The Age of the Understatement

by The Last Shadow Puppets

Overview

It's not that often that side projects are more ambitious than the players' main bands, but the Last Shadow Puppets, the collaboration between the Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and the Rascals' Miles Kane, is one of those rare birds. With their day jobs, Turner and Kane are revivalists of different strains of "angry young British man" rock, but with the help of drummer/producer James Ford (also of Simian Mobile Disco), arranger Owen Pallett (Final Fantasy), and the London Metropolitan Orchestra, on The Age of the Understatement they revitalize the lush, symphonic pop of early Scott Walker and David Bowie, when they needed an orchestra to express just how sweeping their feelings were. The title track's galloping strings-and-timpani drama begins the album, making it readily apparent just how ironic The Age of the Understatement's name is, and just how well the Last Shadow Puppets have recaptured that lavish late-'60s/early-'70s sound. The main update to it comes from Turner and Kane's voices; stark and suave like Walker and Bowie they are not, but that's a good thing -- their boyish, unpretentious voices and brotherly harmonies keep the album from dipping into kitsch. Instead, a surprising urgency runs through The Age of the Understatement, most noticeably on the taut "Calm Like You" and "Separate and Ever Deadly," but also on softer moments like "The Meeting Place" and the extremely Walker-esque "My Mistakes Were Made for You." Whenever the drama threatens to become too monotonous, the band knows when to change things up: "I Don't Like You Anymore" brings in more of the Arctic Monkeys' spit and spite, building up to a livid guitar solo that practically shakes with loathing, while "Standing Next to Me" and "Time Has Come" rein in the bombast. Despite all the intensity, the Last Shadow Puppets have a light touch -- their songs are short and don't overstay their welcome, and the whole affair is just arty and indulgent enough to make it special. It's not an overstatement to say that The Age of the Understatement is a likable, accomplished working holiday. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	05/06/2008
Label:	Domino
UPC:	0801390018114
Rank:	31169

Tracks

1. The Age of the Understatement
2. Standing Next to Me
3. Calm Like You
4. Separate and Ever Deadly
5. The Chamber
6. Only the Truth
7. My Mistakes Were Made For You
8. Black Plant
9. I Don't Like You Anymore
10. In My Room
11. Meeting Place
12. The Time Has Come Again

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Last Shadow Puppets   Primary Artist
Owen Pallett   Conductor

Technical Credits

Richard Woodcraft   Mixing
Owen Pallett   Arranger,Orchestration
Jimmy Robertson   Engineer
Alex Turner   Composer,Performer
London Metropolitan Orchestra   Performer
Miles Kane   Composer,Performer
Steve McGlaughlin   Engineer
Sam Haskins   Cover Photo
Matthew Cooper   Design
James Ford   Mixing,Producer,Performer
Deirdre O'Callaghan   Portrait Photography