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POLO CHUB
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• Fitness C enter • Hasketball • Sami Volley ball • XYtitvi Volleyball
• Tennis • C lubhan\c with Fool Tables. \\ i-l i and 2-l-llour ieeess '
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2, 3 & 4 BEDROOM APARTMENTS
(706) 549-2058
110 International Dr. • Athens, GA 30605
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Silver & Archibald
Run/Walk for Home 5K
Saturday April 3rd
8 am @ The Classic Center
Registration:
$15 pre-registration*
$20 day of race
$45 Family Rate*
*must be postmarked by 3/27
AM proceeds benefit Athens Area Habitat for
Humanitv&the Athens Area Homeless Shelter
Register online at vvww.Active.com
vT p.i s up a five M ;.vwf‘>v-(mg Ick .Ukm* v
For more information cal 706-208-1001 or visit wwwAthensHabitatcofn/Events
Let us show you and your best friend
what you’ve been missing!
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MUtTIrAMILV
here the hell is Paul Revere when
you need him? Dead? Well, that's
hardly an excuse. Athens needs a
proper proclamation: Arctic Monkeys are com
ing! Arctic Monkeys are coming!
Monday night has not seen this much
excitement since... ever. And even though
this show will easily sell out, half the town is
probably still asking: "Arctic who?"
Despite the radio success of their breakout
hit "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"
back in 2006, Arctic Monkeys haven't enjoyed
quite the celebrity Stateside as they deserve
because, frankly, America tends to turn a
deaf ear on buzz across the pond. And that's
fair considering British press is notoriously
heavy-handed on the hype. It's like the boy
who cried "the next Oasis!" We've just had to
ignore it after awhile.
But Arctic Monkeys' story is proving to
be unique. Yes, they were something of an
overnight success; Whatever People Say I
Am, That's What I’m Not was the fastest
selling debut in UK chart history. And yes,
the band is now really big at home. Like,
selling-out-two-nights-at-Wembly-Arena-and-
headlining-Reading-and-Leeds-Festivals-and-
winning-Brit-Awards big. But what's more
impressive, is that with the band's 2009
release, Humbug, the Arctic Monkeys have also
proven to have staying power.
Fans first fell in love with Arctic Monkeys'
disarmingly honest songwriting, featuring Alex
Turner's witty, rapid-fire observations on ado
lescent misadventures backed by a ferociously
powerful rhythm section. Within a year Arctic
Monkeys got a second punch in with Favourite
Worst Nightmare, skillfully bounding over the
sophomore slump with a broader perspective
and even more aggressive riffs. Just when
it seemed like the band had revealed all its
cards, out came Humbug, a surprisingly moody
record filled with seductive turns and dark
corners.
Humbug is not so much a departure for
the band as a progression. The lyrical themes
are more mature; the arrangements are more
nuanced. Turner's vocal delivery is more
melodic and measured, calling to mind the
Scott Walker-inspired croon he explored with
his side project, The Last Shadow Puppets.
According to guitarist Jamie Cook, the
change of pace was not particularly premedi
tated, and it came as a surprise—even for the
band.
"We've only done three records, but we
never really sit down and plan the whole
thing," he says over the phone from his home
in Sheffield. "I think the album just went that
way... After we finished touring Favourite
Worst Nightmare, we thought the next album
would be quite fast and aggressive. I don't
know, once we had a few months off and got
back together, we seemed to swing more in
the 'sex/ direction, like you said."
With about 10 of these new songs ready to
go, the band went on a vision quest across the
Mojave Desert, recording most of the record
with Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)
at his Joshua Tree studio.
"We're big fans of Queens of the Stone Age
and Josh's Desert Sessions stuff," says Cook.
"He was really encouraging and pushed us,
especially on guitar. He's really good at pick
ing out harmonies and melodies and stuff we
had never got into before."
Having that guidance and creative input
opened new doors for Arctic Monkeys' sound,
and Homme was certainly up for experimenta
tion. At one point he grabbed a few mics and
took the band out to Landers, CA for a visit to
The Integratron.
"That's one of the weirdest places I've ever
been," remembers Cook. "Josh was like, 'I've
got to take you up to this place. It's unbeliev
able.' So, we went on the Internet and read
about this guy [George Van Tassel] who sup
posedly was visited by aliens or something,
and they told him to build this thing... It's
perfectly acoustic. If you stand in the middle
you can hear anything that anyone's whisper
ing around you... there were lots of weird
instruments and stuff around, domes with
water in it, chimes, lots of yoga mats."
The group actually recorded a version of
"Secret Door" in the Integratron, but the qual
ity wasn't quite up to par and, unfortunately,
it remains shelved.
After the Joshua Tree sessions, the band
still had a few loose ends to tie up and com
pleted recording in New York with James Ford
(Simian Mobile Disco), who produced Favourite
Worst Nightmare. By that time, though, Cook
says the band was "set on a path" based on
Homme's recordings, so despite the transconti
nental sessions, Humbug remained cohesive.
Arctic Monkeys continue their exploratory
journey with this upcoming U.S. tour, visiting
cities they've never been to before. Cook says
the band is looking forward to both the new
destinations and the more intimate venues.
"When we come over to America, we
are quite lucky becatrce we're doing like
1,000-capacity venues. IY* nice that we get to
do that big thing [in the UK) and small thing
[in the US]; they both have their oerks..."
The way this band is headed, though, their
next U.S. tour may very well be arenas, too, so
don't miss the opportunity to get up close and
personal while you still can.
Michelle Gilzenrat
20 FLAGFOLE.COM MARCH 31,2010
GUYAROCH