The last shadow puppets-Age of the understatement

The last shadow puppets are a band formed by Alex Turner and Miles Kane, the former of arctic monkeys fame and the latter from the rascals. Formed due to Kane's previous band the little flames supporting the band and the pair hitting it off with distinctive vocals and similiarly biting lyrics. On stage their a smartly dressed, confident, mop haired pair resembling a young beatles.
Their aim is to dispel any ideas that side projects and supergroups dont work.
Title track and single Age of the understatement opens with a horror film tension screech before exploding into an array of pounding drums, rythmic guitars and strings. As the vocals come in its clear the pair compliment each other, as the similarities allow for an echoing effect and is ideal for harmonies. This song tells the story of a woman who treats males as plaything, though inspite of warning the teller enjoys the challenge of a girl who is "Subtle in her method of seduction, The twenty little tragedies begin". As the tension is cleverly built he pleads for her to "Kiss me properly and pull me apart" in a successful and growing opening track.
Standing next to me is an old fashioned busking style ballad, with further tales of temptation as a girl teases while her lover is standing next to him. A good 2nd single with a nice tempo and good harmonies and a personal favourite.
Next pounding drums and strings introduce calm like you, a sound like a gangster musical painting a dramatic mental picture of a damp dark street of a lover who speaks too soon "Oh, he was young, in the frost, No regard for the cost, Of saying his feelings, In the moment they were felt" again continuing the dark tense cinematic feel.
Kane's biting words compliment sharp guitars on 4th track seperate and ever deadly carries on the theme of love and its 7 deadly sins by snapping jealous lines about an ex's "handsome maverick" who "You don't talk about to keep me calm". The reason of which he sarcastically claims is "That he painted you a gushing sunset" a good bitter song about break-up which is high paced.
The chamber is a ballad which is more well placed for pacing reasons, slowing you down to shake you again after, than it is anything spectacular, solid though none the less.
Track 6 Only the truth tells stories of a temptress, as in age of the understatement, who is dangerous to even look at. Musically this song flows well, however it is lyrically that it captures the audience as she "She lifts up her glass, As if to bring down a mass" and with "Twist of a lime, It seems a bitter end". A picture is brilliantly painted of a character we all recognise, out of reach who has every man eating out of her hand, whilst musically it spirals to an end.
My mistakes were made for you appears to be a dramatized version of how Turner met his celeb girlfriend alexa chung in a 007 theme styled ballad. He talks of meeting a girl who has the enticing prospect of "innocence and arrogance" entwined, though their celebrity makes them "as solid as a rock, rolling down a hill, The fact is that it probably will, hit something, On the hazardous terrain". Its a beautiful song, and set to be the 3rd single.
The interestingly titled black plant is musically like an 80s drama theme tune and though pleasant and plodding nothing stands out enough for extended merit.
I don't like you anymore is a song thats self explanatary tale of grating habits and falling out of love. Turner laments quietly over atmospheric guitars before Kane comes in biting hateful lyrics on their subject as the pairing again compliment each other. An interesting song but not an easy listen as it ends in a frenzy.
You would be forgiven for mistaking next song, in my room, for a james bond song however it is average in comparison to early hits on the album.
The meeting place is a schmaltzy tune with lyrics of regret and pain in relationship-breakdown, but ultimately albeit occasionally veering toward cheesey it is a good well paced song, which would befit a romantic themetune.
Final track Time has come again ends what is almost a concept album on the various stages of love, with memories of the past lamented in a whistful, sad song. The storyteller tells of "Slowly walking down the steps, To where she would have been, If only they were seventeen" romanticising the past in a way fitting to end an album.
This album clearly shows ambition, with the youngsters tackling the charts with a style seldom heard there. The string arrangements, pounding drums and atmospheric guitars build certain songs such as the title track to epic proportions. It is the lyrics that the pair pen however that are something special, with a sharp wit and ability to carve stories. Several songs on this album are good however a few are only held up by the lyrics. For this reason along with occasional major lapses in originality is what makes this album as a whole only promising, however songs such as Age of the understatement, Standing next to me, Seperate & ever deadly and My mistakes were made for you are brilliantly arranged and promise a lot. A solid debut and grower, certainly not just a side project: 7.5/10