Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See

They're back.

It's been six years since "don't believe the hype" became the ironic soundbite of British indie music - and the gradual decline of favourability the Arctic Monkeys have suffered since has come faster than most bands would endure over decades. The general consensus about 'Humbug' was that, whilst good, the hooks had gone. This of course will divide opinion in itself, because tracks such as 'Cornerstone', 'Crying Lightning' and 'Fire and the Thud' expanded the band's horizons. They were probably never intended to become instant hits in the same vein as '...Dancefloor' or 'When the Sun Goes Down', and if anything, saved the band from monotony.

Their fourth album, 'Suck it and See' is almost a bridge between the two. Opening track 'She's Thunderstorms' might very well be a nod to 'Crying Lightning' in name, and does carry much of the romanticism-with-odd-wordplay thematics - but musically it's more skiffle, more 60s, less sinister. "She's been loop-the-looping around my mind..." Turner croons, with a voice somewhat older and warier than a 25 year old, whilst the track ebbs to and fro a drum-filled chorus that triumphantly announces a return to form. 'Black Treacle' layers upon riffs to reinforce the nostalgic vibe, introducing the first "did he really just say that?" moment with:

Now I'm out of place and I'm not getting any wiser,
I feel like the Sundance Kid behind a synthesiser

Upon hearing the first taste of the album a few months back, 'Brick by Brick', I was a little disappointed. It certainly seemed to alienate a proportion of the fanbase (perhaps those a little uncomfortable with the notion of the Arctic Monkeys going glam-rock) - but with the rest of Suck it and See it seems in context. There's nothing lyrically of note here - indeed "I wanna rock'n'roll!" sums it up - and after a few listens the culture shock might wear off, but for now it remains something unexpected. Heavily rumoured to be the record's second single, 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala' is fantastic. "She flicks a red-hot revelation off the tip of her tongue" adds another tick to the alliteration box (there'll be a graph below).

Lead single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' is gloriously daft, full of prepostorous lyrics ("wear your shellsuit on Bonfire Night") and a devilishly simple and ear-grabbing riff. 'Library Pictures' is their loudest venture since Brianstorm, and much of the same quick-pace, distorted vocals and disjointed rhythms. There does seem to be something a harsher, rockier sound throughout the record and that much is clear on 'All My Own Stunts', with riffs that Queens of the Stone Age or Foo Fighters might be happy to throw at you, whilst lyrics of cowboys and Westerns give weight to the more American influences.

Called up to listen to the voice of reason
and got his answering machine
- Reckless Serenade

One of the best lyrical pieces is 'Reckless Serenade': sacrificing a little time and rock-n-roll hubbub for a piece not dissimilar to their debut. Many fans will already be familiar with 'Piledriver Waltz' from the Submarine soundtrack Alex worked on solo earlier this year - the Suck it and See version a little more padded out, less acoustic, but still retaining its gloriously retrospective and subtle instrumentation. 'Love is a Laserquest' continues this approach; opening with some of the record's most revealing lyrics ("do you still feel younger than you thought you would by now?") and closing with the equally blunt "well i've found a better method of pretending you were just some lover".


The title track offers "That's not a skirt, girl, that's a sawn-off shotgun / And I can only hope you've got it aimed at me" as a form of infatuation, but the track itself isn't really a highlight; it just meanders along the same path as much of the rest of the record. We finally reach 'That's Where You're Wrong' which is all heavy basslines and a fittingly precursory tale ending, saying that "time has got it in for" them - perhaps a complaint about life's fast pace as one of the world's biggest bands, perhaps concern over time constraints on a relationship.


On the whole - the record is probably my second favourite of theirs (after Favourite Worst Nightmare). Of course the debut made the biggest splash and contains them at their young, careless best - but for me the world-weary, romantic, tentative Turner makes for much better and emotional music. Sonically there's a distinct sense of nostalgia about the record, with richly American rock-n-roll influences that some might find a bit of a barrier - but in what is surely a "let's break America!" move, that can be forgiven. Most critics of Humbug will be pleased with this though - the tracks are less inclusive, more immediate and hooks have been fastened on generously. For now, it's safe to be excited about the Monkeys again.

Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights: The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala, Library Pictures, Reckless Serenade, She's Thunderstorms, Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair, Love Is A Laserquest
Avoid: Suck it and See, Brick By Brick
Artwork Watch: Not really much to work with here, boys. "Oooh! I get shades of The White Album!" at a push.