| Full Review | Ratings (1516) |
Give your Rating |
4.0 excellent | kingmchris | July 31st 09 | It took them an album to refine their sound, but "Humbug" takes the Arctic Monkeys into an intense, dark, eerie (Pink Floyd/Queens of the Stone Age) atmospheric world and lets them all do their thing. Just missing some more cool bass lines like the debut album.
2 Bumps | Bump |
4.0 excellent | PaddyPooHead | August 17th 09 | This is seriosuly growing on me, a bit underwhelming on 1st listen but the more i hear it the more I think this could be one of the albums of the year.
1 Bumps | Bump |
2.5 average | Knoxvillelives | August 8th 09 | I love Whatever People Say and think Favourite Worst Nightmare was even better and that the pair really defined and exemplified a particular sound and period of British Music and will be remembered as classics.
Humbug feels like a third album by a totally different band. Lyrically and in vocal delivery, Turner has, not to put too finer point on it, disappeared up his own arse. It all sounds a lot cleverer than it is. The fantastic imagery, turn of phrase and storytelling has, for the most part, been replaced by the sixth form style poetry heard on The Last Shadow Puppets side project (where it worked well with the music).
Most of the songs are huge clashes of rythm and melody; the drums often feeling like a caricature of the fantastic beats on FWN. This is an album intentionally devoid of hooks and therefore takes some listens to get used to.
It's not awful, but its by no means great. It's okay. The vast majority of Arctic Monkeys fans will be disappointed and the sad thing is, there's a lot of people out there who could love the album but wont give it a listen because 'it's that band who got famous through myspace'.
It's not a step forward or backward, it's a step sideways into the shoes of the band they want to be but, for me, it's not a great listen.
Best Track: Cornerstone
1 Bumps | Bump |
4.5 superb | Tom2704 | August 8th 09 | My view of this album is if you like Whatever I Say I Am....you are probably going to hate this album.
1 Bumps | Bump |
0.0 | holyroach | August 8th 09 | Much slower-burning than previous works, also much better. Better musicianship, better song writing. No longer do the songs have unecessary filler parts - everything sounds relevant. Song structures are much less generic this time around. Overall, their best work so far.
1 Bumps | Bump |
4.5 superb | Gene Gol-Jonsson CONTRIBUTOR | May 16th 24 | It was about time I wrote some positive Arctic Monkeys soundoff about the olden days. Remember when 'Humbug' was the contentious album? With the passage of time, I am more than ready to admit this is probably their best work still, their catchiest songs, most distinct stylistic excursion, most balanced and consistent album.
Bump |
3.0 good | charlopiano | June 20th 21 | There are some tracks that I'm absolutely crazy for (especially Secret Door), but the album as a whole felt a little forgettable, but I realized that I was a pretty big fan of Alex Turner's lyrics, which kinda influenced how I view the Monkey's other projects.
Bump |
3.0 good | lordsonam | May 4th 21 | Secret door and cornerstone are the highlights for me. They're 5/5
Bump |
4.0 excellent | butcherboy | June 11th 17 | easily their best album, at least from a sonic perspective.. their first two were barrels of youthful fun, but you can't sustain that sort of philosophy for long before you end up sounding like a jackass.. Homme brings some damn sophisticated arrangements for them too and the album is dark and hazy and fucking great! unfortunately, they ended up sounding like jackasses after all, with their latest, a collection of half-baked rap instrumentals..
Bump |
4.5 superb | jeffreyalexander | June 11th 17 | This album holds a certain theme and sticks to it. The album feels like an Early November night filled with fog and rustling leaves with Halloween decor still dangling homes and storefronts. My Propeller is a very weak song off of Humbug but it doesn't compare to the weakness of "Brick by Brick". One of the best parts of the album are the haunting choruses followed by clean vocals. A prime example of this is Crying Lightning where Alex chants "twisted and deranged...." and then this soon switches to a longer sentence followed by some guitar and then a completely different pathway to the song. As if the song is taking you towards a path. This album is by far my favorite by Arctic Monkeys, that being said though I wouldn't want them to delve back into this sound on their new album.
Bump |
3.0 good | Alex C. | January 15th 16 | It's an ok disc, definitely influenced by its producer. But the stoner-rock influences do not really flow nicely with their roots and the disc is hit-and-miss more than it should have been.
Bump |
5.0 classic | Windsor40 | December 1st 14 | Whatever the opinion of the reviewer, this album is and remains one of my favourite records from one of the most amazing bands from the 21st century. This record is simply perfect, there's no hitch about it. It's both easy to listen and complex enough to find out hidden patterns after dozens of listens. This is Arctic Monkeys at their best, when the band members were just... 23. Damn, ain't that impressive. Their fifth album AM was announced as Humbug #2. There are some similarities between the two and AM is also amazing, but Humbug takes it away. Joshua Homme, may you be blessed for contributing to this band's genius!rLong live Rock 'n' Roll!!! XP
Bump |
3.5 great | lz41 | May 21st 14 | The Arctic Monkey's debut album was astonishing. Since they released it, subsequent LPs have acted like it never existed: their music has never been as jagged and chaotic, their lyrics have never been as straightforward. 'Humbug', which changes the sound of 'Nightmare' from skeletal to sexy and just gets weirder with its words, is another good album.
Bump |
4.0 excellent | jizzatboz666 | May 31st 11 | I gave this a 3 at first. I love the first two AM albums, and hated this when it came out. I have had some time to let it grow on me, and now that suck it and see is about to drop, and after listening to the stream of the new album I find myself enjoying this one much, much more. I think the lyrics are the bees knees and would take this over queens of the stone age anyday. I hope the new one grows on me too, cause I think it blows.
Bump |
2.5 average | AtavanHalen | May 22nd 11 | Crying Lightning is one of their finest singles, Dangerous Animals is a display of what could have been and Dance Little Liar is a brief, but nonetheless worthy, flashback to their roots. Not much else fares so well in this album, which seems to only have a small amount of ideas that are already being spread thin enough. Instead of unlocking the beast within the band, Josh Homme instead appears to have put the dungeon dragon back to sleep.
Bump |
4.5 superb | jpm224 | November 12th 09 | A new style and new direction for Arctic Monkeys that works. Crying Lightning, Cornerstone, Pretty Visitors, Secret Door, Dangerous Animals, Dance Little Liar, and the Jewelers Hands are top.
Bump |
3.0 good | Syst3mOfaDown | October 23rd 09 | I've been listening to it more, and it just really has grown on me like Favourite Worst Nightmare did =/
Bump |
4.0 excellent | modernGuilt100 | August 6th 09 | Got it yesterday after I discovered that it leaked. Heard some of the tracks live at APW, and was honestly a bit underwhelmed, but this is strikingly good. It's loud, it's dark, and it's crazy good. The Josh Homme involvement is quite obvious, but the refinement in their sound is refreshing. Props.
Bump |
3.0 good | J | April 22nd 24 |
2.5 average | doofy | January 8th 24 |
3.5 great | btrfs | November 8th 23 |
4.5 superb | Kasim | August 5th 23 |
4.0 excellent | nurglin | March 28th 23 |
2.5 average | Timmy | January 18th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Jerrad | January 11th 23 |
4.0 excellent | Oobaloo | December 10th 22 |
4.0 excellent | Risodo | November 26th 22 |
3.5 great | MvdW | October 25th 22 |
3.0 good | Jimbly | October 23rd 22 |
5.0 classic | Kakz | October 22nd 22 |
3.0 good | MOYA | October 8th 22 |
4.0 excellent | FnTom | August 29th 22 |
3.5 great | Watch | April 20th 22 |
3.0 good | Zalr | April 1st 22 |
4.5 superb | MrOranj | February 16th 22 |
3.5 great | BoerK | October 18th 21 |
4.0 excellent | Jonatas | September 23rd 21 |
4.0 excellent | Rodstar | August 20th 21 |
3.0 good | Polvo | January 12th 21 |
3.5 great | Lassie | December 21st 20 |
4.0 excellent | Gian304 | November 2nd 20 |
4.0 excellent | Josh | October 7th 20 |
2.5 average | Wj2006 | September 28th 20 |
3.0 good | Skiiddz | September 25th 20 |
3.0 good | brvb | August 23rd 20 |
4.0 excellent | ilia | August 19th 20 |
1.5 very poor | Source | June 29th 20 |
4.5 superb | Eva | May 7th 20 |
4.0 excellent | Futures | April 1st 20 |
4.0 excellent | qwenta | March 6th 20 |
4.0 excellent | degina | February 29th 20 |
2.5 average | Devin98 | February 21st 20 |
4.5 superb | Zeuzo | December 22nd 19 |
4.0 excellent | Turns13 | November 1st 19 |
4.0 excellent | aoh21 | September 15th 19 |
2.5 average | shazzyy | August 27th 19 |
3.0 good | iglu | August 14th 19 |
2.5 average | faed6 | August 6th 19 |
4.0 excellent | iunaphy | March 28th 19 |
2.5 average | El Olam | January 7th 19 |
2.5 average | Askala | September 25th 18 |
3.0 good | dunnope | September 22nd 18 |
4.0 excellent | Recspecs | September 5th 18 |
3.5 great | FelkFg | August 8th 18 |
3.5 great | Jan555 | July 24th 18 |
4.5 superb | ARTV | June 23rd 18 |
4.0 excellent | Galumpa | June 16th 18 |
3.5 great | Juanpa | June 12th 18 |
5.0 classic | PWalst | May 26th 18 |
5.0 classic | Hotrod | May 26th 18 |
4.0 excellent | NathC4 | May 22nd 18 |
4.5 superb | zoso33 | May 21st 18 |
3.0 good | Votex | May 17th 18 |
4.0 excellent | YayoG1 | May 15th 18 |
5.0 classic | Eden | May 12th 18 |
5.0 classic | ABond | May 9th 18 |
5.0 classic | serek | April 16th 18 |
3.5 great | TiduCR | April 8th 18 |
4.0 excellent | Simon K. STAFF | April 5th 18 |
4.5 superb | Amir | January 27th 18 |
4.0 excellent | wg98 | December 18th 17 |
4.0 excellent | hsyhsy | December 10th 17 |
3.5 great | denislg | September 4th 17 |
2.5 average | ian b. | August 12th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Alexxx | June 22nd 17 |
4.5 superb | bordje | June 19th 17 |
1.5 very poor | greg17 | June 5th 17 |
4.0 excellent | alamo | March 26th 17 |
4.0 excellent | Bakin | March 23rd 17 |
3.5 great | Enhelm | March 19th 17 |
4.0 excellent | RyRd | March 2nd 17 |
3.5 great | Nux | February 24th 17 |
4.5 superb | shem | February 14th 17 |
3.0 good | ktmq | February 13th 17 |
4.0 excellent | IrishC | January 23rd 17 |
4.0 excellent | Luisito | January 15th 17 |
3.5 great | hep | January 7th 17 |
4.0 excellent | jpjpablo | November 29th 16 |
4.0 excellent | A.R.O. STAFF | November 22nd 16 |
2.5 average | Krvst | November 7th 16 |
3.0 good | blob64 | November 6th 16 |
3.0 good | Gozpot | October 20th 16 |
3.5 great | Dumb | September 4th 16 |
3.5 great | Ankit | August 10th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Lord3 | August 1st 16 |
3.0 good | Lanas | July 24th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Blaacs | July 22nd 16 |
4.0 excellent | PaabL | July 6th 16 |
2.5 average | Smelty | June 22nd 16 |
4.0 excellent | Guus | May 26th 16 |
3.5 great | SB129 | May 16th 16 |
4.0 excellent | ZeCham0 | March 8th 16 |
4.0 excellent | Artax36 | March 3rd 16 |
2.5 average | pgy | February 28th 16 |
3.5 great | BHAR | February 21st 16 |
3.5 great | Bag123 | February 12th 16 |
2.5 average | teeawgo | January 18th 16 |
3.0 good | alhric | January 17th 16 |
2.5 average | Eswin17 | November 28th 15 |
4.0 excellent | larsemao | November 17th 15 |
3.5 great | btati | November 12th 15 |
5.0 classic | Iuna | November 12th 15 |
3.5 great | fll | October 15th 15 |
3.5 great | sheep | October 15th 15 |
4.0 excellent | F1Aaron | September 27th 15 |
4.0 excellent | camdc27 | September 15th 15 |
2.0 poor | mzeet | September 12th 15 |
3.0 good | Vonich | September 10th 15 |
4.0 excellent | Potesin | September 8th 15 |
2.5 average | iveau | August 26th 15 |
4.0 excellent | Kalkuz | July 23rd 15 |
3.0 good | Fugue | June 23rd 15 |
4.0 excellent | mtom42 | May 28th 15 |
4.0 excellent | mdrive | May 24th 15 |
3.0 good | swoen | May 17th 15 |
4.0 excellent | amkunz | April 4th 15 |
4.5 superb | Poto | March 21st 15 |
4.5 superb | Muzaker | February 22nd 15 |
2.5 average | ToddDC | February 21st 15 |
3.0 good | cami37 | January 25th 15 |
4.0 excellent | SmersH | January 7th 15 |
3.5 great | ArtBox | January 7th 15 |
4.0 excellent | Ynnry | December 29th 14 |
4.5 superb | venest | December 14th 14 |
4.5 superb | junyi15 | December 8th 14 |
4.0 excellent | mh13 | October 30th 14 |
3.0 good | vineh | October 17th 14 |
3.5 great | Javimut | September 21st 14 |
4.0 excellent | EvoHavok | September 6th 14 |
4.0 excellent | CamiloG | September 3rd 14 |
4.5 superb | oahmed | August 27th 14 |
3.0 good | Irving EMERITUS | August 19th 14 |
2.5 average | Surtur | July 27th 14 |
4.0 excellent | SkaCali | June 13th 14 |
3.0 good | MWN89 | May 11th 14 |
4.0 excellent | Beej977 | April 26th 14 |
3.5 great | nivon | April 22nd 14 |
4.0 excellent | peaks40 | April 16th 14 |
4.0 excellent | PaulB11 | March 16th 14 |
5.0 classic | DoReMe | March 11th 14 |
3.0 good | krka | March 5th 14 |
4.0 excellent | Arctick | February 27th 14 |
3.5 great | Zuh | February 18th 14 |
4.5 superb | Sebe | February 1st 14 |
2.5 average | RFO13 | February 1st 14 |
2.5 average | Tusseto | January 22nd 14 |
4.5 superb | Windsor | January 14th 14 |
4.0 excellent | hyphrn | January 9th 14 |
1.5 very poor | cableguy | December 15th 13 |
2.5 average | arnnnau | December 9th 13 |
3.5 great | Kiyo | December 8th 13 |
4.5 superb | snydely | December 2nd 13 |
3.5 great | Scarfo | November 23rd 13 |
3.5 great | Branty | November 22nd 13 |
3.5 great | nico67 | November 14th 13 |
4.0 excellent | eazye | November 8th 13 |
3.5 great | tef | October 24th 13 |
4.5 superb | Vayu | October 16th 13 |
2.0 poor | sidjmt | October 13th 13 |
4.0 excellent | ryan10 | October 2nd 13 |
4.0 excellent | Cecropia | September 26th 13 |
4.5 superb | Millais | September 19th 13 |
4.5 superb | blabony | September 14th 13 |
4.0 excellent | tarkus | September 8th 13 |
4.0 excellent | andrea03 | September 8th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Hens | September 6th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Rhyan25 | August 8th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Daviiis | August 8th 13 |
4.0 excellent | rum02 | July 25th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Wbridge | July 15th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Mews13 | July 14th 13 |
4.5 superb | Reah7 | July 10th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Ulshad | July 3rd 13 |
4.0 excellent | Shaun7 | June 28th 13 |
4.5 superb | Ash89 | June 27th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Paulc3 | June 26th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Sillas | June 21st 13 |
3.5 great | Mojito | June 19th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Pam3s | June 15th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Mouhraa | June 14th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Fafahh | June 11th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Fabbioh | June 10th 13 |
4.0 excellent | KayoM | June 9th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Mikeem | May 30th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Jamees | May 28th 13 |
4.0 excellent | Gib | May 23rd 13 |
4.0 excellent | damon3 | May 22nd 13 |
4.0 excellent | blur77 | May 21st 13 |
2.5 average | rabsi1 | May 21st 13 |
3.0 good | grizz | April 28th 13 |
3.0 good | gelud | April 8th 13 |
4.0 excellent | psandy | April 3rd 13 |
4.0 excellent | declanl | April 2nd 13 |
4.0 excellent | Kibj411 | March 23rd 13 |
4.0 excellent | blurkom | March 1st 13 |
3.5 great | Lobber | February 4th 13 |
1.5 very poor | Frame92 | January 20th 13 |
4.5 superb | minus9 | January 4th 13 |
3.0 good | Crawl | December 30th 12 |
3.5 great | Kalhur | December 15th 12 |
4.5 superb | Nikolai | December 5th 12 |
4.5 superb | teahead | October 30th 12 |
2.5 average | cuki92 | October 17th 12 |
3.5 great | muzak | October 15th 12 |
2.0 poor | Ada | October 12th 12 |
2.0 poor | WTSMG | October 8th 12 |
4.0 excellent | benkim | October 4th 12 |
3.0 good | John L | October 2nd 12 |
3.0 good | CA94 | September 28th 12 |
4.0 excellent | Lovegood | September 16th 12 |
3.5 great | erdi | September 14th 12 |
4.0 excellent | msm008 | September 3rd 12 |
3.0 good | bleath | August 13th 12 |
3.5 great | slarti | July 10th 12 |
4.0 excellent | HipFish | June 30th 12 |
4.0 excellent | viri | May 13th 12 |
3.0 good | Bhawd | May 6th 12 |
3.0 good | DRWND | April 25th 12 |
3.0 good | Sirob | April 20th 12 |
4.0 excellent | sophia | March 23rd 12 |
2.5 average | tfmcmp | March 23rd 12 |
3.5 great | Peevy | March 5th 12 |
2.5 average | Smevin | March 4th 12 |
2.5 average | Deviant. STAFF | March 3rd 12 |
3.0 good | Opaque | February 24th 12 |
4.0 excellent | TheAr | February 23rd 12 |
4.0 excellent | Filling | February 22nd 12 |
3.0 good | MtMoon | February 19th 12 |
4.5 superb | StAAder | January 22nd 12 |
3.0 good | backs | January 18th 12 |
2.5 average | WBalls | January 11th 12 |
3.0 good | iSkane | December 31st 11 |
4.0 excellent | steeve92 | December 13th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Naps | December 8th 11 |
3.5 great | Dunnus | November 26th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Ignored | October 24th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Pugnax | October 21st 11 |
2.5 average | jlech | October 14th 11 |
4.5 superb | MG4390 | September 28th 11 |
4.0 excellent | lmurdoch | September 24th 11 |
3.5 great | 69463 | September 21st 11 |
3.0 good | JJwins | September 9th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Lolages | August 30th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Styten | August 12th 11 |
3.5 great | GenBK | August 10th 11 |
3.0 good | TY2810 | August 9th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Jones | June 29th 11 |
4.0 excellent | HHD87 | June 27th 11 |
4.0 excellent | amosmyn | June 15th 11 |
3.0 good | NoFro | June 1st 11 |
2.5 average | 7logi5 | April 19th 11 |
3.0 good | jwal93 | April 18th 11 |
2.5 average | Spgale | March 26th 11 |
2.5 average | nick77 | March 22nd 11 |
4.0 excellent | hankmac | March 17th 11 |
3.5 great | iGuter | February 24th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Dionni | February 2nd 11 |
4.0 excellent | Karii | January 19th 11 |
3.0 good | JViney EMERITUS | January 15th 11 |
4.0 excellent | Rowdy | January 5th 11 |
3.0 good | IN64 | December 29th 10 |
4.0 excellent | teepeeh | December 12th 10 |
3.5 great | tuttle | December 7th 10 |
3.0 good | Janson | December 6th 10 |
4.5 superb | AlecF | November 15th 10 |
4.0 excellent | Zoop | November 8th 10 |
5.0 classic | Sarowaz | October 25th 10 |
4.5 superb | LwwB | October 21st 10 |
2.0 poor | Centre | October 21st 10 |
2.0 poor | dgrona | October 20th 10 |
3.5 great | mmadden | September 14th 10 |
4.5 superb | lodes | September 7th 10 |
3.0 good | noisy | September 6th 10 |
3.0 good | Marv18 | September 4th 10 |
5.0 classic | Lewiy | August 24th 10 |
2.5 average | Moses77 | August 22nd 10 |
3.5 great | ShyGuy | August 17th 10 |
3.0 good | Matski | August 15th 10 |
3.0 good | Zoso4 | July 31st 10 |
4.0 excellent | Torii | July 20th 10 |
4.0 excellent | PEno1 | July 14th 10 |
3.0 good | Rojo | June 18th 10 |
3.5 great | mppwns | June 10th 10 |
2.5 average | guddy7 | June 6th 10 |
2.5 average | mvood | June 3rd 10 |
2.5 average | GaryT | May 20th 10 |
3.5 great | TheE | May 15th 10 |
4.0 excellent | jdmac2 | May 13th 10 |
3.0 good | Greenz | April 29th 10 |
4.0 excellent | G3N3R1C | April 16th 10 |
3.5 great | nesbic | April 12th 10 |
3.5 great | bcat | April 4th 10 |
3.0 good | Hilty | April 1st 10 |
5.0 classic | levi23 | March 18th 10 |
5.0 classic | peaceX | March 16th 10 |
1.0 awful | rav3 | March 12th 10 |
2.0 poor | aok | March 10th 10 |
3.5 great | WolfAmI | February 28th 10 |
3.0 good | DaveyBoy EMERITUS | February 2nd 10 |
3.0 good | toto1 | January 16th 10 |
3.5 great | JWT155 | January 2nd 10 |
4.0 excellent | Baz360 | December 30th 09 |
3.5 great | ART36 | December 30th 09 |
1.0 awful | Knittin | December 22nd 09 |
3.5 great | pea | December 21st 09 |
4.5 superb | suturno | December 19th 09 |
4.0 excellent | mattpwd | December 12th 09 |
4.0 excellent | lerdo | November 19th 09 |
3.0 good | Thef | November 17th 09 |
4.0 excellent | physt | November 14th 09 |
4.0 excellent | AssBag | November 10th 09 |
4.0 excellent | Abdiel | November 9th 09 |
3.5 great | barns | November 8th 09 |
3.0 good | Mr0 | November 7th 09 |
2.5 average | Rudy K. EMERITUS | October 20th 09 |
4.0 excellent | megajon | October 14th 09 |
3.0 good | iganja | September 30th 09 |
3.0 good | kojpl | September 29th 09 |
3.5 great | Smiley | September 28th 09 |
3.0 good | aris19 | September 24th 09 |
4.0 excellent | Jgarbacz | September 22nd 09 |
4.5 superb | ckypro3 | September 22nd 09 |
4.0 excellent | Jansen | September 19th 09 |
4.0 excellent | shindip | September 13th 09 |
4.0 excellent | OkKidA | September 13th 09 |
4.0 excellent | Hiyruu | September 11th 09 |
3.0 good | zemaR33 | September 10th 09 |
1.0 awful | wartree | September 10th 09 |
3.5 great | mitch91 | September 10th 09 |
3.0 good | ameypv | September 10th 09 |
3.0 good | Amaya | September 9th 09 |
1.0 awful | bakor | September 4th 09 |
4.0 excellent | rliu | September 3rd 09 |
3.5 great | DrReg | September 2nd 09 |
3.5 great | narf405 | September 2nd 09 |
3.5 great | Titan50 | September 1st 09 |
4.0 excellent | BertFF | August 28th 09 |
4.0 excellent | Bandido | August 26th 09 |
4.0 excellent | M@rty | August 26th 09 |
2.5 average | cubbzor | August 24th 09 |
3.5 great | ris200 | August 23rd 09 |
2.5 average | Mikesn EMERITUS | August 21st 09 |
3.0 good | Iai EMERITUS | August 20th 09 |
3.0 good | Skyler | August 16th 09 |
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