As talented as Josh Homme is, you can recognize his influence on absolutely everything he touches. Having produced the album, Humbug is no exception, having that kind of laid-back, drawling mood that you can recognize in Queens of the Stone Age’s work.

Humbug doesn’t sound like a stoner rock album, but Alex Turner’s strength is his keen ability to pen catchy sing-along songs. An album with restrained energy doesn’t accentuate that as much. Not that there is much to accentuate here, however. Alex Turner’s songwriting is at its weakest with this release; the hooks and catchy melodies just aren’t really there. Fortunately, Turner would pick himself back up a bit on the following album, but the band’s first two albums are where Arctic Monkeys really shine.