Monster (The Automatic song)

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“Monster”
Single by The Automatic from the album Not Accepted Anywhere
B-side	"Night Drive" "High Tide On Caroline Street"
Released	June 5, 2006 14 May 2007
Format	7", CD, CD (maxi)
Recorded	Stir Studio Cardiff
Genre	Rock Post-punk revival Electro
Length	3:41
Label	B-Unique Records [1] Polydor Records[2]
Writer(s)	James Frost Iwan Griffiths Robin Hawkins Alex Pennie
The Automatic singles chronology
"Raoul" (2006) "Monster" (2006) "Recover (re-release)" (2006)
USA/Canada Releases chronology
"Monster" (2007) "Steve McQueen" (2008)
Music sample
""Monster"" Problems? See media help.
Remix Cover
CD#2 Cover

"Monster" is the third UK single from Cardiff based band The Automatic. The track was released on June 5 2006 and reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart.^[3] it appeared on the band's debut album Not Accepted Anywhere, and on May 14, 2007 became their first single to be released in the United States and Canada prior to the June 26 USA release of the album.^[4][5]

Contents 1 Music Video 2 Production 2.1 Meaning 2.2 Use in other media 2.3 Chart 3 Track listing 4 Releases 5 References

[edit] 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.^[6][7]

The music video was directed by Up the Resolution and was filmed in Black Park, outside of London.^[8] 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".^[9]

[edit] Production

[edit] 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".^[10]

"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.^[11]

[edit] 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. A segment of the track was also used on an CBBC advert in May 2008.

[edit] 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.

Chart	Peak	Date
Netherlands	#83	January 13, 2007[12]
UK Singles Chart	#3

[edit] Track listing

vinyl
#	Title	Length
1.	"Monster"
2.	"Monster (Trey Prefontaine Mix)"

CD single
#	Title	Length
1.	"Monster"
2.	"Night Drive"

CD (maxi)
#	Title	Length
1.	"Monster"
2.	"High Tide On Caroline Street"
3.	"Monster (Culprit One Remix)"
4.	"Monster (music video)"

7digital exclusive
#	Title	Length
1.	"Monster (Zombie Dogs Remix)"
2.	"Monster (Electro House Mix)"

USA release single
#	Title	Length
1.	"Monster"
2.	"Monster (Rock remix)"

[edit] Releases

Name	Release Date	Label	Info
Rock Hits Workout	28 October 2007	Total Fitness Music
XFM The Debut Sessions	14 January 2008	Universal Music Ireland Ltd	Live XFM Debut Sessions version
NME Presents The Essential Bands - Festival Edition	30 April 2007	Universal Music Ireland Ltd.
Now That's What I Call Music! 64	July 24, 2006	EMI UK	Radio edit
The Essential Bands 2006	13 November 2006	NME/Universal Music Ireland Ltd.
The Anthems	02 October 2006	Universal Music Ireland Ltd.

[edit] References

v • d • e The Automatic List of Tours by The Automatic • List of releases by The Automatic • List of songs by The Automatic • Members James Frost • Iwan Griffiths • Robin Hawkins • Paul Mullen • Former members Alex Pennie Albums Not Accepted Anywhere • This Is A Fix EP's Raoul EP • Live at the 100 Club Singles "Recover" • "Raoul" • "Monster "Recover (Re-Release)" • "Raoul (Re-Release)" • "Monster (USA release)" • "Steve McQueen" • "Magazines" • Related articles Peter Hill - Rock Photographer • B-Unique Records • NME Awards Indie Rock Tour • yourcodenameis:milo Record labels B-Unique Records (UK) • Polydor Records (UK) • Columbia Records (USA) •