Culture

If only given a few listens, Suck It and See could be easily misconstrued as an album swept along the tide of 60’s revivalism. Furthermore, those who have paid little attention to the Arctic Monkeys’ continual musical evolution might find the lack of a punk ethos on this album weighty disappointment. However, it’s not that the quartet has lost their spark, they’ve merely adopting a more mature and academic songwriting approach, perfect executing simplistic progressions and possessing an abundance of hooks, which compensate for the album’s lack of intensity.

The majority of the album is composed of cleverly constructed yet mostly unchallenging pop tunes. Fortunately the unusually robust sound of ‘Don’t Sit Down Because I’ve Moved Your Chair’, paired with the spontaneity and ingenuity of ‘Library Pictures’, propel the album with a much-needed midway shove. Following this is ‘All My Own Stunts’, easily one of the strongest songs on the release, featuring both the wild imagery of Turner’s lyrics - ‘sorrow slow dances around the edges of her eyes’ - and a subtle cameo from Queen Of The Stone Age’s Josh Homme.
 
In comparison to the Monkey’s earlier material, Suck It and See scores averagely. Whilst solid and competent throughout, albeit periodical brilliance, it seems too comfortable and well-rounded. Nonetheless, this new album consolidates the innovations of their three previous albums, which were diverse, genius and groundbreaking. It seems certain that the Monkeys’ next release will be a milestone, either marking an early demise or a seminal turning point in their ascending career.