Arctic Monkeys - Humbug

It looks like these Sheffield boys have came back from the sweltering desert in Josh Homme land with some balls, as their third effort is a real shift in style and complexion from their past two albums which were definitely a little more acceptable in terms of the mass public's opinion on what proper music is, where this album, is a bit of a harder listen.

So the Monkeys open with 'My Propeller', a nice jaunting track, where the guitar lines actually reminiscent the sound of what we think a propeller would sound like when it's old and battered. Alex Turner doesn't disappoint with his lyrics either, as usual he comes up with quirky lines like 'Coax me out my low and have a spin of my propeller' which could sound sexually deviant when you think of it.

Track two, would come in the form of 'Crying Lightning', which is also the lead single from 'Humbug'. It's a grower, especially for a single, it doesn't have the impact most lead singles would have, but again, lyrically it delivers, may I suggest how lyrics these days are never as good as this 'And your pastimes consisted of the strange, the twisted and deranged and I hate that little game you had called 'Crying Lightning''. After 'Crying Lightning' we enter 'Pound' mode 'Dangerous Animals' which has a Black Sabbath aura to it, with the main riff is a hard pounder which is destined to enter your head along with the chorus which equally pounds itself to the back of your mind 'D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S A-N-I-M-A-L'.

As 'Humbug' progresses on it's dark and wonderful path, we soon encounter 'Potion Approaching' which is another thumper, it's another song you feel that Mr. Homme might have had a bit of an influence over, which is obvious, as he's produced most of the tracks, but you could argue that certain parts do sound very Homme-ish in terms of his guitar playing style and unique sound which the Monkeys seemed to have stole and made it their own. Despite all that, it's Arctic Monkeys at their best, music is solid and lyrics present as ever. When 'Potion Approaching' finishes, we are blessed with a song called 'Fire And The Thud' which has a very special guest on it, Miss. Alison Mosshart of The Kills/Dead Weather. Although her role in the song is just backing vocals and she only appears in the last minute and a bit. However, the song wouldn't work any other way, as Alex Turner and co, already add their dreary and murky label on it, Alison just applies the finishing touches with her echoing and haunting voice which simply pierces your heart like a nail through the eye.

Towards the end of the album, 'Cornerstone' gives us a nice little ballad about keeping your short-cuts to yourself and picking up the scent of your girlfriend on the seatbelt, despite that, 'Mardy Bum' fans would be happy with this effort for another genuine sing-a-long. 'Pretty Visitors' gives us a slight bit of comedy in the line 'What came first the chicken or the dickhead?' and another bit of Josh Homme pops up again with the dark echoing vocals in the background to a ferocious guitar riff and drum beat dominating proceedings. Now, something the Arctic Monkeys are very good at now comes into play and that's writing excellent closing songs for an album, and just to refresh your memory may I mention how good 'A Certain Romance' and '505' are? Well, here comes another one, 'The Jeweller's Hands'. They display many styles in this song, like Psychedelia, Rock and maybe some elements of Jazz (Probably in the drumming). The song is also basically, Arctic Monkeys on The Doors and my reference to this would be in the later half of the song where Alex Turner scarily brings Jim Morrison back from the dead as he isolates us and brings our defences down further as he sings 'If you've a lesson to teach me I'm listening, ready to learn. There's no here to police me I'm sinking in until the return. If you've a lesson to teach me don't deviate, don't be afraid. Without the last corner piece I can't calibrate, let's get it engraved'. Even the lyrics would resemble something Jim Morrison would write and if anything, that speaks volume for Alex Turner's song writing capabilities and the rest of the band also do their bit, by keeping a very tight rhythm that haunts us with it's mellow and black perceptions until the final note.

'Humbug' has been a very pleasant surprise, hopefully a departure from their previous work and they can enter a new world of mystery and deviant behaviour. It's hardly going to be winning any awards or going to be album of the year, but who gives a fuck? Arctic Monkeys are a band that's not going to fade away within a few years, they're here to stay and this album demonstrates that.

4/5


Linus Broadbent.