Arctic Monkeys "Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino" (2018)

Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino
release date: May 11, 2018
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,82]
producer: Alex Turner, James Ford
label: Domino Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Star Treatment" - 4. "Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino" - 6. "Four Out of Five"

6th studio album by Arctic Monkeys released after a five-year hiatus and produced by composer, vocalist and guitarist Alex Turner with James Ford, who has been in the producer seat on all of the band's releases except the debut - just as Ford was on Turner's last project: The Last Shadow Puppets' second album from 2016 Everything You've Come to Expect. The cold monkeys have come a long way since the brilliant AM from 2013 and so has Mr. Turner. He has always been the undisputed leader of the band, but here he is not only part of the production-team, he has also written all songs and dare I say: turned Arctic Monkeys into a Turner-project. Stylistically and sound-wise, this has much in common with The Last Shadow Puppets most recent album. It sounds like over-polished lounge-like chamber pop and psychedelic pop with Turner crooning like a new-born American jet-setter in his modern aristocratically mumblings about right and wrong.
The album received positive to luke-warm reviews. I find it quite boring and even less interesting than Turner's Shadow project. To quote Alexis Petridis of The Guardian: "The problem is that a smart guy is sometimes all Turner seems to be. The songs can feel like less than the sum of their parts: a selection of one-liners, wry observations and knowing winks to camera that leave you struggling to work out what he’s driving at – and wondering if he knows, or cares – and to locate any real emotional connection or impact." It leaves me as indifferent as when listening to Bowie's last album Black Star from 2016, and Alex Turner has never sounded so much like Bowie as he does here.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com, Uncut 3,5 / 5, 👎NME 4 / 5, 👍The Guardian 3 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]

Best of 2013:Arctic Monkeys "AM" (2013)

AM
release date: Sep. 9, 2013
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,21]
producer: James Ford, Ross Orton
label: Domino Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Do I Wanna Know?" - 2. "R U Mine?" (4 / 5) - 3. "One for the Road" - 4. "Arabella" - 6. "No. 1 Party Anthem" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "Mad Sounds" - 8. "Fireside" - 9. "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" (acoustic) - 12. "I Wanna Be Yours" (4 / 5)

5th studio album by Arctic Monkeys is in my mind, the band's best album since the debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), thus making it their second best effort so far. It's still pretty new to me, but I've already played it more than the predecessor Suck It and See (2011) and Humbug (2009), the latter being their lowest point. It's not a return to the sound of the debut but a fine work showing what an excellent songwriter, Alex Turner is. Just before the band's last album (2011), Alex released the solo album (or ep), the soundtrack Submarine (2011) with much more quiet music and a distinct singer / songwriter profile, and that new style shines through on this one. The album comes out as a more mature release. It contains singer / songwriter folk rock but still reeks of garage rock and alt. rock, which makes it rather complex but still pretty coherent, and then it may be heavily influenced / inspired by Reed, Bowie, and Lennon / The Fab Four, but without plagiarism.

2013 Favourite releases: 1. Arctic Monkeys AM - 2. Tindersticks Across Six Leap Years - 3. De Efterladte Alvorsord og etagevask

Arctic Monkeys "Suck It and See" (2011)

Suck It and See
release date: Jun. 6, 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 2,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 4. "The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala" - 8. "Reckless Serenade" - 9. "Piledriver Waltz" - 12. "That's Where You're Wrong"

4th studio album by Arctic Monkeys.
This is a slight return to better music. I haven't played it a lot as it simply never touched me but I find that the songs are better, and more British sounding than the previous album, although it's also recorded and produced in US, but apparently, with focus on live takes in the studio, securing a more energetic and garage rock sound than the heavy rock production sound on Humbug (2009). The band has returned to a more "mainstream" sound and has left the psychedelic rock (which is just fine), as was the case with Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007). Some tracks even have a dream pop or shoegaze sound with heavy distortion and flanger guitar effects, e.g. "The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala", and "Reckless Serenade". I think, some of the quirkiness and garage rock element is missing, but that said, it contains some fine tracks. The track "Piledriver Waltz" is also included on Alex Turner's solo album (ep), the soundtrack Submarine (2011).

Arctic Monkeys "Humbug" (2009)

Humbug
release date: Aug. 24, 2009
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "My Propeller" (3 / 5)

3rd studio album by Arctic Monkeys.
I find that the album is a rather huge disappointment. It's more like: "Say what!!? Left-handed, or just AM now without pilot?? Alex Turner decided to have someone else decide for a change."
The album hasn't even got one great song, and it's like you sense there's another agenda than sending out new songs. It's more like a statement from a highly popular band. They've already been lauded prize winners and both music critics and the audience love the band, so is this just to say: "Sod off, we do the unexpected. Have an American come in and produce, and take over our sound, so no one knows what happened!?" I dunno, I just don't like the result. The style is still indie garage rock but this time with a clear psychedelic element in a heavy and much darker production.
Not recommended.

The Last Shadow Puppets "Everything You've Come to Expect" (2016)

Everything You've Come to Expect
release date: Apr. 1, 2016
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: James Ford
label: Domino Recording Company - nationality: England. UK

Track highlights: 1. "Aviation" (live on Later) - 2. "Miracle Aligner" - 4. "Everything Youve Come to Expect" - 7. "Sweet Dreams, TN"

2nd studio album by project-band The Last Shadow Puppets consisting of (Arctic Monkeys front figure) Alex Turner on vocals and guitar, Miles Kane (from The Rascals) also on vocals and guitar, Zach Dawes on bass and keyboards, and with (producer) James Ford (of Homelife and Simian) on drums and percussion. 'Super-group' this project has been labeled, although, only Turner has been in a highly successful band, but yes, Ford has mainly put his name down as a hot producer for Arctic Monkeys, Klaxons, Beth Ditto, Florence and the Machine and Mumford & Sons to mention just the most famous artists, and Dawes is a new member on this album.
Stylistically, this is somewhat far from Arctic Monkeys being more chamber pop, psychedelic pop and melodic pop / rock-orientated. The album has generally been met by positive reviews by most major critics. I just don't find it that interesting. Admitted, it's above mediocre but there are too few fine songs here to call it anything near great. The production side is fine - very neat and polished - but the songs are just too anonymous and soothing in big arrangement production for my liking. And then I just find that it builds a bit too much on The Divine Comedy and former heydays with Scott Walker and Lee Hazlewood.
It's like Alex Turner going with the jet-set.
[ allmusic.com, NME 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Arctic Monkeys "Fluorescent Adolescent" (2007) (single)

Fluorescent Adolescent, 7'' single
release date: Jul. 9, 2007
format: cd
[single rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,63]

Tracklist: 1. "Fluorescent Adolescent" (5 / 5) (Live on Jonathan Ross) - 2. "The Bakery" - 3. "Plastic Tramp" (3 / 5) - 4. "Too Much to Ask" (3 / 5)

Single release from Arctic Monkeys and their most recent album Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007). The music has changed a bit and become more mainstream but without losing their originality. The hit single track is mighty fine song that secured the band many hours of airplay on national radio and elsewhere around the world. The remaining songs are actually quite decent single tracks, and what's so typical about this band is how they just put one track from the album here, and the rest are brand new songs and no poor fillers.

Arctic Monkeys "Favourite Worst Nightmare" (2007)

Favourite Worst Nightmare
release date: Apr. 23, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "Brianstorm" (4 / 5) - 2. "Teddy Picker" - 4. "Balaclava" - 5. "Fluorescent Adolescent" (5 / 5) - 6. "Only Ones Who Know" - 9. "If You Were There, Beware"

2nd studio album by Arctic Monkeys is a difficult one after a great debut. It's a somewhat uneven album pointing in many directions, but also with many interesting details. They still play great garage rock and also manages the softer ballads, and the great pop song "Fluorescent Adolescent" stands very much alone, and all in all it only contains 4-5 tracks well-above average, and in that sense it's tiny disappointing. Having said that, I also like their ability to seek out new territory and still holding on to their identity and keeping an uncompromising sound.

Arctic Monkeys "Brianstorm" (2007) (single)

Brianstorm, 7'' single
release date: Apr. 16, 2007
format: digital
[single rate: 3,5 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "If You Found This It's Probably Too Late" - 2. "Brianstorm" - 3. "Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend" (3 / 5) - 4. "What If You Were Right the First Time?" (3 / 5)

Single release from Arctic Monkeys taken from the forthcoming album Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007). It starts off with a track that didn't find its way to the album, and what a great strong burst of energy despite the short playing time of only 1:32 min. "Brianstorm" [not misspelled!] is the albums starter, and is yet another fine track. The two remaining songs are not bad but not on the same level, but it's really a great single with just one song from the album.

Arctic Monkeys "Leave Before the Lights Come On" (2006) (single)

Leave Before the Lights Come On, 7'' single
release date: Jul. 25, 2006
format: digital
[single rate: 3,5 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "Leave Before the Lights Come On" (4 / 5) - 2. "Put Your Dukes Up John" (3 / 5) - 3. "Baby I'm Yours"

Single release from Arctic Monkeys. The music is just as energetic and dirty garage rock as their debut. None of these tracks are included on the album debut and are therefore nice to have on this. Alex Turner spurts out songs like... no one else. The two first tracks are fierce edgy songs and "Baby I'm Yours" is a fine violin-supported ballad, which also feels genuine.

Arctic Monkeys "Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?" (2006) (ep)

Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?, ep
release date: Apr. 24, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5]

Track highlights: 1. "The View From the Afternoon" (4 / 5) - 2. "Cigarette Smoker Fiona" - 3. "Despair in the Departure Lounge" - 4. "No Buses" - 5. "Who the Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys?"

Here's another fine release by these Arctic garage rockers. The ep starts off with the first track from the band's recent album debut but then very decently presents four new tracks that could easily have been included on the debut, and one could easily get the impression that they were capable of having filled a double album with fine songs instead of a regular 1-disc debut album.

Arctic Monkeys "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" (2006)

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not [debut]
release date: Jan. 23, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,28]
producer: Jim Abbiss, Alan Smyth
label: Domino - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The View From the Afternoon" (4 / 5) - 2. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" (4 / 5) - 4. "Dancing Shoes" - 7. "Riot Van" (4 / 5) - 8. "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured" - 9. "Mardy Bum" - 10. "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..." - 11. "When the Sun Goes Down" (4 / 5) - 13. "A Certain Romance"

Studio debut album by Arctic Monkeys is a great release. Yes, they were hyped the next big thing like hundreds of artists before them, and often just without much evident basis or talent, but these guys really play their British asses off. It's great garage rock in the a typical British working class style that draws on The Kinks, The Who, and 1970s big working class band, The Jam, and then adds some indie rock, and alt. rock. What really holds the band together is the lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, Alex Turner. He's fantastic!
The album won many prizes and was picked as album-of-the-year including that of NME, Q Awards, Time Magazine, Hot Press, it won the Mercury Prize in 2006, and it's included in "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die".

2006 Favourite releases: 1. Amy Winehouse Back to Black - 2. Arctic Monkeys Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - 3. Band of Horses Everything All the Time

Arctic Monkeys "When the Sun Goes Down" (2006) (single)

When the Sun Goes Down, 7'' single
release date: Jan. 16, 2006
format: digital
[single rate: 3,5 / 5]

Tracklist: 1. "When the Sun Goes Down" (4 / 5) - 2. "Stickin to the Floor" (3 / 5) - 3. "7"

Single release from Arctic Monkeys. The first track is taken from the forthcoming album debut, and the two other tracks are rather fine but not quite on par with the first track.

Alex Turner "Submarine" (OST) (2011) (ep)

Submarine, ep (soundtrack)
release date: Mar. 14, 2011
format: digital
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,92]
producer: James Ford
label: Domino Recording Company - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Hiding Tonight" (3 / 5) - 3. "Glass in the Park" (3 / 5) - 5. "Stuck on the Puzzle" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "Piledriver Waltz"

Solo album debut by Arctic Monkeys' lead singer and guitarist Alex Turner is a 6-track ep with songs for the movie "Submarine" by Richard Ayoade. The songs are singer / songwriter material mainly only with Turner on vocals and acoustic guitar. A few tracks feature drums, keyboards, bass and strings, but still shaped as singer / songwriter material. Both "Hiding Tonight" and "Glass in the Park" are fine quiet songs but they do really make me think of Richard Hawley, whom Turner apparently said had made the album-of-the-year when Arctic Monkeys was handed the Mercury Prize in 2006 for its debut album - something I agree on.
[ allmusic.com, Independent 3 / 5 stars ]