Arctic Monkeys (Domino)
Fans expecting more of the same will go away let down by Humbug, which seems exactly how the Arctic Monkeys want it.
The musical vibrancy and the incisor wit that defined their first couple of records have been shoved to one side for album number three; like the man says, whatever people say they are, that’s what they’re not.
Humbug bears producer Josh Homme’s signature as much as it bears Alex Turner’s, and the record suffers accordingly.
This is the first Arctic Monkeys record to place the sound above the songwriting, and it’s a murky listen.
My Propeller isn’t much more than a couple of filthy innuendos stretched over a forgettable guitar line; Dangerous Animals and Potion Approaching don’t even have humour to leaven their dreary riffery.
When Turner bothers to write some tunes things go better but Humbug is the sound of a band struggling to grow up, taking one step forward but two steps back.
WILL FULFORD-JONES
