See stuff for
| Rating |  |
| Album name | Humbug |
| Artist | Arctic Monkeys |
| Label | Domino |
| Release date | 24 Aug |
Anyone who has paid close attention to the utterances and activities of Alex Turner over the past couple of years won’t be taken aback by Humbug. The Arctic Monkeys mainman has made no secret of his admiration for Scouse psychedelicists The Coral, while his affection for 1960s stylings were laid bare on the creatively rich Last Shadow Puppets diversion. Thus it comes as no huge surprise that the pithy kitchen-sink punk drama of yore has been largely discarded in favour of deeper, richer and more lysergic textures. Recorded in America with QOTSA singer Josh Homme and Simian Mobile Disco’s James Ford, the album showcases a band at the top of their game. On opener, My Propeller, Turner’s menacing croon makes clear his progression from Sheffield sixth-form poet to fully formed singer. The record is equally confident elsewhere whether on the elegiac and wistful Cornerstone or the Doorsy closer The Jewellers Hands. Humbug proves that it’s possible for a phenomenon to grow older gracefully.
I can't say I've had much time for the Monkeys in the past, but this collaboration with Homme intrigues me.
This album is utter shit. How boring, dull, emotionless, and pointless can you get than My Propeller, Crying Lightning and a whole host of other 'tunes' on here.
The Twang release a lively, catchy album and you lot give them a 2/5, and here the Arctic Monkeys are as disappointing as ever and you praise them?
Journalism these days is utterly meaningless. You lot have already made up your minds before you heard that music.
Oasis and The Twang get criticized cos it's 'cool' while the Arctic Monkeys get praised because they were tainted as the next big thing and the media doesn't want to admit they made a mistake in their hype.
I'm sick of all you 'journalists.' If I was your manager, I'd fire you for straight up lying.
You're a pathetic excuse for a journalist.
I'm pretty sure Oasis get criticised because they suck.
The Twang are sub par Coldplay, end of.
Go home son, your mum's got cake.
Erm...weren't The Twang and Oasis were touted as 'the next big thing' at one point?
Oasis gets criticized 'cause it's basically the same shit album after album, and I say that 'cause I'm a fan. The Monkey are constantly evolving their sound with each album. You think it's dull, but that doesn't mean everyone does.
The twang are idiots, coldplay are hacks, Mr. Homme at least has balls
BF - The Twang - you having a laugh mate?
This album is pure genius. Turner's lyrical ability never ceases to amaze me. Homme's input has developed the monkeys sound and the result is a damn good album.
Highlighhts: Crying Lightning, Secret Door and the beautiful Cornerstone.
Some of the monkey's finest work here.
The sound is completely different from older Monkeys albums. I do prefer the faster tone of their previous albums, but this darker, cynical tone still sounds great. Great work, Monkeys.
It all comes down to personal preference.
How can you not have time for the arctic monkeys and how could you possibly ever consider them boring.
It is clear that you have no taste in music what so ever.
Although I must admit I preper the b-sides and EP's better than the albums that is not to say that they aren't pure genius.
I am so excited about the next album that will just stand to prove how they can not to boring as it is completley different to Favourite worst nightmare just as it was to their first album.
Alex's voice sounds different in almost every one of their new songs it is amazing.
I honestly think someone should shoot you.
Sorry but I support what BF has said. This band has been severely over-hyped from the word go. And they know it. They must wake up every morning wondering when the penny is going to drop with the music journos. It's GCSE level lyric writing at it's best, tuneless and the only good thing going for them was that raw energy they displayed. At a stroke with Humbug they have disenfranchised most of their fan base. The trouble with this band is that, despite Alex Turner's acclaimed ways with words, they come across as charmless, monosyllabic and now arrogant. They have failed to engage with the people of Britain in any meaningful way, despite the efforts of the trendy media. It's all very sad, but an inevitable result of the wya new bands are acclaimed as the gratest thing ever, only to be shot down a couple of albums later. Ah well. You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but time is running out.
Oh dear... some of the ignorant comments here are quite pitiful really. I don't think there's really any point arguing with these pathetic idiots (BF, Virgil), better to ignore them, as they clearly have absolutely nothing between their ears.
@BF
While i agree with you that this album is nothing special i disagree with your love of Oasis and The Twang.
These bands get criticized because they are terrible.
Have you ever heard the old philosophical question "If Oasis released an album, in the middle of a forest, and no-one was around to hear it...would it sound exactaly like the last one"?