Everyone was looking for Arctic Monkeys to finally deliver a flop when they oddly released this stand-alone single in the middle of their debut album's record-breaking mania. Alas that time was not to pass (and really hasn't happened yet) as "Leave Before The Lights Come On" was just as well-written and musically satisfying as the best of what Whatever People Say I Am... had to offer. The magic could still be found in Alex Turner's melodic, ragga-affected vocal sulking in post-one night stand regret betwixt the band's winning blend of semi-mellow punk-pop furor, proving that none of the mega-hype had killed their impressive songcraft ability. Gym Class Heroes wish they could be as cool as the Monkeys yet this embarrassing cover explains why they never will.

Sounding as lost as when the Sugababes attempted "I Betcha Look Good On The Dancefloor" (I'll give Tom Jones' version some credit for it's camp value), Gym Class Heroes just don't seem to have the know-how to handle "Leave..."'s engaging intricacies. Yeah, Alex Turner isn't all that great of a singer, but compared to Travis McCoy's drowsy Julian Casablancas-like reading, Turner sounds like Whitney Houston. As he screws up the lyrics while his backing band awkwardly fumbles the arrangement (the underlining 60's girl group shimmy is a tad likable, though), you get the feeling mid-way through that McCoy doesn't even want to finish, as if he suddenly realizes how disastrous it's all becoming. Travis' concluding ad-libs, some of the most lifeless "nah-nahs" ever, end things on an even worse note, leaving your jaw agape at the travesty of the preceding four minutes.

Damn, where's Patrick Stump when you need him.



Download: "Leave Before The Lights Come On (Arctic Monkeys Cover)" (YFH)