Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino by Arctic Monkeys -Album Review
The much anticipated album by the Arctic Monkeys is finally here. After their successful 2013 album release, AM, the band maintained low profile and did not release any music -until now. When announced that new music was coming, Arctic Monkeys fans went into a frenzy (myself included). Finally, the day marked on our calendars came around, and fans all across the world anxiously hit 'play.'
Feeling a little delirious from a hectic day, listening to the album at midnight detached me from the earthly world and transported me to a darker and melancholic universe. Being a Spotify free user, I had no other choice than to shuffle play the album instead of listening to each track in the order they appear. First up was 'Four Stars Out of Five,’ (my favorite track on the album) which I had been impatiently awaiting for after listening to the sneak peek of it posted on their official Instagram page to announce the record. The opening guitar immediately excited me, and Alex Turner’s voice flooded my mind with joy. Here it was, the album I had been waiting ages for.
However, I’ve got to admit, the first time I heard it all the way through I disliked it. It reminds me of a Halloween soundtrack from the early 2000’s -I was disappointed. I feel that the album is extraordinarily composed and produced, and the lyrics -though somewhat unusual- are innovative and introduce new concepts. However, the lyrical rhythm joined with the instrumental formulation is not one I am attracted to. Yet I decided to do some research on the album’s inspiration and theme, which I’ve been delighted to read about. To my surprise, the album is based on outer-spacial vibes and energies, which I was able to hear more distinctly after learning it. Written on piano instead of guitar, Turner reminisces various phases of David Bowie, including electro and jazzy piano. On this album, the band traded their iconic guitar riffs for mellow piano melodies, excluding fast-paced songs from the record.
Whether it was a good or bad decision to redefine their sound is a matter of taste and personal preference; disagreements rising all around. After my research, I listened to the album again expecting the same reaction from myself as the first time I heard it, but I surprised myself. Though it is not my favorite Arctic Monkeys record (‘AM’ and ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ hold the spot), I liked it more than the first time I heard it. The band reinvented their sound just enough to alternate their musical performance, yet maintained that Arctic Monkeys brand sound that they are known for. I will not listen to this record as avidly as I listen to their past albums, but am glad to have the band back from hiding and making music again.