Arctic Monkeys

Humbug is a very different album from the bands previous releases, so those looking for the same geezer inspired rock are in for a surprise. For those who don’t know the story, the band enlisted the help of Queens of the Stone Age front-man Josh Homme to produce seven of the 10 tracks on the album. They sent him a few working tracks and he invited them to America to be a part of his now infamous “Desert Sessions”.

While the album is still distinctly Arctic Monkeys, it has taken a much darker and more psychedelic direction; you can feel Homme’s influence all over it, particularly on tracks like “Potion Approaching” and “Dangerous Animals”.

“Potion Approaching” starts like an old Nirvana track – wearing its influences on its sleeve – but soon spirals into something darker as it breaks down into a psychedelic slow groove; while “Dangerous Animals” is saved from being a trite spelling of words in its chorus by the drummer’s frenetic pace, which keep the song new and ever changing.

Alex Turner hasn’t, not by any stretch, lost his delicious wordplay or observations of every day life. The current single “Crying Lightning” has gorgeous phrases like “You occupied the bench like toothache… Stood and puffed your chest out like you’d never lost a war.”

The track “Cornerstone” is arguably one of Turner’s finest moments. He keeps seeing his ex in the faces of all the women he meets and asks to call them by her name. He dreamily sings “I elongated my lift home/ Yeah I let him go the long way round / I smelt your scent on the seatbelt/ And kept my shortcuts to myself.” It’s a beautiful piece of song writing.

Artic Monkeys have proven that they can’t be pigeon-holed and are constantly challenging themselves and moving in different directions. They have shown that they will continue to be a band to watch and grow. This can only be a good thing.

Miranda Boyce

Arctic Monkeys

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