Chapter 1
The internet pioneers of Sheffield
Chapter 2
Heavy riffs and desert sands
Chapter 3
Global domination and the slick AM era
Chapter 4
The lounge singer on the moon
Chapter 5
Cinematic strings and grand designs
Ch 2 · Heavy riffs and desert sands
choko Humbug Desert Recording
We chased the heavy riffs inside the dome, And made a secret door our desert home.
choko Desert Rock and Vintage Pop
We took our sweetest pop melodies, dragged them into the California sun, to melt in that heavy desert heat
choko Leaving their Sheffield home for the isolated Rancho De La Luna studio in California reshaped the band's creative outlook
choko The producer introduced the band to heavy basslines and instruments like the xylophone.
BETA
choko Mix signature guitar riffs to discover how Arctic Monkeys reinvented their sound with every album.
Fun Fact
Vinyl tragedy: In 2011, a warehouse fire during London riots destroyed almost all physical vinyl stock for the Arctic Monkeys single 'The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala'.
Glossary
desert (noun)
A dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate and waterless. In 2008, the band recorded their third album, Humbug, in California's Mojave Desert with producer Josh Homme.
A dry, barren area of land, especially one covered with sand, that is characteristically desolate and waterless. In 2008, the band recorded their third album, Humbug, in California's Mojave Desert with producer Josh Homme.
Quiz
At which famous Joshua Tree studio did Arctic Monkeys record parts of their third album, Humbug?
Quiz
What instrument did producer Josh Homme encourage drummer Matt Helders to play to add a spooky texture to the Arctic Monkeys album Humbug?
Quiz
Which famous American rock musician co-produced the Arctic Monkeys' third album, Humbug?
Quiz
Which of these visual changes did frontman Alex Turner adopt during the Arctic Monkeys' Humbug era?
Quiz
What type of lyrical imagery did Alex Turner begin using on the Arctic Monkeys album Humbug instead of his previous literal stories?
Quiz
What classic American country legend did Alex Turner cite as a major lyric writing influence for the Arctic Monkeys album Suck It and See?