Pitchfork

Arctic Monkeys' "Teddy Picker" already has the distinction of being the best (only?) extended metaphor about a crane game ever set to music, but soon, it can claim another honor: its very own single. Domino Records will issue "Teddy" in the UK December 3 on 7", 10", CD, and download, with a digital-only release to hit North America the following day.

All but the 7"-- due to size, of course-- will feature not only "Teddy Picker" and a cover of Pat Farrell and the Believers' 1969 classic "Bad Woman" featuring Mr. Richard Hawley on vocals, but new Monkeys tracks "The Death Ramps" and "Nettles" as well. Maybe when you're older, 7".

All this, of course, comes as the band is on a rare break in their mighty world tour (which picks up again November 27 in France). No last-minute addendums have been made to that itinerary at the moment: perhaps this single is, in fact, the last screech we'll hear from the Monkeys in 2007? I dare not comment; we've spoken too soon on the matter before.

"Teddy Picker" CD/10"/download:

01 Teddy Picker
02 Bad Woman [ft. Richard Hawley]
03 The Death Ramps
04 Nettles

"Teddy Picker" 7":

A1 Teddy Picker
B1 Bad Woman [ft. Richard Hawley]

Monkeys:

11-27 Nantes, France - La Trocardiére
11-28 Tournefeuille, France - La Phare
11-30 Madrid, Spain - La Riviera
12-01 Barcelona, Spain - Espacio Movistar
12-03 Cologne, Germany - Palladium
12-06 Amsterdam, Netherlands - HMH
12-08 London, England - Alexandra Palace *
12-09 London, England - Alexandra Palace *
12-11 Manchester, England - Manchester Central *
12-12 Manchester, England - Manchester Central *
12-14 Aberdeen, Scotland - AECC *
12-15 Aberdeen, Scotland - AECC *

* with the Horrors, the Rascals