I've tried really hard to get into Arctic Monkeys since your recommendation. I like the lyrics (I think) but I've never really liked Alex Turner's voice. It's a shame because alongside the likes of fellow Mercury Prize winners Alt-J, they're one of the UK's most popular indie bands. But while i think Arctic Monkeys are deserving of the hype (at their best, they're brilliant storytellers: this performance of Fluorescent Adolescent is one of my all-time favourites), I don't think Alt-J are. Their lyrics are, quite frankly, stupid and the band have been deeply overhyped. I've been listening to a lot of songs by The National recently. They've always been on my radar but it was only recently that I discovered songs like Don't Swallow the Cap and Bloodbuzz Ohio. I don't highly rate them as songwriters; their songs lack coherence, but if you like taking lines on an individual basis, as I sometimes do, then they're definitely ...