It’s been five long years since the UK based band the Arctic Monkeys released their album "AM", which is also the album that brought the band it’s most exposure and first platinum record. On May 11, 2018, the band finally gave relief to their fans and finally put out their sixth studio album titled: "Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino" (and yes the album is as eclectic as the name of the album). This may be one of the bands most “out-there” albums with a type of dark space lounge vibe.
The Pros:
The main pro of this album is that it is very daring. If you want an album that takes all of the risks and tries very hard to separate itself from not only other mainstream music but also all of the Arctic Monkeys other albums then you are in for a treat. This album is also extremely self-aware, Alex Turner has always been a very good lyricist and in this album, it’s no different. He not only makes fun of himself but also the current state of society and the hopelessness that seems to plague us today.
The Cons:
While this album is very different, which can be exciting, at times it can be a bit much. At times the album can take on the feeling of an audio diary with Turner crooning on about topics that don’t necessarily connect. I would also advise not listening to this album if you’re extremely tired because the sound is very mellow with a smoky lounge type feel.
Songs that you have to listen to:
If you don’t listen to anything else on the album at least listen to these three tracks:
- Four Out of Five
- Star Treatment
- American Sports
Personally, I felt like these were the top selections of the album. These are a bit more upbeat than the rest and have just a bit less of the melancholy feel some of the other songs can take on.
Overall:
If I had to rate this album out of 10, I would give it a 7/10. This is definitely one of the weirdest projects that the Arctic Monkeys have released and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Overall this album is fun, I can imagine people listening to this work on a dark night maybe for some deep introspection and a drink. However, don’t expect this album to be something that you’re gonna be singing along to later.
