They Still Make Videos: Arctic Monkeys' "Crying Lightning"

The haters are out in full force on this one. Pitchfork called it "awkward." The Mensa-ready YouTube reviewer population either don't get it or don't care. Maybe the words are justified. The video for the number one song on this week's Mixtape is as cheesy as they come: a fake ocean tossing around a fake boat while the band probably fake play their instruments. It doesn't matter.

The video doesn't need to support Alex Turner's narrative about the mysterious game at the heart of his from-love-to-hate tale of female-fueled frustration. Turner's always been a good lyricist, at times great. Gobstopper and pic-a-mints aside, "Crying Lightning" is proof that Turner is continuing to improve his tale weaving skills. I think the band made the right call by putting their playing up front - until the 100 foot spirit representations of the band members rise from the water.

The video isn't an instant classic. It certainly doesn't approach the bar that the band's "Fluorescent Adolescent" set a couple years back. But it doesn't matter. The song and writing are another positive step forward for the best band to come out of England since Oasis. Yeah. I said it. The video is just the work of a band confident enough to do what they want, how they want, with little regard for conventional wisdom.

Draw your own conclusions below.