Arctic Monkeys - Live at the Royal Albert Hall - Review

Arctic Monkeys, Live at the Royal Albert Hall, is a 20 track album full of nostalgia. With live shows being called off this year, this album really makes me miss being stood in a sweaty crowd, with beer being spilt everywhere. 

The original gig took place on the 7th June 2018, a charity show for War Child with limited tickets available. The 20 tracks that feature on this album are from all the different ‘eras’ of the Arctic Monkeys career so far. 

As this performance took place at the beginning of the Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino era, the gig was the debut for many songs off this album and a first glimpse at the new era the Arctic Monkeys we’re approaching. It’s no surprise that songs such as ‘pretty visitors’ are met with a great reception from the crowd.

Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2018)  features some of the Arctic Monkeys classic tracks, but gives fans a more intimate view of their favourites. With the album bursting open with energetic performances of ‘brianstorm’ and ‘crying lightning’ before moving into the popular AM era.

Songs from AM (2013) feature such as ‘Do I Wanna Know’ and ‘Are You Mine’  Alex Turner’s slick vocals really come through on these live recordings, you can also  hear how these iconic songs are greeted by screams of excitement by the crowd. 

‘Arabella’ is also featured on the album, along with a video of the live performance giving fans an even more in depth look into these sought after performances. 

Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007) (my personal favourite album of the Arctic Money’s calalog) makes an appearance with ‘Do me a Favourite’ and ‘505’ which sounds even more atmospheric and dreamy, if that’s even possible. 

Alex Turner's charismatic showmanship comes through on the tracks ‘From the Ritz to the Rubble’ and ‘The View from the Afternoon’ from the album Whatever people say I am that’s what I’m not (2006) you can hear he’s giving the performances his all, occasionally becoming slightly breathless. 

This album is as close to a greatest hits album that Arctic Monkeys fans are going to get, with a bunch of classic tracks but from a new perspective. Giving fans a glimpse of the action that’s involved in one of their exclusive and iconic live performances. With the explosive instrument arrangements and Alex Turner's well executed stage presence it’s definitely worth a listen too until the time comes that we can make it to one of the bands legendary gigs. 

The album is also for a great cause, as all proceeds from this album go to the WarChild charity so make sure you go and grab yourself a copy.

Holly Sawal

@hollysawal

Image: Aaron Parsons