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ALBUM REVIEW: ARCTIC MONKEYS 'SUCK IT AND SEE'

9 June 2011 | 10:57 am | Staff Writer

Arctic Monkeys return at the grand old age of 24 with their 4th record & self-proclaimed “grower”, Suck It and See. Reviewer: Richard Scott.

ARCTIC MONKEYS - SUCK IT AND SEE

DOMINO

From pimply adolescents to full-blown rock n’ rollers, Arctic Monkeys return at the grand old age of 24 with their fourth record and self-proclaimed “grower”, Suck It and See. A grower you say? Not to sound crude, but are we talking about penises? Because in penis terms a “grower” – unlike a “show-er” – is a penis that on first inspection won’t look too impressive but will subsequently enlarge when aroused. Will this new CD grow into an impressive veiny beast, or prove to be a flaccid disappointment? Perhaps you’ll have to suck it and see.

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Wow, I instantly regret writing that. But in truth, you will have to give this record a fair few listens to appreciate it. It’s not the urgent sound we've come to expect from Arctic Monkeys. And neither is it a return to their earlier uncomplicated style as suggested by critics. This doesn't have the explosive intro of View from the Afternoon or Brianstorm. If anything it’s [third album] Humbug part two, and the sounds of a band taking a more traditional approach.

The first thing you’ll notice is the lyrics. They are front and center on every track, with singing chosen over the talking or the shouting. And like Humbug, Alex Turner has replaced the conversational topics with the poetic or cryptic. It’s hard to tell if lines like “That’s not a skirt, girl/That’s a sawn-off shotgun/And I can only hope you’ve got it aimed at me” are a clever joke or just not very good. First single Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair has some particularly cringe-worthy moments. But as we know, the boy can write some pearlers – and Piledriver Waltz has some of the best, including:

You look like you’ve been for breakfast at the Heartbreak Hotel,

And sat in the back booth,

By the pamphlets and the literature on how to lose,

Your waitress was miserable,

And so was your food.

The boys have also shed their punkier, speedier DIY approach in favour of a more even and restrained sound. They still bust out some quite ridiculous guitar solos (like on the Grinderman style Brick by Brick), but largely it’s more measured and “dad-rock” sounding.

In interviews, the band have admitted to being inspired by more classic grown-up rock n’ roll hits whilst making this record [in California’s famous Sound City Studios] and to a large degree it shows in the multi-layering and overall structure of the CD. But a few too many songs here (Black Treacle, Love is a Laserquest, Suck It and See) are almost background music. It’s very warm and sunny, but it’s very samey in parts. It seems to have lost that punch somewhere.

The frantic Library Pictures is the stand-out meaty erection - with the Arctics sounding more like their old selves. With it’s circling drums, building riffs and danceable bits mixed with fleeting quiet moments, this one is closer in style to something off [second album] Favourite Worst Nightmare. They’re showing off and it suits them. But at just over two minutes long, you’ll be left frustrated if you’d expect more of the same.

After a few listens, Suck it and See isn’t a terrible album. But it’s a missed opportunity. After their second album [2007], I felt the boys were heading in a very exciting direction -hinted at by songs Do Me a Favour and 505 - but they seem to have got side-tracked. You can blame Josh Homme if you like. It was Josh that took four northern lads out of Sheffield and put them in the desert, and encouraged them to grow beards and adopt unfamiliar Tecate-swigging Texan swagger on [third album] Humbug. You can only imagine the boys had a great time in warm and sunny LA making their fourth effort. But you can’t help but wonder what might have happened if they had just stayed in South Yorkshire, in the cold and in the wet and with their tales of stolen sweethearts and bakeries and punch-ups and running from taxis. It might not have been as much fun for them, but it certainly would've made for better listening for us.

RICHARD SCOTT