Album Review: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino by Arctic Monkeys

Source - Wikipedia

How would you feel if you got the chance to listen to a rock band sing about their new resort located on the dark side of the moon for eleven tracks? The answer to this question might end up taking you to Arctic Monkeys!

Introduction

Album: Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino

Artist: Arctic Monkeys

Year of Release: 2018

Producer: James Ford, Alex Turner

Genre: Lounge Music, Glam Rock, Space Age Pop

Record Label - Domino

About the album

The sixth studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, was released on May 11, 2018, via Domino Recording Company. Alex Turner, the band's leader, wrote it on a Steinway Vertegrand piano in his Los Angeles home in 2016. 

It was produced by regular Arctic Monkeys collaborator James Ford and Turner in Los Angeles, Paris, and London, with a wide range of guest musicians such as Tom Rowley, Loren Humphrey, James Righton, Zach Dawes, Tyler Parkford, and Cam Avery.

About the Artist

Arctic Monkeys are a Sheffield-based English rock band who formed in 2002. Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards), Jamie Cook (guitar, keyboards), Nick O'Malley (bass guitar, backup vocals), and Matt Helders (drums, backing vocals) make up the band (drums, backing vocals). Andy Nicholson (bass guitar, backing vocals) quit the band in 2006, shortly after the release of their debut album.

Arctic Monkeys were hailed as one of the first bands to gain widespread notice over the Internet, with commentators speculating that they could signal a shift in the way new bands are promoted and marketed. 

Album Review

Arctic Monkeys' fifth album, AM (2013) gained global recognition for its distinctive R&B Rock vibes. In a diametrically opposite attempt to break free from the pop-py genre, Arctic Monkeys came up with what is said to be their most experimental and critically acclaimed album to date.

Heavily inspired by the conspiracy revolving around the fake moon landing and the science fiction masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick, The album starts with a soothing track called "Star Treatment" in typical Arctic Monkeys fashion, with very slow lounge music building up to the vocals. 

The track features the quality of the intertwining of the 70s era and futuristic depictions. It delves into Psychedelic Rock by focusing on an intergalactic exploration through a traveler's point of view and seems to be directed towards a lover.

The second track on the album, "One Point Perspective" is a pretty gloomy follow-up to the slightly upbeat first track. The track is absurd in all its glory and is probably the only track on the album with an electric guitar segment. The track also explores the possibility of doing social commentary on the government, which is followed later in the album, as well.

With the third track, one might start to wonder about the writing style of Arctic Monkeys' lead vocalist and lyricist - Alex Turner, and how his writing follows an engaging narrative and is often perspective-driven. "American Sports" is fueled with intergalactic angst and commentary on modern society.

"Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino" is the fourth track on the album. It embraces the trademark of the concept of the entire album and effortlessly intertwines social commentary and absurdism with an outer-space perspective. 

From contemplating what would God be doing in today's world? to literally singing about the services of a fancy resort's desk, this song has all the elements to make the listener confused, curious and above all enjoy the piano-driven composition.

The fifth track on the album, "Golden Trunks" is again another metaphysical lyrical composition that more often than not resembles the qualities of psychedelic Rock as it makes the listener question their reality while slow-dancing to the tunes of this vivid musical piece.

"Four out of five", the sixth track on the album, features the core concept of Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino and delves into the idea of Arctic Monkeys running a fancy resort on the dark side of the moon. It sounds like a promotional song as the band urges the listeners to visit their fine establishment and rate them four out of five. 

The song also mentions various places on the moon that can be explored by tourists. This is probably the most creative track on the album and embraces the lyrical tone of the entire album.

"The World's first-ever monster truck front flip" and "Science fiction" are the seventh and eighth tracks on the album respectively. Both songs have a quintessential trippy feel to them and are written from the point of view of the resort staff about the guests that they encounter.

The ninth track on the album, "She looks like fun" is topped with meta-commentary, absurdist words, and some catchy tunes. It sounds like an upbeat song for a lounge pop genre of music. "Batphone" is another creative piece that challenges the typical lyrical structure of songs as it literally begins with the lyricist sitting in their little corner of the world thinking about writing this song. 

The use of visuals and imagery can be felt throughout the song and is pretty engrossing to listen to. The final track of the album is "The Ultracheese". The perfect end to an Arctic Monkeys album as it is gloomy, political, and above all highly stylized.

The Bottom Line

Arctic Monkeys' sixth studio album, "Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino" is a trippy, metaphysical exploration of the band's psyche and offers an escape from the mundanity of life and dull music. If you feel like experiencing the wonders of psychedelic rock topped with hard-core Sheffield vocals, definitely give this one a go!

Listen now on: Spotify.com

Written By: Janshi