There comes a time in a band’s career where judgement from their fanbase is inescapable. If their sound never changes, they’re seen as stagnant and early bloomers. Change the sound drastically, and they’re accused of not having an identity and being too inconsistent. Sheffield-based band Arctic Monkeys gracefully walks the line between the two extremes. Their ability to evolve gracefully is evident in their discography and most fans have been able to stand behind their decisions whilst collecting new ones with each release.
In “Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino,” the band’s newest release in five years, their evolution continues, but this is likely going to be their most divisive album yet.
This sixth album will take listeners to new territories in more ways than one. Musically, this album has the piano as its most valuable player along with heavy base, polished vocals from Alex Turner and (for Arctic Monkeys) subtle guitars. Compared to previous projects, Tranquility Base has a haunting, classic Hollywood sound that cruises through every verse. The laid back yet space-esque tunes are appropriate for the majority of the album’s location—a hotel and casino on the moon, centering an album on a specific, albeit fictional, area is also new territory for Turner and company.
Lyrically, this is one of the band’s strongest records. There are several moments of humor and self-awareness that only Turner can successfully execute. It’s obvious from the first line that Turner does not want you to ignore their decade long career. “I just wanted to be one of The Strokes / Now look at the mess you made me make,” he sings as the first line in the album opening track, “Star Treatment.”
Despite Tranquility Base being announced only about a month prior to its release and without a proper single, “Four Out of Five” would be a great introductory track for this divisive album. The track contains a catchy riff (especially in the outro) and humorous lyrics that describe the album’s setting (“Cute new places keep on popping up / Around Clavius, it’s all getting gentrified”).
“Science Fiction” is another album highlight, for it functions as an ode to the genre and sprinkles in some more meta moments as Turner sings, “I want to make a simple point about peace and love / But in a sexy way where it’s not obvious / Highlight dangers and send out hidden messages.”
One reason why this album is divisive (just look at Twitter’s response) is due to its succinct sound. It requires effort to pick out the charming intricacies of Tranquility Base. If one chooses to just play this passively in the background, these tracks may run the risk of sounding too similar, coming across as one long song.
Especially for fans of their previous album, “AM,” this album runs the risk of potentially being too far a jump in a different direction and could therefore be disappointing to those waiting five years for a follow-up to the highly acclaimed album. But this can easily be overlooked for fans who understand that the band does not make the same album twice.
Arctic Monkeys has proven themselves as a dynamic act not limited by the boundaries of genre. To have an eclectic collection of albums each able to stand on their own is an accomplishment nonetheless. Since their release of their 2006 debut, “Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,” Turner has consistently brought sharp lyrics into each record while keeping listeners intrigued with whatever sound they choose to commit to at the time.
Tranquility Base is just another stepping stone in the band’s evolution. In the greater picture, this is another strong—yet acquired—addition to a discography that is already guaranteed to be remembered in rock-and-roll history.
