Album Review: Arctic Monkeys, The Car

The Monkeys release their 7th studio album, here's what we had to say about it...

Daisy Harrison
31st October 2022
Credit: Spotify
After years of waiting, the boys are finally back with their 7th studio album, The Car. And what can be said except: the Monkeys have done it again; they’ve created a masterpiece.

Although the band have been criticised for “not sounding like they used to”, with the release of both Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino in 2018, and their latest album The Car, the expectation that men in their 30s are going to remain singing about getting drunk and pulling in clubs is unrealistic. Just like the Monkeys themselves, the new album has an added layer of maturity, which makes for easy listening. And whilst the loud, upbeat tracks of their earlier albums will always hold a special place in my heart, I can appreciate the boys’ move into a direction of music that they feel comfortable with creating as they grow older. The Car encapsulates the evolution of the Monkeys, as we hear them playing with new sounds, whilst still adding musical elements of the tracks we all know and love.

The Car encapsulates the evolution of the Monkeys, as we hear them playing with new sounds

The album’s opening track, 'There’d Better Be A Mirrorball', brilliantly frames the rest of the album, as we take a detour away from heavy drums, and are instead met with a rhythmic, jazzy mix of synth and strings.

The second song on The Car, 'I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am', immediately grabs your attention, and with its funky groove, it’s sure to have you tapping your foot, or bopping your head along to the beat. This track is in line to be one of my favourites from the new album, as it seems to be permanently stuck in my head!

When listening to the next track, 'Sculptures of Anything Goes', for the first time, my jaw dropped open… it has a dark, imposing bass line, which was an unexpected, yet very welcome surprise. The track is also reminiscent of the band’s older sound, taking influences from the song 'Do I Wanna Know', which featured on their 5th album, AM. But the boys have amplified their earlier track, and given 'Sculptures of Anything Goes' a more mature, refined, and impressive sound.

Other songs, such as the title track, 'Big Ideas', and 'Perfect Sense' establish a cinematic tone, inviting you to enjoy Turner’s rich vocals, in accompaniment with the orchestral sounds of the piano, guitar, and drums. Although The Car may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s their most polished and elegant album yet, and certainly envelops their evolution, as the band seem very at-ease with the new sound they’re creating.

My rating: Four Stars out of Five (and that’s unheard of…)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ReLated Articles
magnifiercross
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap