We are big fans of the Arctic Monkeys’ guitar-based grit, but especially the vocals and carefully-crafted lyrics of leader/singer Alex Turner (Turner’s songs for Submarines’ soundtrack resonated too if you haven’t heard).  They’ve been turning heads and ears since 2005, and to this day we can still hit repeat on some of their songs (Riot Van is a personal favorite amongst many) and albums (our favorite remains their first–Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not).  As great as they are, we have long-anticipated additional melody and variety from the Monkeys to enthrall all and push them over the top in the U.S.  But they still haven’t found what we’re looking for (entirely).

Fast forward to London band Various Cruelties, their frontman Liam O’Donnell and their eponymous debut album.  There’s no denying that O’Donnell’s vocals sound uncannily like Alex Turner’s.  But Various Cruelties have managed to vary the sound some and sweeten its melodic tendencies by adding R& B allusions.  They’re being dubbed “an alternative indie soul incarnation that fuses classic British guitar pop with Stax grooves to create a form of shabby Motown pop.”  We don’t know about that, but check out below the video for their single, If It Wasn’t For You.  The slow-burn song is as catchy as chlamydia, and so much so that it is being featured in TV commercials (Zales) and continuing to connect.  The song’s video has over a million aggregate Youtube hits,  and the song has been a Top 20 single in the US iTunes alternative charts for a month.  They’ve been taking some heat from critics for being a titch too commercial and lyrically banal, but their burgeoning fan base would beg to differ.  Time will tell if Various Cruelties can build on its current momentum and transcend.  If you want to assess in person, the band will play Webster Hall in New York City on February 19th and the Bootleg Bar in Los Angeles on February 21st.  We’ll check ’em out, assess their album further and keep you apprised.