Arctic Monkeys – ‘Do I Wanna Know?’
Arctic Monkeys have always had a knack for creating a certain amount of mysticism in between albums, leaving fans guessing as to which direction they’ll take as a band next.
Now, on the cusp of their fifth studio album, the band has released Do I Wanna Know? with very little promotion behind it and have resisted the temptation to return to earlier, more raucous singles in favour of a slower, darker, swampier sound that we’ve grown to love over recent years, highlighting the maturity in Alex Turner’s vocals.
The track, accompanied by impressive new artwork, further enhances the progression and maturity the band has made since the release of I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor all the way back in 2005. The angry young lads have exchanged jumping and shoving each other around for an ice-cold mojito and a tight leather jacket with slicked-back hair.
Saying that, Turner and the Arctic Monkeys have always stayed true to their Sheffield roots despite residing in the States most of the year, with lyrics such as “summat in your teeth” and “simmer down and pucker up”, the kind of approach that has become synonymous with the band.
Premiered last month at a gig in California along with a couple of outings in Sweden and Denmark, the band also decided to open with ‘Mad Sounds’, which is also expected to be included in the fifth and still untitled studio album.
The opening five seconds of ‘Do I Wanna Know?’ carries earlier mystery about what we’re about to hear, but soon enough, we’re confronted by that oh-so-familiar riff that the band have made their own; it carries for 30 seconds before Turner’s vocals are introduced “Have you got colour in your cheeks?”
Stream it below.
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