Brick by Brick (song)
"Brick by Brick" | |
---|---|
Song by Arctic Monkeys | |
from the album Suck It and See | |
Published | EMI Music |
Released |
|
Recorded | 7 February 2011 |
Genre | |
Length | 2:58 |
Label | Domino |
Composer(s) |
|
Lyricist(s) | Alex Turner |
Producer(s) | James Ford |
"Brick by Brick" is a song by Arctic Monkeys from the band's fourth album Suck It and See. The song was the first track to be revealed from the album, on 4 March 2011, and was designed as a teaser for the album rather than a lead single.[4] The lead single was instead "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" which was released digitally on 12 April. A limited-edition white-label seven-inch vinyl version of "Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair" released on 16 April featured "Brick by Brick" as its B-side.[5]
Writing and production
Alex Turner explained the story of the song to NME:
We were in Miami on tour once and we just got off a long flight to there and we had an idea for a song called 'Brick by Brick' and so we wrote it that night just sorta in a bar. But it was quite loose, we thought about it as the concept of a song and all these things that you want to do– brick by brick– and we just made a list of them that was probably three times as long as what it ended up over that night and the next few weeks.[6]
The song is intentionally brief and humorous, with Turner claiming that it was meant to include fewer than 30 words, "since we always do songs with a thousand words",[7] an approach borrowed from Iggy Pop. "Even though it is dumbed down, we know it, and it's got a sense of humor … (t)here have always been jokes all over our songs; I originally started writing lyrics to make my friends crack a smile, which is difficult." "Brick By Brick" was the first track done for the album, with a demo being recorded by Turner and drummer Matt Helders after touring ended in 2010.[8]
Style
The song's vocals were compared to the work of Nick Cave in bands like Bad Seeds and Grinderman.[8]
Music video
Despite not being a single, the song still has a
Personnel
- Matt Helders – lead and backing vocals, drums
- Alex Turner– lead guitar, lead and backing vocals
- Jamie Cook– rhythm guitar
- Nick O'Malley– bass guitar, backing vocals
References
- ^ Mulholland, Garry (31 May 2011). "Arctic Monkeys – Suck It and See". UNCUT. Archived from the original on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
- ^ Oliver, Will (4 March 2011). "[new] Arctic Monkeys – Brick By Brick | We All Want Someone To Shout For". weallwantsomeone.org. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
- ^ Suck It and See (liner notes). Arctic Monkeys. Domino. 2011.
{{cite AV media}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Arctic Monkeys – "Brick by Brick" Surprise new song". 8 March 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
- ^ Arctic Monkeys Announce First Single From 'Suck it and See' NME. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ^ Arctic Monkeys – Alex Turner's Guide to 'Suck it and See' NME. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
- ^ "Alex Turner". Pitchfork. 10 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Alex and Matt's track by track guide on 'Suck It and See'". X-Posure (Interview). Interviewed by John Kennedy. London: Radio X. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
External links
- "Brick by Brick" Official music video on YouTube