The Arctic Monkeys – Brick By Brick : Single Reviews

The Arctic Monkeys have gone from Sheffield to California in their new video for Brick By Brick. In a move similar to that of Radiohead’s, word of any recording activity prior to Brick By Brick‘s release had been well contained – it’s even quite possible that their fourth album and follow-up to 2009′s Humbug has already been recorded and is ready for distribution at any given moment. So it’s probably best to think of Brick By Brick as a taste of what’s to come – whenever that may be!

Arctic Monkeys

The song itself initially comes across as quite a shock to the system. There are bigger, trashier and more repetitive guitar riffs floating above a much looser drum groove, which is perfectly complimented by the Californian sun in the film clip. Alex Turner’s vocals are much more relaxed and mature, aided by some more powerfull backing vocal additions; pointing to a possible desire to remove themselves from their archetypally British rapscallion days. The new sound on this single is much more remeniscent of 70′s glam-rock acts than the delightfully nuanced rock that they’ve built their sound on to this point.

Personally, I think it will be disappointing if the Arctic Monkeys completely abandon all traditional aspects of their unique sound. Yet, if it’s part of a gradual shift that usually accompanies a maturing band, then I think they’ll be better for it.