News that Arctic Monkeys were working with Queens Of The Stone Age’s mainman Josh Homme on their last album, Humbug, was a surprise to many who considered the Northern quartet more down to earth, less “rocky” and, well, more darned British.
Such a right turn, with newfound Sabbath riffs replacing choppy indie disco rhythms, did indeed take some getting used to. The shadow of Homme remains here and, having had time to strip off the excesses of Humbug, it lingers very well. Lead single Don’t Sit Down ’Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair is a case in point, slamming its way into your head while those subtle counter-melodies and washes of backing vocals weave their magic. Recorded at the famous Sunset Sound Studio in Hollywood, this is a record that screams confidence, sunshine and mostly remains fun throughout. Drummers take vocal duties, throwaway but incisive lyrics abound (“Ip dip dogshit rock’n’roll”), and everything sounds easy.
Frontman Alex Turner revitalises a track from his recent solo Submarine soundtrack, the charming Piledriver Waltz, which is, of course, heavier here. It speaks volumes about the mood in camp Monkey at the moment: refined, open-minded, adaptable and still massively effective.
