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What would you expect to hear from an album entitled Suck It and See?  At first blush, it’s easy to envision most people would probably expect something lewd, or inherently vulgar, in nature.  Well, shock, horror!  Once all chuckling reflexes have been exhausted from the – let’s just say “provocative” – album title, you’ll find Suck It and See is a charming collection of post-punk revival ballads.  Even the album’s namesake track, “Suck It and See”, is a soft-toned love song delicately sprinkled with a vintage 1950’s vibe.  Arctic Monkeys pulled a fast one, & their cunning use of double entendre screams, “In your face, premature judgers!”   

The album is presented with some stylistic discord, though, as if frontman Alex Turner wanted to pour his heart out about love, but still maintain the band’s punk rock cred.  “Library Pictures” & “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair” are head-banging tracks that seem to have been haphazardly strewn among a bed of darling tracks, including “She’s Thunderstorms”, “The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala”, & “Reckless Serenade”.  In “Black Treacle”, Turner sings a telling line, “I feel like the Sundance kid behind a synthesizer.”  In terms of track-by-track cohesiveness, this sentiment of being “out-of-place” rings true for the few grunge-style tracks in Suck It and See.  Maybe the album would’ve been better without, but then again, maybe not.  Maybe it’s necessary to include an incongruous mix of styles to develop a deeper appreciation for the more “experimental” tracks.  However minor the album’s shortcomings, they’re redeemed by pensive lyrics & catchy melodies.

On Thursday night, Arctic Monkeys opened for The Black Keys’ second sold out show at the world famous Madison Square Garden.  Unfortunately, the term “sold out” is no indication of an audience’s influx during the start of an opener’s set.  Arctic Monkeys were greeted by a sparse crowd whose demeanor was, well, tepid at best.  This came as no surprise to the indie rock quartet from the UK.  In interviews, when asked about the band’s role in The Black Keys’ arena tour, frontman Alex Turner often referred to Arctic Monkeys as the “warm-up act”, an ambiguous expression rumored to have been of either humility or resentment.  You decide.

As fans trickled into MSG, Arctic Monkeys delivered energizing tracks from albums Favourite Worst Nightmare (“Brianstorm”, “This House Is A Circus”) & Suck It and See (“Library Pictures”, “Don’t Sit Down ‘Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair”).  After a lively performance of “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” (from Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, 2006), Turner pointed to the growing crowd, saying, “Hey, it’s fillin’ up now.  Look at that.”