The best word to describe this album is tasty. If you love sick guitar and feeling like you’re in a car chase in the middle of Arizona, this album will be right up your alley. In all seriousness, this might be the ultimate desert road trip soundtrack.
The Last Shadow Puppets is comprised of Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of The Rascals. This might be the perfect musical marriage as the end product is something to behold. The band classifies themselves as Baroque rock. The emphasis on guitar and lyricism is both apparent and greatly appreciated. Substantive lyrics are a plus, not the vapid nonsense that runs rampant Top 40 charts.
This album is a lavish production, a bit of a distant call from the original sound that the group emerged with in 2008. They have made a seamless transition from angry British rock to a relaxed California sound. Though there are heavy beach rock influences, there is also a hint of the band’s roots in the quality of the vocals. A nice balance exists between forceful and easy-going, with tracks on the album representing both sides. All this to say that the album is very diverse in its sound, and although they inevitably share a sound, each song is uniquely its own.
Recommended If You Like: The Kooks, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian
Recommended Tracks: 1 (Aviation), 2 (Miracle Aligner), 3 (Dracula Teeth), 4 (Everything You’ve Come to Expect), 6 (Bad Habits)
Do Not Play: None
Written by Shelby Sneed on 04/14/16