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Arctic Monkeys return with their fourth album Suck It and See. Following the darker and heavier side of third album Humbug many have been interested in what this fourth album would be like. As a whole Suck It and See is a lot poppier than Humbug was, the band give us a welcome return to melodies and grooves that many of us missed with Humbug. James Ford who produced the first two albums is back on production duties, which are flawless throughout. This is an album, which will draw you in with its tunefulness rather than guitar riffs.
The album opens with She’s Thunderstorms which could be regarded as the most beautiful song this band have written, “In an unusual place, When you’re feeling far away, She does what the night does to the day”. Black Treacle continues with the melodic vibe set by the opener. Brick by Brick steps things up a notch, with a slightly heavier rock and roll feel. The Hellcat Spangeld Shalalala is quite simply the best pop song I have heard all year whilst Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair goes back to the darker side of Humbug. Library Pictures is the only song on the album that sounds like it could have fitted on the debut album and is sure to be a live favourite. Love is a Laserquest and Reckless Serenade highlight a lot of the albums lyrical content concerning relationships, and love “When she walks her footsteps sing a reckless serenade”. Piledriver Waltz is the sound of summer in a three and a half minute pop song. Alex Turner’s song writing has progressed a great deal since the debut album where the lyrical content was very sharp, witty, clever and observational. With this album he has shown a lot of Dylan-esque quality and mystery in the lyrics and he is able to retain all that cleverness, meaning, beauty and poetry. In the title track he sings “you’re rarer than a can of dandelion and burdock, and those other girls are just post mix lemonade”. Album closer That’s Where You’re Wrong, musically has a Stone Roses feel to it.
This is an album that is going to divide people, there are some that will consider it as Arctic Monkeys playing it safe and losing their edge that they had with Humbug. Then there are those that will love the melodies and the lyrics and see this as a welcome return to form.
What this band have achieved in such a short space of time and such a young age is incredible, lets not forget they are only just hitting their mid 20’s. Their debut album made them more successful than they thought they should be at the time. Instead of just getting carried away with their success the band have stayed with their feet firmly on the ground, developed themselves as musicians, and song-writers. Suck it and See is further evidence that Arctic Monkeys are the most important and best British guitar band of their generation.
Rating: 9/10
Steve Tay
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