Arctic Monkeys stay true to themselves with The Car

British rock band Arctic Monkeys build upon their 2018 hit album Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino with their seventh studio album The Car. While this was the first Arctic Monkeys album to not reach the number-one spot, it is a refined record and showcases their signature style. It is unfair to claim it any lesser than the previous album despite missing the top spot as it was kept at number two by Taylor Swift's record-shattering Midnights. 

The Car is fairly cinematic in nature depicting themes surrounding media, the music industry, show business, and similar topics. The guitar-heavy tunes and the articulacy in the songwriting work together to bring this album to life. 

While The Car is more mainstream and commercially attractive, it still creates new sounds and holds true to the rest of the band's discography. I would not call it a reinvention but an almost balletic reflection. 

The Car is a short album with only ten tracks summing up to a tasteful 37 minutes. Lovesick, loungey sounds mark a slight transformation of the band. Fears, sharp observations, and eerie thoughts about the industry and show business are dispersed quite heavy-handedly throughout the album's tracks. 

Drummer Matt Helders shines perhaps over the guitar and bass in almost every track. The half-baked, unfinished, and slightly distraught ideas throughout the songs add much richness and character. The more you listen to this album, the clearer its intentions get. This record draws from artists like Isaac Hayes, Gloria Ann Taylor, Marvin Gaye, and David Bowie.

Not genre-bending or anything quite new, the Arctic Monkeys stay with their tried and tested formula of combining art rock, electronic music, soul, and funk. Going straight into the tracklist, all of it is not gold.

"Hello You" is an alright track at best. It gets a little lost in terms of execution and blends into the background. "Sculptures of Anything Goes" was underwhelming but the theatrics and gloomy environment of the song works quite well. "Perfect Sense" captures the best of rock and folk and creates a fantastic piece wrapping up the album smoothly. 

The perhaps Zappa-inspired "Body Paint" was a great track with creative lyrics like "Do your time travelling through the tanning booth /So you don't let the sun catch you crying". For me, the clear favourite has to be "Jet Skis On The Moat". This sultry, kind-of slow song manages to charm listeners every time. "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am" was another standout with punchy lines like "Stackable party guests/ To fill the awkward silences/ The disco strobes in the stumbling blocks".

The generational talent of Alex Turner is beyond evident in The Car and this album not only pleases old fans but is a great intro to the Arctic Monkeys for new listeners. The album flows smoothly in a relaxed way without lacking intensity. While it may not be the British band's best work, it is still a wonderful addition to its discography.

Aryah Jamil is mediocre at everything except laughing at her own jokes Tell her to stop talking at jamil.aryah@gmail.com