Arctic MonkeysHumbug
Domino Records [2009]
Fire Note Says: The tone is different but the swagger is still there!
Album Review:
I don't know if you should call the third record from the Arctic Monkeys "mature", but Humbug for sure is a stylistic shift. It is not a record that contains the pep of early single "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor" from their debut or the snarl of "Brainstorm" off their sophomore record but an album that shows off an expansion of their songwriting, more creative freedom and probably the toughest one for fans to absorb. This is not a negative because their debut was so instantly infectious that it could have been easy for the Arctic Monkeys to follow the same path record after record. Instead we have Humbug, a record by definition that is intended to deceive; a hoax, a fraud, nonsense or rubbish. Not necessarily stellar adjectives but in this case Humbug means change of pace, laid back and a band that is not going anywhere. The Arctic Monkeys could have been swallowed by their own success right out of the gate but instead have Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age) as a producer, created a smokey and dark toned record and wrote one of their best tunes ever in "Cornerstone". Since Humbug is not as immediate you will need to give the album multiple spins to enjoy it but overall it is the perfect third record that gives the band full creative authority to go any direction on album number four - that is one step closer to being a career band versus a flash in the pan!
Key Tracks: "Crying Lightning", "Propeller", "Cornerstone"
Bands With Similar Fire:
The Smiths
Babyshambles
The Strokes
Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare [Fire Note Review 4/24/07]
Arctic Monkeys: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not [4/10/06]
Official Arctic Monkeys Website
Arctic Monkeys MySpace
Arctic Monkeys Info [Allmusic]
Domino Records
-Reviewed by Reece Michael
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