On August 19 2009, Arctic Monkeys released their anticipated third studio album Humbug, a collection of 10 songs with album lengths of 39 minutes and 15 seconds. This album stands out most from the others, mostly because it was nothing like their previous two albums that were more Garage Rock and Indie Rock. When Humbug came in the mix, the album had a more Psychedelic Rock tone, a new sound that had not been heard from the English Band-and maybe that’s why this album in particular to me is one of the best albums they ever made. From having Lead Singer Josh Hommer from Queen Of The Stone Age, hop on to produce the album and you can hear him in the beginning of Dangerous Animals such a niche touch on the song. One of the things that makes this album so good is not just Alex Turner’s voice but Matt Helders on Drums because Alex does sound amazing but if it wasn’t for those drums I don’t think I would love the album as much as I do. Along with drums, the smooth guitar and bass playing from Jamie Cook and Nick O’malley that amplify the songs to be so beautiful. This particular album really just shows you what Arctic Monkeys can musically do and why they always will have a cult following, because it really is just that rock’n roll.
This album is spectacular but some songs that are particularly powerful and that really stood out to me in particular were five tracks.
My Propeller: it’s the first track and shows you the new but familiar sound of Arctic Monkeys, it’s just a stunning moment of the intro with a fast hit of drums, it sends you off to a few seconds of the guitar riff and then you hear the opening lyrics. From there that’s what is so powerful about the song, you’re just gliding through the song with Alex’s voice being so seductive it’s just an ascending experience. For the lyrics themselves they are a little funny, with many different assumptions of what it could be about, to sexual suggestives but also use of drugs. Yet Alex spoke up about it being about the mood of depression. When you take a deeper look I can see what he means but the song does have an underlying tone of sexual tones I can see why fans think otherwise. As the song progresses from being seductive it switches to dangerous sound. Where the last minute of the song is what always gets me is the moment where everything intensifies, all instruments and his voice complement each other.
“If you can summon the strength, tow me
I can’t hold down the urgency
You’ve got to make your descent slowly
And oil up those sticky keys”
“Coax me out my low
And have a spin of my propeller
My propeller won’t spin and I can’t get it started on my own
When are you arriving?”
Crying Lighting: Second Track on the album, after My Propeller you’re swept up into Crying Lightning with a different tone. This song reminded me of their first two albums but this song was more amplified with the Psychedelic Rock tone. When listening to the lyrics it’s a tale, you’re transported on this ride about manipulator partner and the tactic they use-Alex’s sings about the little game they do using crying lighting as metaphor for Tears/Crying to guilt trip their partner and get away with this bad behavior. Arguably one of the best songs to come out of the album that’s loved among the fandom, I personally love the riff towards the end; it’s electrifying.
“Your pastimes, consisted of the strange
And twisted and deranged
And I love that little game you had called
“Crying Lightning”
And how you like to aggravate the ice-cream man on rainy afternoons”
Dance Little Liar: Sung in third person in Dance Little liar is about cheating and the effects of a cheating partner and the unraveling effects of that relationship. The song title “Dance Little Liar” is also a metaphor for how “The Liar” will be kinda dancing around when being questioned and not being an honest partner. You can hear out throughout the song the liar will never give a clear cut answer. This song has a very similar sound to My Propeller but more of a dessert-ty tone. It’s the buzz of Alex’s seductive voice that is just intriguing throughout the whole song. Also the buzz that you feel from those drums to bass/guitar strums that blends in so perfectly with Alex’s voice. When solo guitar happens towards the end that whole sequence is just a dessert-ty tone that’s just chef’s kiss.
“Just like those fibs that pop and fizz
And you’ll be forced to take that awful quiz
And you’re bound to trip
And she’ll detect the fiction on
Your lips and dig a contradiction up
And the clean coming will hurt
And you can never get it spotless
When there’s dirt beneath the dirt
The liar takes a lot less time”
“The liar takes a lot less
Time to decide on his saunter
Have you got itchy bones
And in all your time alone
Can you hack your mind being riddled
With the wrong memories”
Pretty Visitors: A song filled with metaphors that make you go, what is this British guy singing about? Pretty Visitors is one of those songs but the simple breakdown with this particular song is Alex singing about the Band’s success. Specifically their personal experience with it. Talking about when entering the industry at a young age can take a toll on you mentally. It can have you not sleeping enough and also drug use can happen and it is common in the music industry.I think what’s also so good about this song is just the fast pace of singing to drum, guitar/bass. It’s the sound we know and love from the band. Pretty Visitors is a song that makes me wanna give a 14 minute standing ovation because that’s how incredible they sound. Mostly to Matt Helders on those drums.
“Trudging through the morning
And the tramp with the trampoline under his arm
Shifts past your whiskers so stark is the charm
But the barking alarm waits coiled ’til the corner is turned
And the bicycle wheels all struggle to move round
In your muddy mind, blatantly caked and
Unwilling to wind uncooperative time”
“All the pretty visitors came and waved their arms
And cast the shadow of a snake pit on the wall
All the pretty visitors came and waved their arms
And cast the shadow of a snake pit on the
What came first, the chicken or the dickhead?
Split sleep reaps rewards from ill-fitting thoughts
The twilight forced you to go on a walk
Your legs start running, and your leg gets caught”
Dangerous Animals: The songs lore with Alex singing about being haunted by a woman who doesn’t want him. The lyrics are a little bit funny to me, mostly the delivery of them with Alex’s Accent, I love that. Also this man is about nearly crying and losing his breath. It’s a very catchy song, it’s a heavenly song. The beginning is literally the best thing in the world, getting to hear Josh Homme’s voice is really such a nice touch. It’s an incredible intro. My favorite thing about this one is Alex spelling out Dangerous Animals throughout the song. I love how it’s more guitar/bass centered but drums in the beginning just an ascending sound. This is just a terrific song that is just perfect to my ears.
“Been fighting with my sheets
And nearly crying in my sleep
Yes, I’m battling that well-taught gripe
The most restraining type
You should have racing stripes
The way you keep me in pursuit
Sharpen the heel of your boot
And you press it to my chest and you make me wheeze
Then to my knees you do promote me
I’m pinned down by the dark”
“A-N-I-M-A-L
Makes my head pirouette
More than I won’t be willing to confess
D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S”
As you can tell I love these five songs with my heart, I think they are beautiful songs that make you wanna dance, to sing, to hum. That’s the magic of the English band and once again I wish I could give a 14 minute ovation to them. In all seriousness if you’re hesitant to get into Arctic Monkeys and don’t know where to start I would start with Humbug. I think it showcases Alex’s singing that you’ll love, personally his British accent that always is there when he sings. It especially eases you into their other albums but mostly importantly it’s an ascending experience to listen to the album and I wish I could listen to it for the first time again.
