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Rating: English music has always proven capable of standing up to the commercial giants across the ocean, consistently maintaining a leading role in the international music scene: in the 1960s with the British invasion and timeless bands like the Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Kinks (wow, excuse me if that’s not impressive!); in the 1970s and '80s with artists who rode the wave of unrestrained success like Led Zeppelin, Queen, Sex Pistols, and The Clash; in the '90s with the era of Britpop, Cool Britannia, The Stone Roses, Oasis, and Radiohead. I mean, absolutely no joke! If we're talking about rock and all its derivatives (pop-rock, punk-rock, hard-rock, rock'n roll, etc., etc., etc.) the English have always been the undisputed number 1, and their value shines even more when compared to that mess of R&B, hip-hop, and nauseating pop coming from the New World and the static and embarrassingly backward other European music markets.
Of course, even today the English market shows signs of vibrancy and dynamism when compared, for example, to the Italian market (I mean, zero experimentation, zero innovation, zero investment in young artists, zero push towards the original and modern... too, too anchored to melodic music, tradition, Gigi D'Alessio, and Gianni Morandi). But lately, the British music scene has been continuously churning out groups of kids with neither art nor part, all damnably the same, all pathetically banal, all dressed up and fake-rebellious. And, of course, all super-hyped by the press and critics, all hailed as gods of international music, rising stars in the star-studded firmament.
And after the Kasabian, Pete Doherty, and the like, here's the latest idea: they've taken the ugly and scrawny kid from the Arctic Monkeys (Alex Turner), put next to him a brat who seems to be made in his image and likeness (Miles Kane, for the record), and here comes another big hoax made in England: the Last Shadow Puppets. They give them a couple of guitars, make them strum 4 specially crafted songs, and on April 21, 2008, they announce to the world the great joy: their unmissable album is out. Uuuuhh!! How wonderful, how wonderful, how wonderful!! The Arctic Monkeys rock!! How can I not buy it??!! And immediately they're at the top of the charts, wasted praise, and rivers of money for everyone. The album, musically speaking, is nothing special: a classic mix of cheap pop and rock, easy listening, with a fresh and catchy tune but without substance. "The Age of the Understatement" and "Standing Next to Me," the two singles, barely stand out in a sea of decay and banal predictability.
Absolutely to be avoided, even for Britpop and Arctic fans. Trust me, they’re pulling one over on you!
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Age of the Understatement (03:07)
Decided to sneak off away from your stomach
And try your pulse
They captured what seemed all unknowing
And candid but they suspected it
Was false
She's playful,
The boring would warn you
Be careful of her brigade
In order to tame this relentless marauder
Move away from the parade
She was walking on the tables
In the glasshouse,
Endearingly bedraggled in the wind,
Subtle in her method of seduction,
Twenty little tragedies begin
And she would throw her feather-boa in the road,
If she thought that it would set the scene,
Unfittingly dipped into your companions
Enlightened them to make you seeth
There's affection to rent,
The age of the understatement
Before the attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart
There's affection to rent,
The age of the understatement
Before the attraction ferments
Kiss me properly and pull me apart
My fingers scratch at my hair before my mind
Can get too reckless
The idea of seeing you here is enough to make
The sweat go cold
02 Standing Next to Me (02:18)
Want her,have her...Two years have gone now
but I can't relate to the never ending games that you play
As desire passes through
then you're open to the truth
I hope you understand
and your love is standing next to me,
is standing next to me.
The one you fell for makes it seem juvenile
And you'll laugh at yourself again and again
And we'll drink to the thought
she'll remember you maybe tomorrow
And your love is standing next to me
is standing next to me,
and your love is standing next to me
is standing next to me
Want her,have her...Two years have gone now
but I can't relate to the never ending games that you play
As desire passes through
then you're open to the truth
I hope you understand
and your love is standing next to me,
is standing next to me...
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Other reviews
By GrantNicholas
The Puppets’ pop manages to be unusual and at the same time titillating, while always keeping in mind that these are still 22-year-olds dealing with countless influences.
Turner demonstrates his desire not to be considered just a writer of quirky indie-brit rock bullets.
By Jukan
Dreamy, intense, virile, and at times dark, 'The Age of Understatement' is a record where our puppets seem to become aware of their personal and artistic maturation.
It's a project that appeals to young people like me because it's totally alternative... but also to dads who have fond memories of the Beatles and Beach Boys.
By Poeta Maledetto
"The strings cradle us, the overlapping voices of Alex and Miles transport us to a 'Jamesbondian' world, between chases, beautiful women, and poker games in tuxedos."
"If you want to listen to something not too demanding, that will take you through half an hour without boring you, but rather, entertaining you and making you tap your feet, even the most fastidious, this album is for you."
