20 Things Only Arctic Monkeys Fans Will Understand

1. Humbug Is Criminally Underrated

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rq0Ag15sAI One of the most contentious arguments among Arctic Monkeys fans involves ranking the band's albums. In that respect, Humbug really deserves more love. It was met with a lukewarm critical reception upon its release in 2009, with many initial reviews describing it as a comparatively inaccessible album that, while strong in its own right, didn't quite match the sound of their first two releases. That much was reflected in its commercial performance; despite reaching number 1 in the UK albums chart, its 300,000 UK sales represented a comparatively meagre total after the monstrous performance of their previous two albums (1.5 million and 800 thousand respectively), while the achingly beautiful Cornerstone only reached number 94 as a standalone track. Give it time, though, and Humbug is an immensely deep piece of work. Many of the criticisms levelled at the LP allude to its darker, heavier sound - and yet this shift is arguably the album's greatest strength. Yes, the songs don't always hit you with the same instant rush of the singles that came before and after, but repeat listens always seem to offer up new nuances among the shadows of their instrumentation. The dizzying maelstrom of backing vocals on 'Potion Approaching', Josh Homme's clinking glockenspiel on 'The Jeweller's Hands', the sultry guitar lines on 'Dance Little Liar'. Turner's voice, too, is quietly powerful, slinking through the lower registers in a way that's more menacing than anything they released before or since. The legacy of these stylistic changes can still be felt in the darker moments on AM - widely considered one of the band's best albums yet. Humbug may have failed to offer up a shiny hit single on a par with some of the songs that came before and after, but if you can look past the comparative lack of infectious hooks, it's a hidden gem in their discography that grows more captivating with every listen. Are there any others we've missed? Let us know your favourite albums in the comments below!