Humbug

the arctic monkeys' much-anticipated third effort was co-produced by queens of the stone age frontman josh homme and james ford. 'humbug' is a voyage somewhere new - it's a richer, darker and more powerul sound. it's heavy yet melodic mixing offhand self analysis with verbal assaults. turner's charismatic vocals remain centre stage with that sweetening flutter of vibrato. the songs remain stories - fabulously wrought and told, set to thrilling and adventurous music. it's a more grown up album of irony, guile, riffs and tunes, yet it still very much the arctic monkeys.