Arctic Monkeys Review

OK so I have decided to get into reviewing after being informed by a friend that he had just received his press pass for the Edinburgh Film Festival. Needless to say I was more than jealous so I am taking up reviewing in order to get me some free stuff.

First up is the new album by Arctic Monkeys aptly titled Suck it and See. I was pretty early on the bandwagon when I managed to get hold of a bootleg cd with about 20 demos on it back in 2005. At the time it got played endlessly at every party in our flat which meant by the time the album was officially released I was pretty much over it. Favourite Worst Nightmare had a few highlights but on the whole didn’t really do too much for me especially not in the way those early demos did. Humbug isolated me even more apart from a few songs namely cornerstone but overall I just didn’t get it. So I am no diehard fan of the Arctic Monkeys. Admittedly I was quick on the band wagon but even quicker off it.

Track list

1. She’s Thunderstorms
2. Black Treacle
3. Brick by Brick
4. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala
5. Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair
6. Library Pictures
7. All My Own Stunts
8. Reckless Serenade
9. Piledriver Waltz
10. Love is a Laserquest
11. Suck It and See
12. That’s Where You’re Wrong

So a brief overview of the album is that this is a band in transition. This album is most certainly one of two sides. Side one is the Arctic Monkeys of old keeping fans of their earlier work happy while side two explores new ground. If I am being honest I wasn’t looking forward to this album at all after hearing Brick by Brick and Don’t Sit Down. Both songs felt like just the same old Arctic Monkeys and did absolutely nothing for me. The production throughout this album even on the songs that I consider weaker (not bad) the production quality is still second to none.

So let’s Suck it and See

Opener She’s Thunderstorms is not the most exciting song you will ever hear but is a beautifully crafted and a decent opener. 8/10

Black Treacle is the standout track off the first half of the album. With a simple guitar riff intro into the baritone vocal of Alex Turner before the drums come pounding in. It moves along rather nicely leering you in to a sense of security and predictability “One of those game you are gonna lose but you wanna play it just in case” and then the hook grabs you “Now Its getting dark and the sky looks sticky more like black treacle than tar”. I have no idea what this means nor do I care when it sounds so beautiful when delivered only to be interupted by small guitar solo/lick that would sound perfectly at home on The Bends. 10/10

Brick by Brick I didn’t think too much of it when I first heard it however in the context of the first half of this album it fits in rather well and is a definite grower. The production again is top notch and the solo when the song breaks down is fantastic and as good as anything on the album. 8/10

What a fantastic name for a song The Hellcat Spangled Shalalalala is. This song is sure to keep previous fans happy and I can see it being a massive hit at the festivals with the big shalalalala being sung by the masses. This sounds like Arctic Monkeys of old. This song is being hyped by some critics as the stand out track but not for me. 8/10

Don’t sit down because I moved your chair. This is as heavy and is as close to Humbug as the album goes. On first listen I wasn’t a massive fan however it is certainly a grower and has some of the weirdest lyrics on the album such as “do the Macarena in the devils layer”. There is also a catchy hook with a big Yeah yeah yeah Another grower. Play it loud! 8/10

Library Pictures this is the turning point of the album. It starts like a song that would fit straight on favourite worst nightmare. It’s a frenzied bass driven until it breaks down into a dreamy pop song and then bursts back into the ferocity of how it began. This song is the changing point of the album up until this point there has been few surprises the songs have been great just not exceptional with the exception of Black Treacle. This song showcases both the ferocious base driven songs of previous albums and when it breaks down into a dreamy pop song that is a sign of what is to come. 9/10

All my own stunts see the band slowing down a bit even though the music is heavier. This song at 3.50 does feel like it drags a little which is a shame really. Another Grower but perhaps the weakest song on the album. 7/10

Reckless Serenade this is when the album really kicks into gear. Alex Turner croons “I’ve been trying to figure out what it is a need” and this kind of beautiful dreamy 60’s pop seems exactly what it is they need. 10/10

Piledriver Waltz is the most instantly loveable song on the album. Given the full band treatment after it appeared on The Submarine Soundtrack. Amazing intro! This song is hypnotic and is certainly up there with the best songs the Arctic Monkeys have released. 10/10

Love is a laserquest. Turner sings “When I’m not being lost I pretend that you are just some lover”. This is a beautiful love song again very hypnotic and could be classed as pure phycadelia. 10/10

Suck it and see "I poured my heart into a pop song I couldn’t get the hang of poetry that’s not a skirt girl that’s a sawn off shot gun and I can only hope you got it aimed at me" sums up the complexity of this very simple song. This is as pop as the Artcic Monkeys have ever been and I can tell you know they do it perfectly. A simple amazing Beach Boys esq song. 10/10

That’s where you’re wrong. “Jealousy in technicolor fear by name and lover by numbers” They finish an album again with a 2 chord masterpiece. This on the first listen will not affect you as some of the others do. Another grower but once it gets under your skin it is simply mesmerising. 10/10

The second half of this album sounds like a revolution but not one of teenage angst but of beautifully crafted melodic pop song writing and poetic lyrics. These songs grab you by the eyes and put you in trance they are well and truly hypnotic. I love how the album as a whole is about everything and nothing. The second half of this album will be as important to the music scene in the next 5 years as it was when Dylan went electric. From reckless serenade onwards these are some of the most beautifully crafted jangly pop 60’s esq phycedelia you will ever hear. I for one can wait to hear the next album if they carry on how this album finished.

Overall 9/10