Arctic Monkeys explore new musical paths

By Stephen Morris     9/10/09 7:00pm

As is the case with many aspects of Arctic Monkeys' latest album, the title Humbug draws attention because of its unexpectedness. The word's meaning nowadays is akin to "nonsense" or "gibberish," but fortunately for listeners the songs themselves are anything but. Arctic Monkeys reach in very different directions for influence and inspiration this time around, and the resulting collision between their old and new styles works impressively well.

The choice to diverge from their old style was certainly a bold one. Arctic Monkeys have been a huge success with their kinetic, angular brand of post-punk since their 2006 debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Its raw and unrelenting sound, coupled with frontman Alex Turner's witty, minutely detailed lyrics, made it an instant classic, setting fire to the charts in Britain and drawing plenty of attention Stateside as well.

They continued to impress with Favourite Worst Nightmare, showcasing a fuller, more mature palette while maintaining the unbridled energy that endeared them to so many. Now enters Humbug, a seemingly strange detour on a path that seemed foolish to turn from.

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Leading up to the album's release, some - including myself - felt no small amount of apprehension about Humbug. As the early reports on Arctic Monkeys' progress trickled in, all signs pointed to them abandoning their signature style for a slower, more plodding feel.

The clues were many: wearing Black Sabbath shirts to photo shoots, listening to Cream and Jimi Hendrix and working with producer Josh Homme, better known as the main man behind Queens of the Stone Age. All were acts with plenty of merit, but not ones that seemed like appropriate influencesfor the band.

Humbug indeed puts the brakes on the tempo, but rather than slogging through the mud as some feared this album would, it is instead a glorious trip through the surreal, slowing down to explore the spaces between the sounds and the details.

The music, overall, is certainly a departure. The drums aren't quite as frenetic, the guitars are layered with more fuzz and the bass is noticeably more prominent than in their treble-heavy past. However, some of Arctic Monkeys' signature elements are still present: Their halting rhythms, casually intermingling lead guitars and harmonized choruses all duly make their appearances and fit nicely into the mix.

In particular, "Crying Lightning," besides having one of the best song titles ever, blends the old and new sounds masterfully, with a thick, buzzing bass trundling underneath serpentine guitars and Turner's unmistakable croon. Turner does an impeccable job on this album: He uses his voice to perfection, sometimes savoring the syllables before letting them roll off his tongue, other times spitting his words with such rapid-fire disdain one wonders how foul a taste they must have had.

And his lyrics are as sharp as ever, filled with images of fools, freaks, the forlorn and the fantastic. One of his finest lines comes in "Secret Door:" "She swam out of tonight's phantasm/Grabbed my hand and made it very clear/There's absolutely nothing for us here." Turner's strengths as a lyricist are exemplified by his clear imagery interspersed with fascinating, atypical elements.

"Cornerstone" is another lyrical standout. Recalling a night spent stumbling from pub to pub searching for a lost love, so to speak, the song ends with a humorous and unexpected twist. Turner's lyrics take a darker turn along with the music, but they are the perfect words to paint onto such a canvas.

Humbug, both musically and lyrically, explores new territory for Arctic Monkeys, and succeeds in transforming their sound without sacrificing their dynamism. It is a strange trip, but definitely one that is worth taking. Time will tell whether Humbug represents a permanent change in direction for the band or merely a detour. Either way, this is a band to follow.

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