Pitchfork

There's hype and then there's HYPE. The Sheffield, England-based baby band Arctic Monkeys have somehow harnessed the power of the video iPod, Asian bird flu, the Arcade Fire, and Samuel Alito into one big blazing ball of buzz, resulting in mass hysteria and the UK-chart-topping debut of their second single ever, "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor".

And now, Arctic Monkeys plan to make that storied trip across the pond and conquer the American charts as well. (Good luck, guys!) Only they're half-assing it. According to Domino Records' US wing, the band will release the "Dancefloor" single in North America on November 29 on vinyl only, although it's already available as an EP on iTunes. Both versions include "Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweathearts" and the instrumental "Chun Li's Spinning Bird Kick" as b-sides. The Arctic Monkeys' debut full-length will be released on February 21, 2006, at which point the world will explode from too much excitement.

Of course, no British invasion is complete without a full-on assault of this continent's major media outlets. Wait, there's no Chicago on the tour schedule. What are we, chopped liver? France, Germany, Canada, Japan, but no Chi-town?! Fine, we'll just go snuggle up to Art Brut.

By the way, don't yell out requests for "I Predict a Riot", or Arctic Monkeys may go all Ryan Adams on you:

11-04 Lille, France - Les Inrockuptibles, Aeronef
11-06 Nantes, France - Les Inrockuptibles, Olympic
11-07 Paris, France - Les Inrockuptibles, Olympia
11-08 Bordeaux, France - Les Inrockuptibles, Theatre Barbey
11-10 Berlin, Germany - Mud Club
11-11 Cologne, Germany - Underground
11-12 Munich, Germany - Atomic Café
11-14 Toronto, Ontario - Lee's Palace
11-15 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
11-16 New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
11-18 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
11-19 San Francisco, CA - Popscene @ 330 Rich
11-23 Tokyo, Japan - Daikanyama UNIT (two shows)

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