AM

brilliant, absolutely brilliantDo I wanna Know will get your feet tapping and head nodding along to a fantastic riff. 5/5R U Mine another riff based song, follows wonderfully well on Do I wanna know and has traces of it in it 5/5One for the Road, falsetto vocal to kick this one off and again a neat little head nodder of a song, slower than the first two 5/5Arabella, where R U Mine is an echo of Do I wanna know then Arabella is an echo of One for the Road, great chorus 5/5I Want it All, back to a toe tapping head nodding rocker 5/5No.1 Party Anthem, a Lennonesque (solo Lennon) number, bit slow bit dreary, doesn't do a lot for me 2/5Mad Sounds starts off nice and quiet and stays that way, probably the slowest number thus far, one for the lighters as used to be above the head at a gig 4/5Fireside, pace picks up rolls along, especially like the harmony vocals, showap showap 5/5Why'd you only call me when you're high, awesome song, great riff great rhythm great 5/5Snap Out It, another great song, these boys can write chorus'! 5/5Knee Socks, mid pace number, again really good chorus and beat as it bounces along 5/5I wanna be yours, unusual lyrics for a love song, but it works 5/5

Well here was me chastising some 400 people who left blinding reviews for this album. I could wait no longer for the price to drop further and bit the bullet and paid more than I usually do for CDs in the eager anticipation to hear this album which has received not only more reviews, but also better rating than the Arctic's astonishing debut.Well, I am not so impetuous as to make a firm judgement call on the first play of any album, but after about three plays, I was thinking 400 reviewers were nothing but mad. How could this album be better than Whatever people say I am... what were they thinking? I was very underwhelmed.Move on 6 weeks later and perhaps 25 plays later and I have now seen the light! I guess I was guilty of the old-age sin of expecting the same and did not open my mind to acceptance of the new, more mature sound, but this truly is a stonkingly good album, maybe the best I have heard in half a decade. It flows brilliantly between more catchy tunes (not fillers) and a few out and out rousing songs, like 'Fireside', 'Arabella' and 'I want it All'. Intelligent, witty, super creative lyrics, and don't forget the lead singer is still only 24! Pure genius really.You little Monkeys!!Get this album and play it and play it and play it. You will not regret it!

I bought this as a gift for my niece for her birthday, she loves it! it’s a great album but this came well packaged delivered on time. I was very happy with my purchase and she was very happy with her birthday present.

Amazing

OK, first off apologies for the star rating - no reflection on the album (which in mp3 form is great!), it's intended to highlight problems with how badly Amazon are wrapping/shipping the vinyl version. This review is therefore just for people thinking of getting the vinyl. I'll update the review and stars after Christmas by which time I hope to receive a replacement (though there is a good chance that may suffer the same damage as my first purchase). For now this is a heads up to anyone else thinking of buying a vinyl AM, or indeed any LPs from Amazon over Christmas.Previously Amazon boxed and wrapped LPs pretty well. However, I now notice that this one is described as coming in "frustration free" packaging. Well, it was certainly easy to open because the packaging was so flimsy and damp that it easily unpeeled without even needing to tear any perforations in the thin card. Yes, mine arrived just wrapped in a single layer of thin and damp card, without any other cushioning or reinforcement and no mention the package was "records" or "fragile". Needless to say, when I received the LP on this otherwise dry night and after it had been out on the delivery run for about 10 hours, the package and record sleeve were both badly bent. I haven't even opened it, it looks so curved, so I requested a replacement. Having chatted with Amazon about this, Amazon say they cannot change the courier but "will make sure the drivers knows that this item is fragile". They also have not promised to improve the packaging which means there is a good chance the replacement will arrive in the same nick.So, if you're ordering the vinyl, be aware that Amazon's packaging is nowhere near as protective as it used to be and if like my order yours is also intended to be a present, I'd think seriously about purchasing it some other way or allow good time to request a replacement. Also, don't make the mistake of downloading the mp3 version as soon as your purchase is confirmed as this will make it tricky to return and purchase elsewhere - I recommend waiting till you have an undamaged album in your hands.Sorry to go on, but the whole idea of sending out vinyl "frustration free" seems really bad and may edge people who are buying Christmas gifts to buy elsewhere or maybe get the CD or download instead. I shall have to review something else soon to live up to my nick again.UPDATE 10.01.14: My replacement vinyl AM turned out to be better packed, but the sleeve had been bent as if someone packing it had picked up the album by just one corner and waggled it. Ho hum, maybe I'm jinxed, still the vinyl itself was undamaged so I decided to flatten out the crease and keep it (as a present for a Monkey's fan...). I've updated the review to 4 stars since the vinyl album itself is really nice! The pressing is really heavy and thick (unlike many so-called 180g pressings these days), with little vinyl noise to it. The mastering is much more dynamic than the mp3 version I downloaded from Amazon's autorip, with plenty of bass. I've listened to it many times now. I wasn't a great Monkeys fan before buying this, and while my first impression was that the album was a bit too glum I've grown to love it. And even on my cheap system, the vinyl sounds hugely better than the mp3.

Good vinyl for music lovers

If like me you have been sold since "dance-floor" arrived from no where you will own all their records as I do. This is their strongest album (and I am one of the few of my mates that loved humbug). The musicianship, the songs, the lines, the wit, the swagger and the production are superlative. Shot through with great tracks -the singles are well known but Mad Sound, No 1 Party Anthem and the glorious knee socks are simply outstanding. This is a big sound and so cleverly layered you hear something else you had not heard before when it comes onto the iPod. The lads may be ensconced in LA these days and the production has that Americana edge but the bite of the lines are shot through with Sheffield steel and wit . Alex songs seem often to be about sex but never tacky for it.Having seen them live now 3 or 4 times now I think they are now as good as anyone out there. BUY it and cherish it! Love it!

Good product, exactly what was ordered. Arrived on time.