Arctic Monkeys planning fourth album

Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders has revealed that the band have already discussed the recording of their next album – although they plan to take time out before gearing up work on it.

The drummer told BBC 6music that the band, currently on tour in the UK, plan to whittle down potential songs for the album further down the line.

"We're already talking about when we can record again, but I still enjoy being on tour as well," he said.

He added: "It's good to have time to work stuff out, then at least you can start doing the quality control before and actually record what you think is decent, rather than recording hundreds of songs to then find out you only like 10 of them."

Arctic Monkeys recently played two nights at London's Wembley Arena as part of their tour. They released their third album, 'Humbug', in August.

Arctic Monkeys releasing James Ford-produced album this year

Arctic Monkeys have started work on their fourth album with producer James Ford - and are hoping to release it later this year.

NME understands that the Sheffield four-piece started sessions at the end of 2010 in London, and are continuing work on it in Los Angeles.

Alex Turner and co are reportedly hoping to release the album in late spring at the earliest.

The new record will be the follow-up to their 2009 effort 'Humbug', which was co-produced by Ford along with Josh Homme. His other production credits include the band's second album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare', Klaxons' 'Myths Of The Near Future' and work on Florence And The Machine's 'Lungs'.

The band are already confirmed to headline Ireland's Oxegen Festival in July and are expected to be confirmed for V Festival as well as further UK events.

Arctic Monkeys new album studio photos revealed online

Photos from Arctic Monkeys' new album sessions in Los Angeles have been posted online by directing team Focus Creeps.

The Sheffield band have been working with producer James Ford on their fourth album, with the pictures posted up by Ben Chappell, one half of the directing pair, at http://twitter.com/imsohigh and http://twitter.com/focuscreeps (first linked by music blog Weallwantsomeone.org).

Focus Creeps comprises Chappell and Aaron Brown – the pair have worked with acts including Girls, Los Campesinos!, Cass McCombs and Delorean in the past. See http://www.focuscreeps.com for examples of their music videos.

Jennifer Aniston's neighbours tell Arctic Monkeys to keep it down - Daily Gossip

Arctic Monkeys may have relocated to Los Angeles to work on their fourth album, hiring a Hollywood mansion for the duration of recording, but have apparently been warned to keep the noise down by their new neighbours.

According to the red-tops their house, which has eight bathrooms and a spa, swimming pool and library, is in a neighbourhood with properties owned by the likes of Jennifer Aniston and porn baron Larry Flynt. According to one of those ol' anonymous sources, "Locals are worried a rock band moving in would ruin the peace and quiet they’re used to, so the lads have been told not to play their music too loud." And we thought LA was a rock'n'roll haven... (The Sun)

Arctic Monkeys release new song 'Brick By Brick' online – audio

Arctic Monkeys have released a new song called 'Brick By Brick' online.

Scroll down now to watch a video of the track, which is the first material to be unveiled from their new album sessions.

The song appeared on the band's website Arcticmonkeys.com this afternoon (March 4).

Footage in the video hints that the track was produced at Hollywood's Sunset Sound Studios by longtime producer James Ford. The band recorded their new album in the Los Angeles district, and although it currently has no confirmed release date, the four-piece recently scheduled a series of festival dates and two hometown gigs in Sheffield this June.

Watch the video for Arctic Monkeys' 'Brick By Brick' below.

Arctic Monkeys' new album 'Suck It And See' out in June

Arctic Monkeys have named their new album 'Suck It And See', and will release it on June 6.

The album, their fourth, was produced by James Ford at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. It features 12 new songs including 'Brick By Brick'.

The album will be the Sheffield band's first since 2009's 'Humbug', which Simian Mobile Disco man Ford also did some production work on, alongside Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme.

It will arrive just before the band's Sheffield Don Valley Bowl gigs, set for June 10 and 11.

The tracklisting of 'Suck It And See' is:

'She's Thunderstorms'
'Black Treacle'
'Brick By Brick'
'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala'
'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair'
'Library Pictures'
'All My Own Stunts'
'Reckless Serenade'
'Piledriver Waltz'
'Love Is A Laserquest'
'Suck It And See'
'That's Where You're Wrong'

Arctic Monkeys: ''Suck It And See' is more poppy than 'Humbug''

Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders has told NME that the band's new album 'Suck It And See' is "more poppy" than their last effort.

The album, out on June 6, was produced by James Ford at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. It features 12 new songs including 'Brick By Brick'.

Helders said that it was a more accessible effort than 2009's 'Humbug'.

“Some of the songs are a bit more instant," he explained. "A bit more poppy, certainly than ’Humbug’ was."

He added: "It's enjoyable for us and the listener. And it's maybe a bit more easy going. Not easy listening, but with a few poppier tunes. But in an interesting way."

The sticksman claimed that on 'Suck It And See' the Sheffield band had a strong vision of where they were going musically.

"With 'Humbug' we recorded 25 songs and narrowed it down afterwards," he said. "This time we had a clear idea of where we were going before we even went to the studio."

Arctic Monkeys man discusses 'rude' 'Suck It And See' album title

Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders has said he doesn't mind if people interpret his band's new album title 'Suck It And See' as rude.

The drummer admitted that some could think the name a bit of a naughty one, but he said he wasn't bothered.

"To us, it sounds like an atypical British thing," he told NME. "I don't think it's a saying that people worldwide would use or even understand."

He added: "In America people will probably interpret it as rude. Which is fine, it's quite funny."

Arctic Monkeys recruited Josh Homme to sing on 'Suck It And See'

Arctic Monkeys have revealed that they enlisted Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme to sing on their new album.

Homme produced some of the band's 2009 album 'Humbug' and has joined the Sheffield band again to sing on their new effort, 'Suck It And See'.

The band told Q that Homme sings backing vocals on album track 'All My Own Stunts'.

'Suck It And See' is out on June 6 and was produced by James Ford in Los Angeles and London.

Frontman Alex Turner said it would be a different-sounding record to 'Humbug'. "We wanted it to be song-based this time," he said. "We used to always try and not go down that route before, because it had been done. But there's a reason why they're the classic structures."

Arctic Monkeys announce first single from 'Suck It And See'

Arctic Monkeys have announced that 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' will be the first single from their new album 'Suck It And See'.

The band will release the track digitally on April 11. They will also release a limited-edition white-label seven-inch vinyl version on Record Store Day, April 16.

That vinyl version features 'Brick By Brick', a song they have posted online already, as its B-side.

The single will also then be released formally on May 30 on standard seven- and ten-inch vinyl single formats. These and the full digital release will feature new B-sides 'The Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap' and 'I.D.S.T.', neither of which appear on the new album.

Arctic Monkeys on 'Suck It And See': 'California didn't change us' - video



Arctic Monkeys have claimed that their decision to record their fourth album 'Suck It And See' in California hasn't affected their sound.

The band were speaking to NME in a new video interview - watch it by clicking above.

Singer Alex Turner said: "As long as it's us four, it doesn't matter where we go to record, it always has that thread."

He added that the seeds of the album were still sown in the UK.

"We started writing as soon as we finished touring last summer," he said. "We then had the summer to write and then we put it all together in London in a couple of weeks last year."

The album was produced by James Ford, who did production work on their 2009 third album, 'Humbug'. The new record features a guest backing vocal spot from Queens Of The Stone Age's Josh Homme.

Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner calls for new band to 'turn the charts upside down'



Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner has called on a new young guitar band to come and "turn the charts upside down."

The frontman was talking to NME in response to recent debate in the press about guitar music supposedly being in trouble.

But in our cover feature, on UK newsstands now, Turner claimed that the next big thing was likely to be a "naïve" young guitar band - just like his band was when they emerged in 2005.

"Everyone thinks that the next big thing has got to sound really modern and new, but to get something that sounds fresh, it can just be three kids with guitars and not a lot else," he said. "There's enough username-and-password music already, know what I mean? I hope it does happen again, though."

Turner admitted that while they had moved on musically with new album 'Suck It And See', there was space for a new band to come and follow in their footsteps.

"Because we’ll never get that initial naivety back," he said. "You can't, like, fake that thing, like what's on the first record. It's just a time and a place… but yeah, I'd love for a band to come through and turn the charts upside down for a couple of weeks."

Arctic Monkeys unveil video for 'Don't Sit Down...' single - video

Arctic Monkeys have unveiled the official video for their new single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' - scroll down and click below to view it.

The psychedelic promo features filmed band rehearsals intercut with various bits of general footage, including highlights of a Sheffield Wednesday football match.

Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' is the first single from the band's fourth album 'Suck It And See', which is released on June 6.

The track is available digitally now, a limited-edition white-label seven-inch vinyl version of the new single will also be released on Record Store Day, Saturday (April 16).

That vinyl version features 'Brick By Brick', a song they have posted online already, as its B-side.

Arctic Monkeys reveal 'Suck It And See' album artwork



Arctic Monkeys have chosen a rather minimal design for the cover for their new album 'Suck It And See'.

The artwork, pictured above, features nothing more than a white background with the album title written in black capital letters.

The album is the band's fourth full-length effort and will be released on June 6. It features the single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' plus 'Brick By Brick', which they have already released online.

'Suck It And See' was produced by James Ford, who worked on their last album, 2009's 'Humbug'.

Alex Turner reveals meaning of Arctic Monkeys' 'Don't Look Down…' single

Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys has revealed the lyrical inspiration of the band's new single 'Don't Look Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' to NME.

The frontman explained that the song title and content arose from a studio session he was taking part in for his soundtrack to the Submarine film.

"That's something [the title] someone said," he outlined. "In fact, I said it to somebody whose chair I moved and I didn't want them to hurt themselves."

He added: "This was while we were in the studio doing the Submarine recording and James [Ford, producer] said, 'Oh, that sounds like it could be like a '60s garage 'Nuggets' tune and be called that. So then we thought, 'Well, OK if that's what you can't do, then what sort of ridiculous things can you do that are probably more dangerous than if you just sat down?"

Arctic Monkeys' Matt Helders: ''Suck It And See' is more mellow than 'Humbug''

Arctic Monkeys' new album 'Suck It And See' is "more mellow" than their third LP 'Humbug', according to drummer Matt Helders.

The band are due to release 'Suck It And See' on June 6 - with Helders also claiming that it will go down very well with big festival crowds. Speaking to The Fly the sticksman said: "Some of the tunes on it ['Suck It And See'] are a bit more melodic than 'Humbug' was. It’s probably a bit more mellow on the whole."

He added: "There are bits in there that are heavy and bits that are fast, but in general a lot of the tunes are based on, I suppose, a more traditional way of writing songs."

Helders also said he hoped the band's new track 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala' would go down well with the festival masses. "It has got quite a big chorus," he claimed. "Singalong stuff and simple choruses seem to work with a big crowd."

Arctic Monkeys say new album was influenced by David Bowie and Nick Cave - video



Arctic Monkeys have explained how they turned to older masters such as David Bowie, Nick Cave and Lou Reed for inspiration when writing their fourth album 'Suck It And See'.

The band were speaking to NME in an exclusive video interview – watch it by clicking above.

Frontman Alex Turner said: "I wanted a good song foundation on this one, so that meant listening to Nick Cave, John Cale, Lou Reed, [David] Bowie, Leonard Cohen. And then as it went in and we put it through the mill of the band, other influences came into it, but I started with that to try and craft songs better."

Drummer Matt Helders also discussed the feedback he's had based on his lead vocal on 'Brick By Brick', saying: "It's been good for me. I've enjoyed every comment that I've seen." When pressed for his favourite comment he'd read he said: "'You sing like a crow'. I don't know if it were intended to be a compliment, but I took it as a compliment."

Arctic Monkeys reveal 'Suck It And See' studio footage – video

Arctic Monkeys have unveiled footage of them recording their new album 'Suck It And See' - watch it by clicking below.

In the video the band discuss the recording of their new album and in particular the LP's opener, 'She's Thunderstorms', which you can see them putting together in the clip. Frontman Alex Turner also reveals that much of the album was recorded using live takes and that he feels the band "took their time a lot more on this album."

The band also discuss the Los Angeles Sound City Studios where they recorded, remarking that they are pleased to be recording where Nirvana created 'Nevermind' and Slipknot also laid down tunes.