Album Review: Everything You've Come To Expect by The Last Shadow Puppets

For eight harrowing years, thousands worldwide pined for a follow-up to The Last Shadow Puppets’ debut album, The Age Of The Understatement; a musical offering that instantly hit first place on the UK Albums chart and was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

By April 1st of this year, the wait was over. Their second record, Everything You've Come To Expect, certainly isn't a misleading title; a listener whose ear is accustomed to the style of Alex Turner's work with Arctic Monkeys - not to mention his TLSP bandmate Miles Kane's solo ventures - will undoubtedly sense familiarity. Nevertheless, there is a definite newness woven throughout; particularly the provocative lyricism mingling with a chilling, film score-esque soundscape.

In an interview with SPIN last month, Turner made a point of addressing the shift in focus with regards to lyrics. In comparison to Understatement, EYCTE is less of the strictly constructed nature and more of a candid, free-spirited record. “When we did the first record, we considered the lyrics another component along with the melody,” he said. “[This time] I wasn’t so concerned about always telling a story.”

As soon as first single “Bad Habits” was released alongside its video in January, it was eagerly screened to me by a friend and long-time diehard of the band’s. Whilst she gazed adoringly at her true love Turner, I was more impressed by the string section. Arranged by composer Owen Pallett, violins wail and oscillate amongst Kane's haphazard yet bold proclamations of suggestive intent. All I can say is that this will be a definite addition to my ever-growing Halloween playlist.

“Sweet Dreams, TN”, a simplistic ballad that sits in seventh place on the album, is a straightforward dedication from Turner to his girlfriend. “It's really just the pits without you, baby,” he croons over an insistent drum beat, reminiscent of dive-bar karaoke. Despite its apparent lack of ingenuity, there is undeniably something alluring about this track; perhaps it is just an innate part of Turner's persona at this point in his career.

Continuing on with the theme of Turner speaking to his S.O. via song, "The Dream Synopsis" entails an explanation of his bizarre dream with the frequent question, “Isn't it boring when I talk about my dreams?” The low-tempo piano track evokes a despondency as he asks her, “When can you come back again?” Turner does a brilliant job of putting to music that universal feeling of dreaming of a loved one, yet knowing the fascination of it can never be the same when retelling its details.

“The Bourne Identity” intrigued me, possibly more than any other track. It's no secret that Turner appears to carry himself with ineffable confidence, yet this song reveals his insecurity with people seeing “the real me”. He confesses to owning a “glass-bottomed ego”; something many of us never would have expected from him (ironic, considering the album title) and declares, “I feel like the sequel you wanna see, but you were kind of hoping they would never make.” It appears as though Alex thinks the “real” side of him is what his lover (presumably the song's recipient) longs to see, yet will regret discovering in the end. Aw come on Alex, I'm sure you're not that bad.

Everything You've Come To Expect is unsurprisingly impressive. Let's be real; what were we 'expecting' (mind the pun) from a man whose every album from both Arctic Monkeys and TLSP has hit number 1 on the UK charts? Combined with the artistry and talent of Kane, this release was practically destined to be fantastic. Personally, all I want to do now is hire a mansion and throw some sort of horror-inspired cocktail party so that I have an appropriate setting to play this in.

4/5

Everything You've Come To Expect is now available.