don’t seem to have a “big 4 “ UK sound, if there ever was such a thing. I’d say these guys are far behind Oasis, Pulp, Blur and whoever. What makes this album so great, I cannot tell. It’s a low tier delivery.
This sounds like it came straight out of the late 60’s - and was done by a couple upper class kids that had tried acid once and had their parents buy them a studio. There have been many albums here that were significantly worse - so this will squeak buy with 2 stars.
Did not enjoy
Didn't really care for it. Supergroups never hit the same highs as the individual pieces, but sure make for a nice bit of trivia.
WHAT IS WITH THIS WRITER AND BRIT-ROCK BANDS?!? There are so many records on this list from British alternative bands from the 2000s through the 2010s that really aren't that interesting. I don't understand.
This is a head-scratcher for me. I'm not sure why it's on this list, for starters. Secondly, I'm not sure why it was made? I'm not saying it's bad. It's pretty well-executed, but like, who asked for something like this? I'm tempted to leave it unrated, but that would bother me just as much. It gets a 2 because, as I've tried to stick to throughout, a 2 isn't so bad that it should've never been made and I'm offended to have been suggested it (that would be a 1), but it's not good enough to be a 3 (This isn't for me, but it's objectively good and I'm not mad I listened to it, but I likely won't listen again). This is a 2: I'm not offended by this, but it shouldn't be on the list (especially if you're going to leave out Built To Spill entirely).
This was confusing from a meta perspective because the short description was something like "builds on 60's and 70's airy pop" and the album has a photo from the 60's as a cover, so I started listening and thought "weird that this could be from the 2000s, it's not like it still feels fresh today but it does feel only like 20 years old, strange" and then "this really just sounds like the Arctic Monkeys, did anyone ever comment on that when the Arctic Monkeys got big that they sound like this band" So imagine how stupid I felt when the album is from 2008 (nailed it) and one member is from the Arctic Monkeys (nailed it) and I had been trying to give them credit for being really pioneering at their time. I don't get the appeal here now that I'm no longer trying to give them that credit. It sounds pleasant enough it's just also not compelling to me.
Not much to enjoy here. 2.5
Couple okay tracks. The rest are drawn out and drone on. Overall not great...
There was a track or two on here that I liked, but the rest really started to run together by the end
To me this was too theatrical. I think it was very nice but for something on like broadway. I don’t love such drama or this vibe too much in an album, I would rather this be saved for a musical. I do enjoy Arctic Monkeys but this feels so much different than them and not my jam.
As if The Arctic Monkeys traveled back in time to 1969 and tried to record a groovy album. If you like Arctic Monkeys, sounds like a great idea. But just like I cannot connect at all with Arctic Monkeys, I can't here either. Obvious vocal connection but it's maybe no worse than half the other groups on here... maybe that impersonal flat-tone just overshadows everything else and makes this a boring listen. I know there's a lot here but I can never grab ahold of anything - I do think it's the vocals. Also dude - you.never.stop.singing. Let it breathe just a little. Not my bag. 5/10 2 stars
Meh
Alex Turner is an interesting musician to me; i love the Arctic Monkey's first two records and AM is pretty good, but every other record from this man just sucks ass. Despite the pace being decently fast on this album it felt soo slow and daunting. Didn't find the melodies special and again I really don't like Turner's vocals in a context like this. Probably won't ever revisit this again aside from maybe one or two tracks.
Not as interesting as it thinks it is
This is #day20 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... I'm fine with Arctic Monkeys in general (actually, their debut still holds a special place in my heart), but I'm not a fan of this baroque-western indie rock with occasional orchestral romances that Alex Turner is head over heels for. Is this album so significant that it's featured on the list? I would never choose to play it when I'm knocking on heaven's door. "Standing Next To Me" is a lovely tune, though (listened to it back in the day). Overall, this is a 2 out of 5. Am I being too harsh at this point? Looking forward to #day21.