Arctic Monkeys — Arctic Monkeys At The Apollo

Live In Texas, the accompanying live CD that comes with Arctic Monkeys At The Apollo, makes the British band sound like a pretty blistering live act. But once you start watching the DVD, it becomes apparent this isn't the case.

Arctic Monkeys At The Apollo was shot in Manchester, England on the final date of the Monkeys' 2007 world tour and premiered on BBC's 4 music channel earlier this year. While the DVD's production is excellent, the Monkeys' performance comes off as stinted and awkward.

Singer/guitarist Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook, bassist Nick O'Malley and drummer Matt Helders look like they're a bit unsure of what to do on the somewhat larger stage at the 3,500-person venue. There's hardly any movement or action on their parts, and Turner in particular is pretty stuck in his place throughout most of the show.

Arctic Monkeys At The Apollo also barely feels like you're watching a concert. It comes across as more of a soundcheck, since there are few audience shots and the band don't spend too much time (save an "Are you alright out there?" here and there) interacting with them. It doesn't begin to feel like an actual "show" until "When The Sun Goes Down," when the band loosen up and begin to move and the audience can be heard singing along.

While the Monkeys are definitely skilled musicians and have produced two solid studio albums, what becomes apparent while watching this DVD is that they still have tons to learn in terms of live performance. Perhaps Morrissey was right when he said they "haven't paid their dues."