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Rating: Seeing the name Joshua Michael Homme, Josh Homme for everyone, paired with that of England's most famous young gun band, namely the Arctic Monkeys, is perhaps one of the things we least expected from this rich musical year. For the record, if they had told us just three years ago, we would have laughed ourselves to tears.
And yet here they are, the odd couple. The good Homme has thought it right to produce their new album, also accompanying the guys to the Rancho De La Luna studio (El Cajon, California), where they recorded a good part of this "Humbug" (their third studio work). The rest of the recordings were completed between New York and Los Angeles, with an additional production phase from James Ford, a Simian Mobile Disco member already working on the debut of the Last Shadow Puppets (remember Alex Turner's excellent side project with Miles Kane of the underrated Rascals?).
As one can easily imagine, this time the Monkeys take a rather clear departure from their initial production; where the first albums exuded energy, immediacy, and youthful enthusiasm, the new direction of the young talents from across the channel foresees darker, more subdued, almost muffled sounds. "My Propeller" introduces well what we will find in the remaining tracks, "Crying Lightning" still maintains a certain melodic vein in the beautiful chorus, but with "Dangerous Animals" (for the writer among Turner's top five tracks ever), all the "weight" of a "master" like Josh is indeed felt; it is, in fact, a track that could easily jump out of a Queens Of The Stone Age album.
The references to Turner's aforementioned "escapade" from the still prolific parent band are also excellent ("Secret Door", "Fire And The Thud" and the perfect conclusion "The Jeweller's Hands"), while the parts closer to the band's previous proposal also convince, like the very tough "Pretty Visitors", the second announced single "Cornerstone" (a sort of "sequel" to the gem "Fluorescent Adolescent", from "Favourite Worst Nightmare") and the valid "Potion Approaching", which nevertheless maintains a rather dark atmosphere. Stale air also in "Dance Little Liar", with a filtered voice and "grooving" and menacing bass. Among the various bonus tracks, there is an effective cover of Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand".
It's appropriate to close with the words of Josh Homme himself: "Alex seems like a poet expressing himself in music, he has a special talent for words, while Matt is one of the best drummers in rock 'n' roll. This is an album where the guys become a bit strange, grow up, and go on 'trips.' It will certainly surprise several people, especially those more familiar with things like 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.' They are progressing and moving forward, trying to change, trying to push themselves and their audience in a different direction, which is a rare thing to find in a contemporary band. They are extremely confident in themselves and what they are doing."
Key tracks: "Crying Lightning", "Dangerous Animals", "Secret Door", "Pretty Visitors"
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Dangerous Animals (03:31)
Pinned down by the dark
Been fighting with my sheets
Nearly crying in my sleep
Yes, I'm battling that well taught gripe
The most frustrating type
You should have racing stripes
The way you keep me in pursuit
Sharpen the heel of your boot
And you press it to my chest
And you make me wheeze
Then to my knees you do promote me
I'm pinned down by the dark
A N I M A L
Makes my head pirouette
More than I would be willing to confess
D A N G E R O U S
The light it fidgets through
The thoughts will soon revert to you
I'm 'bout as bashful as a tribal dance
The first and final chance
And course the audience
Are frighteners and thieves
Divided up into two teams?
When the acrobat fell off the beam
She broke everyone's heart
I'm pinned down by the dark
A N I M A L
Makes my head pirouette
More than I would be willing to confess
D A N G E R O U S
D A N G E R O U S
The most unsuitable pet
It's been long enough now
So let's make a mess, lioness
I'm pinned down by the dark
I'm pinned down by the dark
D A N G E R O U S
A N I M A L
D A N G E R O U S
A N I M A L
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