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Arctic Monkeys: Humbug (Domino)

Stephen Dalton, The Times, August 2009

MATURITY IS THE poisoned chalice that all rock bands must sup from eventually. Arctic Monkeys sounded strikingly sharp and vital on their 2006 debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. But its 2007 sequel, Favourite Worst Nightmare, felt samey and underwhelming. Now, fresh from expanding his horizons with his Last Shadow Puppets side project, skipper Alex Turner has steered the Monkeys into deeper, darker waters.

Total word count of piece: 590

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