Record-breaking UK indie band
Arctic Monkeys have for the majority of their career maintained a
veil of low-key limelight appearances; attempting to preserve their
integrity and impassive Brit-cool in the midst of a savage
media.
That is until now, as The Sun newspaper has attained an outspoken
interview with the rockers in which they vent their irritation at
various subject, most significantly Radio 1, the state of
commercial hip hop, and producers Timbaland and Mark Ronson.
The Monkeys outburst was initiated by guitarist Jamie Cook
declaring, "English radio is terrible, and Radio 1 plays a lot of
crap music, whilst going on to confess "Even music I don't usually
listen to, like hip-hop, is obviously bad at the moment. There is
no real hip-hop any more."
Following suit, lead vocalist Alex Turner -who in the past has
shown admiration for hip hop artists such Pharoahe Monch - scoffed
Timbaland is in every video. He is just standing there looking
confused.
Turners tirade did not stop there as he condemned Mark Ronsons
new single, And let me tell you what I cant stand- the f--king
R&B cover of Stop Me If You Think Youve Heard This One
Before, before the boys trailed off topic in fashion and stated
appreciation for br-asts and chips (although not in that particular
order).
Urban fans may be slightly bemused given the fact grime prodigy,
Dizzee Rascal has done an unlikely collaboration with the band
entitled Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend for their
anticipated second album. However it seems the attack is directed
at the US music industry, as the group have said in the past that
theyre supporters of UK scene.
Both Timbaland and Ronson release their albums this week, as the
Monkeys ready their new single Brainstorm for 16 April. It is fair
to say that little can be done to dent either producers
well-established reputation, considering how championed they are by
some of the most popular music artists in the world. The Monkeys on
the other hand show that they too, are part of a system that has to
keep their media exposure energized, because after all- there is no
such thing as bad publicity.