no, it's not Bah...

inevitably, I am fully hooked to the newish (got it at midnight on August 23...) Arctic Monkeys' record, "Humbug." The title is a name for a popular hard candy found 'cross the pond. From what I hear, it involves peppermint and is said to have a "warming effect" -- cause it's a Christmas candy. (nothing to do with Mr. Scrooge, although the lads are "fully aware" of that connotation.

It's so layered and dark and sexy. Alex Turner really has matured. His voice is deeeeeper, sexier, more measured...he takes his time now, musically and vocally... teases it out. Which, goes behind the idea of the album title and feel as a whole, really -- take your time with it and it slowly reveals itself to you -- this was what they are saying their intent was. For me, I sunk in pretty hard quite fast. The melodies were infectious almost right away. Helders' drumming is even more impressive and unrelenting than ever before -- driving the frenzied beats behind the heavy dark geetars. That makes it sexy, too. More than they ever were before. I like this. It's something I actually didn't foresee... well, that and the possibility of drugs in the desert with Josh Homme. Turns out it's a brilliant move and I love hearing that adventure in the music.

I was probably able to digest this one more quickly because we had JUST seen them (twice!!) in Chicago for my birthday weekend, at the Metro and at Lollapalooza.
[A monumental and magical weekend, full of amazing music and love... James and I got engaged. Lou Reed serenaded us as we made the decision to get hitched. pretty spectacular...whew.]

So, the Arctic Monkeys played heavy on the new stuff (seemed like hardly any songs from the debut record) and I wasn't into it immediately...but the second go, at the festival -- they had a certain, far more urgent and intense and grand-scale vibe to it, They pushed it out on the huge crowd hard and heavy. The people were diggin it. Lot of range of ages over there, too. My favorite image was a tiny tot bouncing with his fist in the air to the rockers. It was precious.

"biggest crowd we've played to in America..."