@ArcticMonkeys
British alternative band Arctic Monkeys released their sixth studio album on May 11 and has seemed to take their music in a completely different direction than what their fans are used to. The album, titled Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, is a step away from the band’s usual guitar driven tracks and instead uses a heavy mix of piano to create what some critics call a “lounge pop” sound. Whatever term is used to describe the music on this album, it is completely different from the rest of the band’s catalog.
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino only has a brisk 40-minute run-time, letting listeners get through the entire track list in about the same time as the other albums by the Arctic Monkeys. The album begins with the song “Star Treatment”, a long, slow, lyric-driven tune that does set the mood for the overall theme of the album, but for many listeners, it might simply be a snooze-fest. Unfortunately, the record never seems to pick up from there, it feels like most songs on the album are slow and unamusing for the average listener. The first and only single released so far, “Four Out of Five”, is one of the most universally listenable songs, but even this track might not be great for many music lovers.
The Arctic Monkeys have decided to go in a completely different direction with their sound, using music influences like David Bowie and taking an artistic approach from movies like Blade Runner and 2001: A Space Odyssey. There has to be some praise given to the band for their approach to making this album seeing as it is so different from what they are used to. Frontman Alex Turner doesn’t make it seem like he was looking for major commercial success from Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino but instead wanted to try and experiment to see how far he could take this lounge pop, sci-fi sound.
Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino feels more like a project for the band that only the hardcore fans will appreciate in full. The Arctic Monkeys went from huge commercial success with their 2013 album AM to coming out with a record that probably won’t be a favorite for many people. While the band’s first five albums come highly recommended by much of the alternative music community, Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino won’t be getting the same praise.
