Arctic Monkeys' new album is out.
Arctic Monkeys make a triumphant return to Earth with their seventh album, 'The Car', full of rich orchestrations and imagery.
They may have risen to prominence with fiery garage-rock songs and honest tales of teenage nights out, but they've never been content to sit in a mold.
Their previous album, 2018's Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, was Arctic Monkeys' biggest sonic shift. It was a step towards a new sound with distant references to their earlier material. So when it comes to 'The Car' it makes perfect sense to expect the unexpected.
'The Car' is the next logical step after the cinematic soundscape Arctic Monkeys built for 'Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino', their sixth consecutive album which debuted at No. 1 in the UK charts.
The Car was produced by James Ford. The album was recorded at Butley Priory in Suffolk, England, La Frette in Paris and RAK Studios in London. The photo that graces the cover of 'The Car' was taken by Matt Helders of the Arctic Monkeys.
Arctic Monkeys' new album features ten new songs signed by Alex Turner and is undoubtedly the singer's most daring appearance in his career.
Within the confines of Arctic Monkeys' previous material, Alex Turner's voice remained typically soulful and low-pitched in a way that mimicked his and the band's endearing mystery and edginess.
Alex Turner's voice is accompanied on 'The Car' mainly by strings reminiscent of 70's symphonic soul.
Many of the songs on 'The Car' carry a sense of constant motion, an ode to life on tour and "the job they call a show", as Alex Turner sings.
Arctic Monkeys' new album opens with a farewell and ends with a good night, and in between brings us a series of flickering scenes and images.
It's hard to tell whether Alex Turner's 'The Car' is a commentary on the life of fame and success, a desire to go back to the beginning, or a counter-attack on critics' tendency to question if his lyrics can remain as catchy now that he's breathing the air of international stardom.
The truth is that in these 10 songs Arctic Monkeys are somewhere between perfecting their craft and exploring. The band pushes its own boundaries, continues to defy expectations, and creates an album that deserves to be heard as a single cinematic piece, in theme and scope.
"The Car" straddles the line between nostalgia and fun. It's a journey that can be disruptive but fun and surprising in a way you wouldn't expect.
Perhaps this is the reflection of the general title of the album. Just as a car journey can be uncertain and unknown, Arctic Monkeys take us all with 'The Car' somewhere they might not have foreseen, but some of the best experiences in life are the ones you didn't plan for.
Also find the album on Spotify:
