| "Monster" | |||||
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| Single by The Automatic from the album Not Accepted Anywhere |
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| B-side | "Night Drive" "High Tide On Caroline Street" |
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| Released |  June 5, 2006 14th May 2007 |
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| Format | 7", CD, CD (maxi) | ||||
| Recorded |  Stir Studio Cardiff |
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| Genre | Rock Post-punk revival Punk rock Electro Pop |
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| Length | 3:41 |
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| Label | B-Unique Records [1] Polydor Records[2] |
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| Writer | James Frost Iwan Griffiths Robin Hawkins Alex Pennie |
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| The Automatic singles chronology | |||||
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Remix Cover
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CD#2 Cover
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"Monster" is the third single from Cardiff band The Automatic.. It was released on June 5 2006 and reached #4 in the UK Singles Chart, but entered at #23 the week before based on downloads alone. The track is from The Automatic's first album, Not Accepted Anywhere. The song has been featured on a number of compilations including Now That's What I Call Music! 64 (U.K. series).The song was released for the first time in the USA, as their first US single, on 14th May 2007.[3] Prior to the June release of 'Not Accepted Anywhere' in the USA and Canada (as well as their USA tour and Vans Warped Tour slot), "Monster" was released as the first single 14th May 2007.[4]
Contents |
Music Video
The video features the band playing monster hunters in false beards and hiking gear. They travel in an old van draped with camouflage and newspaper articles that refer to monsters, UFOs and Nessie, and James Frost plays his guitar solo standing on top of the van. The characters encounter Nessie and Big Foot but remain oblivious to their finds; when they return to the van they are surrounded by monsters who are destroyed by a UFO, which then zaps the band as they exit the van.[5][6] The music video was directed by Up the Resolution[7] and was filmed in Black Park, outside of London. The US version is mostly the same, however the opening title features the name "The Automatic Automatic in Monster" whereas the UK version (the original version) opens with "The Automatic in Monster".[8]
History
Meaning
The lyrics seemingly refer to someone taking drugs, with the "monster" representing the person's behaviour under their influence, or perhaps while coming down. This is most clearly evident in the first two verses, with the lines "Brain fried tonight through misuse" and "Without these pills you're let loose". [9] "Monster" is about falling into a pattern of going out and binge drinking. The monster is the drunken person who depends on getting like that to have a good time.[10]
Use in other media
It was featured in the Doctor Who Confidential episode The Fright Stuff, first screened on July 24, 2006; the song played over a montage of clips featuring monsters from both the classic and new series of Doctor Who. In August of the same year it was used on the soundtrack of episode 4 of the BBC Three series Sinchronicity. A segment of the song was used the soundtrack for a 2006 commercial for the Sky Box Office showing of King Kong. It also featured at the start of the Torchwood episode Countrycide. Since 2006 it has been used as an intro for the French television programme Le Grand journal de Canal+ on Canal+. In early 2007 it featured on the soundtrack of the first episode of Primeval on ITV1. It is used for the 'Beth Ditto - Bone Collector' sketches in the third series of the BBC Three sketch comedy show, Tittybangbang. Monster is also featured on Fifa 08 on EA Trax.
Chart
The track remains the biggest hit that the band have had, reaching #3 in the UK singles chart. The track also re-entered the charts at 34 in January 2007 when digital downloads were made to be allowed in the charts, "Monster" and "Raoul's re-release" then competed for success in the UK Charts.
Track listing
- "Monster"
- "Monster (Trey Prefontaine Mix)"
- "Monster"
- "Night Drive"
- "Monster"
- "High Tide On Caroline Street"
- "Monster (Culprit One Remix)"
- "Monster (video)
- "Monster" (Zombie Dogs Remix)
USA Track listing
- "Monster"
References
- ^ B-UniqueThe Automatic at B-unique Records
- ^ PolydorList of artists signed to Polydor Records
- ^ MonsterUSA Release of 'Monster'
- ^ MonsterUSA Release of 'Monster'
- ^ Making Of Monster
- ^ Monster2006 Music Video 'Monster'
- ^ Factory Films
- ^ AutomaticAutomatic Monster video
- ^ Music News'Monster' is about
- ^ The SunMonster Interview
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| Tours • Discography • Members • Songs • | |
| Members | James Frost • Iwan Griffiths • Robin Hawkins • Paul Mullen • |
| Former Members | Alex Pennie |
| Albums | Not Accepted Anywhere • Untitled |
| EP's | Raoul EP • Live at the 100 Club |
| Singles | "Recover" • "Raoul" • "Monster "Recover (Re-Release)" • "Raoul (Re-Release)" • "Monster (USA release)" • |
| Related articles | Peter Hill - Rock Photographer • B-Unique Records • NME Awards Indie Rock Tour • yourcodenameis:milo |
