Arctic Monkeys: From 0 to 60 in just 5 years

The Arctic Monkeys have matured a lot in 5 years.

It was only five years ago that all the U.K. music magazines declared The Arctic Monkeys the greatest rock band ever. The band's 2006 debut Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not broke the British record for fastest selling debut album ever. And, unlike a lot of English indie rock (every band not named Oasis), the record did pretty well in the states, too.

The U.K. rock press declares a new Beatles every six months or so, but Whatever... deserved the attention. Arctic Monkeys is a goofy name for a band, but there was nothing silly about the band's obvious work ethic. They blasted through catchy and powerful guitar pop songs with the precision of expert craftsmen. And frontman Alex Turner was a slick lyricist, filling the Monkey's tunes with great observational wit and humor.


Much of what made the band such a sensation five years ago is still in ample supply in 2011 on their new record, Suck It And See (English vernacular, I'm told, for "try it if you don't believe me," though I'm sure the double entendre is not accidental). Gone is that sharp urgency that seemed to drive the band towards challenging the acceptable bpm velocity for popular music. Instead, the Arctic Monkeys come off as a finely aged, masterful and thoroughly British rock act belong alongside The Kinks, The Smiths and Blur.

Suck it and See is perhaps the band's finest. It combines the muscle of 2009's Humbug with the pop sensibilities of the debut record. Instead of speed, the band relies much more on atmosphere. The needle-sharp guitar rhythms of the debut have been replaced with reverberating arpeggio. Where previous efforts by the band were meant to move, Suck and See is about ambiance.

It's also about Turner's voice, which has mellowed nicely into a come-on croon that's much more bedroom than pub. The wit is the same, though the subject matter has tilted inward. Gone are the cultural observations and in are the contemplations of tough relationships (Hellcat Serenade Shalalala) and depression / ennui (All My Own Stunts).  Turner is a better singer, I guess, but he reminds me of Damon Albarn, the Blur frontman who traded in social criticism early on only to become much more personal (and arguably successful). Of course, Turner hasn't lost his sense of humor. Take a listen to "Don't Sit Down Cause I've Moved Your Chair."

In all, the Arctic Monkeys surprisingly sound a bit like a throwback. They're an accomplished rock band that still trade in the pub, garage and lad rock that has fallen out of vogue. Still, it would be a mistake to write off this accomplished set of new songs. They might not have the same quick snap of the debut or even the eff-yeah head-banging rumble of Humbug. Suck It And See is a smart record that needs repeat listens. It's a lot less lager and a lot more Scotch.