Suck It and See

The valedictorians of indie rock's class of 2006, Sheffield's Arctic Monkeys were on critics' lips everywhere with their rousing debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Since then, Alex Turner and the boys grew out of their teenage years and gradually moved from snotty garage punk to a more muscular, classic rock-influenced sound. 2009's Humbug first explored this sound to mixed results, but Suck It And See (an old UK slang term meaning, more or less, "try it, you might like it") finds the group fully settling into their newfound Hendrix, Stones, and Sabbath influences. The new record is far hookier and infinitely more inviting than its more difficult predecessor. The hazy "She's Thunderstorms" opens the record with a convincing late-'60s vibe, though it's difficult to tell if they're spinning off John Lennon or Noel Gallagher. "All My Own Stunts" in particular packs no shortage of swagger, especially with Queens of the Stone Age howler Josh Homme lending backing vocals. Stabs at a more aggressive pub-rock sound like "Brick by Brick" could still use a little honing, but will suffice for now. Though it's highly unlikely another Arctic Monkeys record will ever match their debut, Suck It And See makes substantial progress in moving these chaps from teenaged punk rockers to purveyors of a more seasoned brand of guitar rock. Judging from all the stadium rock posturing, the Monkeys have no inhibitions about possibly becoming the next Oasis. Whether that's a good thing remains to be seen.