- Audio CD
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Japan
- ASIN: B002CNV15Q
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (104 customer reviews)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. My Propeller |
| 2. Crying Lightning |
| 3. Dangerous Animals |
| 4. Secret Door |
| 5. Potion Approaching |
| 6. Fire and the Thud |
| 7. Cornerstone |
| 8. Dance Little Liar |
| 9. Pretty Visitors |
| 10. Jeweller's Hands |
| 11. I Haven't Got My Strange [*] |
| 12. Red Right Hand [*] |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It’s clear from Humbug’s moody, languid opening track, "My Propeller", that the Arctic Monkeys have changed musical tack for album number three. Following the frenetic nature of Whatever People Say I Am… and Favourite Worst Nightmare, this change of direction was perhaps inevitable, but the band seem to have gone all out to trade in the urgent pop-punk riffs of yesteryear for a series of slower, murkier atmospheres conjured up by Queens of the Stone Age producer Josh Homme and James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco). The thumping, insistent drums, Doors-esque organ sounds and twanging, curling guitars create a Gothic/fairground sound that combines well with Turner’s northern brogue and cheeky (and sometimes absurd) lyricism, especially on catchy tracks like first single "Crying Lightning" and "Dangerous Animals". Punchier cuts like "Potion Approaching" and the "Pretty Visitors" revert back to the band’s previous style, but the rolling "Secret Door" and "Cornerstone" have more in common with Turner’s Last Shadow Puppets project. At just 39 minutes, Humbug’s economy of style is matched to the general feeling of restraint and distinctive pop ethic to create a perfect new sound for Sheffield’s most famous maturing Monkeys. --Danny McKenna
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The UK music press has created and destroyed so many bands over the years, that it's always best to take a "don't-believe-the-hype" approach.
But three albums into their career, here's what we know:
1. Arctic Monkeys are the best British band of the new millennium. (Sorry Franz Ferdinand, Editors, Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, etc.).
2. Alex Turner has the wit, intelligence, and vocal chops to be ranked among the best British singer-songwriters of the past 40 years - he's up there with the likes of Ray Davies, Pete Townsend, Paul Weller, Morrissey and Jarvis Cocker.
3. "Humbug" is a major step in the band's musical evolution-Sheffield post-punk blended with the stated influences of Cream and Jimi Hendrix and produced by Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and James Ford (Simian/Alex Turner's side project The Last Shadow Puppets).
The Monkeys delivered on the hype with their brilliant debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That Is What I'm Not." They followed up with the excellent "Favourite Worst Nightmare." Now they've delivered possibly their best yet: a hard-boiled sweet called "Humbug." Along with a new maturity, there's a familiar lyrical cheekiness, too, especially on tracks like My Propeller ("I can't get it started on my own") and Crying Lightning ("My thoughts got rude as you talked and chewed/On the last of your pick'n'mix"). "Pretty Visitors" is the track most like the Monkeys of old. And standout "Cornerstone" is a song of lost love and mistaken identities reminiscent of The Who's "Disguises."
Clearly, the cheeky Monkeys have evolved into grown up rockers.
Bring on the backlash.
But three albums into their career, here's what we know:
1. Arctic Monkeys are the best British band of the new millennium. (Sorry Franz Ferdinand, Editors, Kasabian, Kaiser Chiefs, etc.).
2. Alex Turner has the wit, intelligence, and vocal chops to be ranked among the best British singer-songwriters of the past 40 years - he's up there with the likes of Ray Davies, Pete Townsend, Paul Weller, Morrissey and Jarvis Cocker.
3. "Humbug" is a major step in the band's musical evolution-Sheffield post-punk blended with the stated influences of Cream and Jimi Hendrix and produced by Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) and James Ford (Simian/Alex Turner's side project The Last Shadow Puppets).
The Monkeys delivered on the hype with their brilliant debut album "Whatever People Say I Am, That Is What I'm Not." They followed up with the excellent "Favourite Worst Nightmare." Now they've delivered possibly their best yet: a hard-boiled sweet called "Humbug." Along with a new maturity, there's a familiar lyrical cheekiness, too, especially on tracks like My Propeller ("I can't get it started on my own") and Crying Lightning ("My thoughts got rude as you talked and chewed/On the last of your pick'n'mix"). "Pretty Visitors" is the track most like the Monkeys of old. And standout "Cornerstone" is a song of lost love and mistaken identities reminiscent of The Who's "Disguises."
Clearly, the cheeky Monkeys have evolved into grown up rockers.
Bring on the backlash.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Undoubtedly, "Humbug" is a thousand miles from the spiky, infectious riffs of "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" and the days of lines such as "you used to get it in your fish nets..." from the wonderfully-crafted "Fluorescant Adolescant". This development inevitably cut many of the loose, pop-hungry listeners from the Monkeys' Fan Club, as the album slips into more powerful, harsher depths - evident from its introductory moments, delivered by forthcoming single "My Propeller", which synchronises thudding drums with an uncompromising pound of electric guitars. Abandoned are the ground-level observations noted by front man Alex Turner in a heavy and (rightly) exposed Yorkshire accent - here, it is somewhat layered with a captivating eeriness. This is perhaps most notable on track six, "Fire and the Thud", on which Turner is accompanied by softly ticking drums and a bittersweet riff. Yet the likes of "Pretty Visitors" offers something quite contrary. It displays with perfect extravagance Arctic Monkeys' true capabilities. "What came first, the chicken or the d***head?" spits Turner, before ploughing on with chaotic force, until the song melts into its gothic, organ-laden chorus. The likes of "Dangerous Animals" (where, yes, the song's title is shouted out letter by letter - but unforgiving? Really?) is as deliciously engrossing as its fellow tracks, and, lyrically, is superb. "Cornerstone" is something slightly more romantic with a sweet, slow-paced melodic background, whilst "Dance Little Liar" offers a spooky combination of twanging guitars, and the hypnotic ease of Turner's and that of the backing vocals. "The Jeweller's Hands" will most likely provoke the use of "replay" several times, if not just for its beautiful end, where soft chants meet electric guitar solos and the album reaches its spectacular conclusion. "Humbug" certainly leaves the listener asking "What next?" in terms of Arctic Monkeys' development as one of the most significant alternative groups of the last decade. Although regardless of their next move, "Humbug" is a positive stepping stone in the right direction. 10/10.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This time around the Monkeys have decided not to try and make `What Ever People Say I am...' again. That was an album that a band gets to make once and it should be left at that. The decision then to work with Josh Homme and James Ford was a very good idea. From the start you can see the results. `My Propeller' is dark and moody with subtle menace. First single `Crying Lightning' is then a plodding and intriguing track that grows into spitting venomous chorus. Yet through that Turner's pop sensibilities hold it up as something really good. Ironically the thing actually now feels like a dream or a nightmare with tracks like `Dangerous Animals', `Secret Door', `Fire and the Thud' and `Dance Little Liar'.
Ultimately everybody's influence on it is carefully balanced to create a coherent and original whole. It will be interesting to see what they do with the tracks live, but for now this is solid and promising from one of Britain's brightest hopes.
Ultimately everybody's influence on it is carefully balanced to create a coherent and original whole. It will be interesting to see what they do with the tracks live, but for now this is solid and promising from one of Britain's brightest hopes.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The best so far
Humbug is the Arctic Monkeys best album so far, but its a grower. Unlike Favorite Worst Nightmare there arent many tracks that blow you away at first, but eventually tunes like... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Imperiatrix
Perfection
If you're yet to be convinced that this album is not their best, you can trust me, as I was once one of you. Read more
Published 2 months ago by arcticmonkeys...
Under-rated
This album is completely under-rated and has been very unfairly criticised. It may take a couple more plays than the previous two did before the songs stand out, but once they do... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Stu62
Humbug
I can't resist putting the word "bah" first. This album is absolute rubbish, never getting out of first gear and the only reason it got a star from me is because I couldn't leave... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Lolboy
3rd time "lucky"
Forgive the title, there was clearly no luck involved with the creation and delivery of this album. Pure talent, plain and simple. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. Frampton
Tuneless drone
Yeesh. Why is there such a poor pattern with British bands? As always, make two good albums and then lose the plot. Read more
Published 7 months ago by CTM
WPSIATWIN/FWN? Forget them.
Basically, this album is fantastic. There's no weak track. The singles ('My Propeller', 'Crying Lightning' and 'Cornerstone') are the strongest songs on the album. Read more
Published 10 months ago by David Pollard
Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
Arctic Monkey's threw the world a surprising curve ball with their third studio album Humbug, changing their musical direction quite considerably and releasing an album of... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gentlegiantprog
2 FOR 10
This album is the epitome of a 2 for 10 pound record,shops bulging under the weight of cds.Look in any second hand record store and sold copies of the Monkeys "back catalogue" are... Read more
Published 13 months ago by mister joe
Item never received
I bought this item over a week ago with my free prime next day delivery and still haven't received it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ms. E. J. Csizmazia
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