My initial discovery of Humbug was during a time when every awkward young woman finally starts to get noticed by boys. Unfortunately in my case, the boys I attracted were not at all the ones I had hoped would gravitate towards me, but in my post-pubescent insecurity, I would entertain just about any creature that came my way. A few charity cases went by, and I had finally developed the backbone to put them in their place and to respect myself enough to find someone better. With brooding, yet poised songs like The Jeweller’s Hands and Secret Door, Humbug became the perfect soundtrack to navigating the strangeness of finding love without sacrificing your self-respect.

From the moment I first listened to the Arctic Monkeys as a kid, I knew they would become one of those bands that I would never get tired of listening to. In the spirit of being an edgy kid, Humbug is the album that made me say, “It’s not a phase, Mom” for the very first time.