The Last Shadow Puppets (Music Review)

Comprised of Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane of The Rascals, The Last Shadow Puppets is an up-and-coming indie-rock group from England. Along with the London Metropolitan Orchestra, the group composes catchy rhythms with a background of stringed instruments. The band's first and only album, The Age of the Understatement, was released on April 21st, 2008. Three singles emerged from the album, The Age of the Understatement, Standing Next to Me, and My Mistakes Were Made for You. B-sides on the album include a cover of Wondorous Place by Billy Fury and a cover of In the Heat of the Morning by David Bowie (from who Turner and Kane get a lot of inspiration). The Last Shadow Puppets have been called the 'new-age' or '21st Century' Beatles, as a portion of their music resembles.

It was EXTREMELY difficult to pick two songs from the album that I like best but I think I've narrowed it down... Meeting Place and My Mistakes Were Made for You.

Meeting Place begins with a string and french horn (not sure) intro, and later the vocals with acoustic guitar. When the chorus comes, more instruments become audible, followed by a horn fill. After the next chorus, the song goes into another mix of string and brass (tuba this time), then ends with string filler. I mostly like this song because of the variety of instruments, however the vocals are amazing as well.

My Mistakes Were Made for You is the song that got me into liking the group, after coming across it by total accident. The song starts with drums, and later is accompanied by vocals. After the first verse and chorus, a short strings fill, and the song continues. After the next chorus, there's a longer fill by strings and and a guitar riff. Then more vocals, and finally, at the end of the chorus the music swells, then transforms into a jazzy mix of guitar, string, drum, and other instruments which acts as filler for the remaining time on the track.

The Last Shadow Puppets have yet to release a second album, though many (including myself) await. The fact that I came across the group by accident makes it all the more special; it just goes to show the some of the best things happen by accident!

Also check out Calm Like You, Black Plant, and Standing Next to Me.