Celebrating The B-Side

B-sides are exciting. Artists that really know how to recognize the art of the b-side and offer up that extra value for their fans are even more exciting. What does a b-side usually indicate? Leftovers? Not-good-enoughs? Some musicians cry bollocks in the face of such statements. Some musicians ask the question, "Why shouldn't the b-side be just as good as the album cuts?" Morrissey is one of those artists (producer of quality b-sides and regularly plays them in concert). Oasis is another (anything off of The Masterplan can more than hold it's own up against the first two proper albums). Radiohead is yet another (Amnesiac has been lovingly referred to as Kid B). And now we have the Arctic Monkeys.

Before even releasing Favourite Worst Nightmare the Monkeys more or less could have unleashed their b-sides record. In fact, they kind of did. Last year saw the vinyl release of Unreleased Tracks, Demos & Live on arctic white wax. Side A had 5 unreleased demos, while side B uncovered three live songs, another demo and "Riot Van" with alternate lyrics.

The point of all of this is this- it's so nice to see a current band understand the fun and collectibility a fan can experience when they don't have to wait years between records to experience new and unheard music from their favorite musicians. Since the April release of Nightmare I have purchased no less than eight additional new tracks from the Arctic Monkeys that weren't included on that release, all of which are just as good as both proper albums.

The most recent tracks come from the "Fluorescent Adolescent" single, which arrives in three formats (CD, 10 inch, 7 inch). Both the CD and 10 inch have three b-sides, four tracks total while the 7 inch takes the single and includes "The Bakery" on the flip side. I would like to imagine these guys are just getting warmed up. So keep the b-sides coming Monkeys, and hopefully some of my other cherished bands will start cribbing your notes.

CD and 10 inch:

1. "Fluorescent Adolescent"
2. "The Bakery"
3. "Plastic Tramp"
4. "Too Much To Ask"

7 inch:

A side: "Fluorescent Adolescent"
B side: "The Bakery"

Buy it from Domino

"Fluorescent Adolescent" video:



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While we are on the music note (nice pun!), I would like to continue applauding the record labels who have been recently rewarding vinyl buyers with a little something extra. While unreleased tracks not included on the CD version are always welcome and probably preferred, many labels have been including a free digital download with the purchase of the LP. Merge, Touch and Go and the Beggars / Matador family have all been doing this for some time now. What's interesting is the majors are starting to catch on now as well. Purchasers of Wilco's Sky Blue Sky and Interpol's Our Love To Admire will discover a full CD version of the album safely tucked away in the record sleeve. Keep up the good work music industry- we might just save this bitch yet.

- Seth