Buzzin Music

Arctic Monkeys: Humbug

The Arctic Monkeys released their third album, Humbug, yesterday amidst much anticipation and expectancy.

Personally I felt the second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare was released too soon after the excellent debut Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not and though included some good songs, lacked any real progression.  Both albums reached no. 1 in the UK.

Eighteen months on, the third album, Humbug sees the band look and sound more mature.  The amusing well versed lyrics are still present but the music has more depth, with several strains of rock expanding the indie pop/ indie rock sound of the first two albums.

“Outside the cafe by the cracker factory
You were practising a magic trick
And my thoughts got rude and you talked and chewed
On the last of your pick n mix” – Crying Lightning

The opening track My Propeller is a great song with Alex Turner turning in a good Morrissey impression and shows similarities to Mark E. Smith’s drawl on Dangerous Animals. Other tracks revert to the bubblegum indie pop rock of previous albums.  But after three or four listens I am really appreciating the diversity the album offers.

Humbug features 10 new tracks including the current single, Crying Lightning produced by Queens Of The Stone Age lead vocalist Josh Homme in the Mojave Desert and Los Angeles and James Ford in Brooklyn.

Arctic Monkeys are Alex Turner, Jamie Cook, Matt Helders and Nick O Malley.

Arctic Monkeys Tour Dates:

21st August      Highfield Festival, Erfurt, Germany
22nd August     Pukkelpop Festival, Hasselt, Belgium
23rd August      Lowlands Festival, Holland
28th August      Leeds Festival, England
29th August      Reading Festival, England

The band is to embark on a North American tour September 14 in San Diego.

14th September San Diego, CA @ Soma
15th September Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium
16th September Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
19th September Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
19th September Seattle, WA @ The Showbox @ Market
20th September Vancouver, BC @ Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park
22nd September Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
23rd September Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
25th September Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
26th September Milwaukee, WI @ Eagles Ballroom
28th September Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
29th September Toronto, ON @ Kool Haus
30th September Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
2nd October New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
3rd October Houston, TX @ House of Blues
4th October Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival
5th October Dallas, TX @ The Palladium Ballroom

6th November Zenith, Paris, France