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Arctic Monkeys
Humbug
Domino
Article written by
James G - Sep 10, 2009
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Arctic Monkeys - Humbug, indeed!
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These are the facts:
Arctic Monkeys are a massively successful band, selling many hundreds of thousands – probably millions - of records. Their internet-based rise to fame means they are often heralded as being significant of a shift in the way that bands can attain ‘success’. The lead singer, Alex Turner, sings in his native Sheffield accent, and the songs are often accounts of gritty, raw, working-class youthful experiences. Their third album, ‘Humbug’, is produced by Josh Homme (QOTSA) in the Mojave Desert and LA and James Ford in Brooklyn. The album consists of 10 tracks, and is regarded by many as having a somewhat ‘darker’ feel than their previous 2 albums.
This is my opinion:
This band represent a ‘wrong’ Britain in 2009. Vacuous, binge-drinking, queuing for hours to audition for the ‘X-Factor’… a writhing, unwell nation, where pure nastiness and veneers count for more than real, charming wit and soul. Yes, soul. There’s no soul in ‘Humbug’. There’s moments where, sonically, they can sound similar to The Smiths at their most turgid. Here and there are rhythms of an almost Kinksish nature. And, all too often, there’s sounds that bring those masters of the moronic – Oasis – to mind. More disturbingly, however, there is a tendency to veer off into proggish territory, particularly on ‘Secret Door’ and ‘The Jeweller’s Hands’. Yes, there’s also the cheeky ‘wit’, supposedly reminiscent of the mastery of Jarvis Cocker, on ‘Crying Lightening’, and ‘Cornerstone’ (the best track on the album – which doesn’t mean I think it’s good). But it’s a nasty ‘wit’. It’s teenage girls with hard faces outside shopping centres taking the p*** out of the man with learning difficulties. It’s a lyric like ‘what came first – the chicken or the dickhead?’’ on ‘Pretty Visitors’. I get that the songs are supposed to be upfront and powerful – I GET THAT. But I don’t think there’s the subtlety, talent or, as mentioned earlier, SOUL here to pull it off. These songs – both lyrically and musically - leave an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Ugh.
In conclusion, Arctic Monkeys are massive – and will continue to be massive. Loads and loads of people will buy this record, and will watch them at shows all over the world. I, personally, won’t be one of them. But what I think won’t change a thing.
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