Sheffield four-piece Arctic Monkeys have returned with their new full-length album 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' and first since 2013's incredible 'AM'. The hype surrounding the LP announcement has seen them sell out massive tours across America, the UK and Europe with only a few dodgy pictures, a new album tracklist and their previous records to back them up.
First thing's first, there's been a lot of predictions about this record. 'Cosmic as fuck', or 'More Tame Impala than a Tame Impala record', and even (stupidly) 'They'll go back to basics'. Let's debunk all those theories right away; it's not like any of that. Simply put, if you like Alex Turner crooning like he does on The Last Shadow Puppets stuff then you're more inclined to like this one. If you want bangers then this is probably not the album for you.
Nearly every track is a piano-led ballad with Turner's rambling, heavily effected vocal taking centre stage throughout. It takes nearly three minutes into track one for the first guitar riff to really pop. But it's worth the wait. 'Star Treatment' is a slow opener but there are moments of real magic, such as the slight time signature changes from Matt Helders. The album sounds like an Alex Turner solo project more than an Arctic Monkeys record in parts but there are still moments when the band come together to blow minds like towards the end of 'American Sports'.
The best track and the one with the most memorable chorus is easily the groovy 'Four out of Five'. Alex Turner is on cracking form and it's probably the most upbeat song on the tracklisting having the potential to fill those sold out festivals this summer. (And maybe a Glastonbury headline slot?! We can only hope).
Lyrically there isn't much direction or focus, and Turner loses his train of thought on many occasion. For a man who encapsulated youth so well in their early records, this is a slight disappointment. There are elements of experimentation throughout the album but there are also moments where Arctic Monkeys could have been more adventurous. The pacing of the record is rather stagnant and instrumentally there's not much variation apart from 'Science Fiction' where eerie synth leads swirl around the plodding rhythms.
You would be forgiven for getting the feeling that 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' is an album of transition more than one with a fully formed sound. Could this be the bridge to an even more adventurous and wild Arctic Monkeys in the not so distant future? We can only live in hope.
Nearly every track is a piano-led ballad with Turner's rambling, heavily effected vocal taking centre stage throughout. It takes nearly three minutes into track one for the first guitar riff to really pop. But it's worth the wait. 'Star Treatment' is a slow opener but there are moments of real magic, such as the slight time signature changes from Matt Helders. The album sounds like an Alex Turner solo project more than an Arctic Monkeys record in parts but there are still moments when the band come together to blow minds like towards the end of 'American Sports'.
The best track and the one with the most memorable chorus is easily the groovy 'Four out of Five'. Alex Turner is on cracking form and it's probably the most upbeat song on the tracklisting having the potential to fill those sold out festivals this summer. (And maybe a Glastonbury headline slot?! We can only hope).
Lyrically there isn't much direction or focus, and Turner loses his train of thought on many occasion. For a man who encapsulated youth so well in their early records, this is a slight disappointment. There are elements of experimentation throughout the album but there are also moments where Arctic Monkeys could have been more adventurous. The pacing of the record is rather stagnant and instrumentally there's not much variation apart from 'Science Fiction' where eerie synth leads swirl around the plodding rhythms.
You would be forgiven for getting the feeling that 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' is an album of transition more than one with a fully formed sound. Could this be the bridge to an even more adventurous and wild Arctic Monkeys in the not so distant future? We can only live in hope.
7/10
Best track - Four out of Five
Worst track - The Ultracheese
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