When considering the typical output a modern singer/songwriter tends to put out nowadays, it's safe to say that Alex Turner is one ambitious guy when compared to his peers. Already having put out a pair of fantastic LPs with his UK-conquering, garage-rock revival act the Arctic Monkeys, he's already putting out a side project at 22. And don't let the album's title fool you, this is certainly no light affair. Turner, with the assistance of The Rascals' Miles Kane, has assembled a sweeping and rousing ode to late-60s symphonic pop. The album seems like it would be more appropriately placed during the opening credits sequence of a Sean Connery-Bond outing, rather than frequenting college radio stations.
Turner and Kane muster up much of their lush sound with the tremendous help of the London Metropolitan Orchestra (how's that for being ambitious). While the songs sometimes pale a bit in comparison to the infectiously catchy rock of the Arctic Monkeys, there's no doubt that the sound here is consistently intriguing. Some may be put off by the epic scale that Turner and Kane shoot for here, with a diverse sonic template that never really eases up until the beautiful closer "The Time Has Come Again". However, in the end The Age of the Understatement succeeds on many levels as another credit to add onto Turner's increasingly impressive musical resume.
Key Tracks:
Standing Next To Me
Meeting Place
The Time Has Come Again
Final Verdict: 7.8
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