Alex Turner 'Submarine' OST review (for kevchino.com)

See the original article posted HERE!

At times music can take you away to another place, providing a personal soundtrack as you float off to an atmosphere of imagination, into a world all your own. Alex Turner's latest effort, Submarine, does just that on many levels.

The six-track EP is the soundtrack penned by Turner for the feature film Submarine, the directorial debut of Englishman Richard Ayoade (most well-known for his role as computer geek Maurice Moss in the hit UK TV show The IT Crowd). The film centers around fifteen-year-old Welsh schoolboy Oliver Tate and documents the ups and downs of his various coming-of-age experiences—his first love, familial issues, and discoveries of the world's hard truths.

Turner has provided an aptly fitting melancholy soundtrack containing dreamy, mellow, delicate guitar, for the most part, coupled with brooding angst-ridden vocals well fitted to the film’s subject matter. The score is deeply emotional without being overdramatic, and his usual character-filled storytelling lyrics represent the film’s main character well.

Opening with a small vocal snippet of the upcoming track “Stuck On A Puzzle,” the album eases into “Hiding Tonight,” a suiting ballad for the self-conscious and introverted: “Tomorrow I'll be faster, catch what I've been chasing after, and have time to play, but I'm quite all right hiding today.” “Glass in the Park” and “It’s Hard to Get Around the Wind” soothe your troubles with each listen with their soft, intricate guitars and entrancing vocals, the latter track having a very final, epiphanic feel to it.

The standout tracks are definitely “Stuck on a Puzzle,” with its moody elegance and intriguing lyrics, and the final track, “Piledriver Waltz,” which is also a track from the Arctic Monkeys’ last offering, Suck It and See. This version of “Piledriver Waltz” is a million times better than the original. Being a lot more toned down and having lost its original pop elements, it's almost as if the finished version of this outstanding tune was being saved for this soundtrack.

All in all, an amazing effort by Alex Turner on what can only be called a brilliantly moving and mesmerizing soundtrack.

SHOW REVIEW: Arctic Monkeys, Brixton Academy, London (26.8.09)

Full Support
Wednesday 26th August 2009
Brixton Academy, London

With Josh Homme having produced their latest album the Arctic Monkeys have improved on what was already an impressive sound. Their short punchy riffs have now been slowed down a notch and nurtured to become dark and brooding, sexy and scorching, and have been made more effective and mesmerising in doing so. I’ll admit I was a little more interested to see if Josh himself would make an appearance, though I do love Arctic Monkeys.

But low and behold who should be supporting them but Them Crooked Vultures – a new collaboration featuring Josh Homme, Dave Grohl and John Paul Jones. There’s nothing quite like the cheer of 5000+ people when they unexpectedly see Dave Grohl walk on stage, let alone with a pair of drum sticks. What followed was a heavy, riff-laden, rock’n’roll wall of sound that could come from no others. Reminiscent of QOTSA the tunes were hard hitting and powerful, matching perfectly with the sultry yet manly tones of Mr Homme. Yet another super group well deserving the ‘super’ title.

Bravely the Arctic Monkey’s then followed and did mighty well. Their new sound is brooding and moody at times but still delivers those catchy riffs and articulate lyrics without losing their edge. They churned out hits of new including Crying Lightening and Pretty Visitors, as well as old trusty’s I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, When The Sun Goes Down, The View From The Afternoon and pleased the crowd no end.

Though it was hard to fathom the amazing line up we’d just seen as a support act The Monkeys held their own and showed they’re not just a few boys from up North banging them out. They’re growing, as is their music, and they’ll be here for many years to come.