Arctic Monkeys - Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

[The Walrus]

Not sure how many Arctic Monkeys fans are here but I've spun the album 4 times since yesterday so I want to talk about it...

I don't really 'like' Arctic Monkeys, in the sense that I didn't pay them attention until A.M. came out (you know, the big one whose hit song everybody knows, 'Do I Wanna Know?'). I've heard their earlier albums and just don't like them, so A.M. was a total left turn. Me and a buddy of mine have been waiting eagerly for almost 5 years now for a follow-up, and we kept tabs on them, and yet... no news. So color me surprised when this came out incredibly quietly a few days ago.

This is way different from A.M. but in a good way, as far as I'm concerned. Very little, almost no guitar - it's driven by piano, synths, and vocals. Fine by me. I've seen plenty of hate for this one online, but I'm digging the hell out of it. It still has that suave vibe A.M. had, and Alex's voice and lyrics are as good as ever (some of their best stuff might be here, but A.M. really was a masterpiece that's going to be hard to top). No hard rockers or sick riffs here, but I like that.

Anybody else listen to this band and have thoughts to share?

[Train of Naught]

Well, I've already told you what I think about the new album but I was kinda expecting it based on the songs I had heard before the release. Last year when they announced the album I was super hyped because I loved the direction of A.M. (by the way, I wouldn't count on DTFers knowing Do I Wanna Know?, last time when a discussion of well-known songs came up, I mentioned Hey Ya! by Outkast and you'd be surprised how many people had never even heard it).

I love Arctic Monkeys overal, the first album is an all-around great rock album, Favourite Worst Nightmare is just super fun, Humbug is one of my favourite 'lazy Sunday' albums, Suck It And See is... the exception to the rule I guess, and A.M. to me sounds like a great mix of most of their past work. I think TBH/C just sounded too minimal to me for Arctic Monkeys' music? I'm not sure exactly what it is. Sounds a lot like something Bowie would put out tbh.

[Nel]

TBH+C isn't bad. I mean, it's a good... lounge album. But it's not really what I wanted after how much I liked AM. I know a lot of fans hated AM for "Black Keys-ifying" the bands sound, and now they're hating on the new one too for how low-key it is.

I like the whole discography. Like I said, it's weird; the new one isn't bad, I actually like what I'm hearing, I just think my expectations for what they would have come back with after a five-year absence are clouding my joy right now.

[nobloodyname]

I've never been a fan of them. But I listened to the new album because I've seen so many people, including my brother, ranting about how dreadful it is.

Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed sprung to mind while listening. I actually quite enjoyed it although I found it became a little wearing towards the end.

And then Spotify clicked over onto AM and boom... how utterly boring that first song was. I went and made dinner

I'm not surprised so many appear to be disappointed by the album. It's one hell of a left turn for them, isn't it?

[The Walrus]

The funny thing is, I thought A.M. was a big left turn, too! 

I got a text from my buddy who actually introduced me to AM this morning and he commented on how awful Four Out Of Five is - but I actually really like that song. I think he was expecting A.M. 2.0 and he's not exactly the adventurous kind of music fan, so I get it.

[Cyclopssss]

I pretty much hate it up untill now. It's all a bit same-y to me.