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The Car (album)

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This article is about the seventh studio album by Arctic Monkeys. For albums with similar titles, see Car (disambiguation) § Albums.

The Car
Studio album by
Arctic Monkeys
Released21 October 2022
Recorded2021 – July 2022
Studio
Genre
Length37:18
LabelDomino
ProducerJames Ford
Arctic Monkeys chronology
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
(2018) 		The Car
(2022)
Singles from The Car
  1. "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"
    Released: 30 August 2022
  2. "Body Paint"
    Released: 29 September 2022
  3. "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am"
    Released: 18 October 2022

The Car is the seventh studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, released on 21 October 2022 by Domino Recording Company. It was written by band frontman Alex Turner in his Los Angeles home. It was produced in Suffolk, Paris and London by frequent Arctic Monkeys collaborator James Ford, alongside frequent guest musicians Tom Rowley, Loren Humphrey and Tyler Parkford. It was arranged by Bridget Samuels and Turner. Drummer Matt Helders took the picture on the album cover, which depicts a white car in an empty parking lot. Its title refers to said cover and the abundance of references to vehicles in the lyrics.

The Car builds upon the sound from the band's previous album, Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino (2018). It features a wide array of genres that include orchestral rock, lounge pop, baroque pop, and funk, as well as elements of jazz. It also draws influence from soul music, electronic music, glam rock, bossa nova, traditional pop and vintage film soundtracks.

The album has been promoted by the singles, "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball", "Body Paint" and "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am".

Background and recording

The band's sixth studio album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino was released in May 2018 to critical acclaim, but its stylistic deviation was polarizing for listeners.[1][2] Right after the South American leg of the tour for that album ended, Turner began thinking of new music with the idea of writing, "a song that could close the show". His intention was to return to a more guitar heavy sound, although not the one seen in previous album AM.[3]

First attempts at writing for the album began in April and May 2019. Initial recordings happened in late 2019 at La Frette, with James Ford again as a producer, but were quickly discarded, with only an early version of track "Hello You" surviving those sessions.[3][4][5] In 2020, Turner went back to Lunar Surface, his home studio in Los Angeles, at first, hell-bent on writing riffs and "making it louder", but the music "didn't want to go there". He wrote and recorded demo versions of the songs, written half on acoustic guitar, half on piano. The album direction was cemented when he landed on the instrumental section of opening track "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball."[6][7]

After the lockdowns, in the summer of 2021, the band got together to record. They chose Butley Priory, an old monastery at the coast of Suffolk, as their new studio, after attending several events there. The decision was also inspired by The Great British Recording Studios, a book gifted to Turner, by album engineer Loren Humphrey, where he saw pictures of the Stones Mobile Studio unit. With producer Ford, the band rented it out and transformed it into a studio, while also living on-site during the recording.[6][3] Turner described the place as "remote", with the sessions reminding him of their first record, which was also partly recorded in the English countryside. Turner also recounts that there were "no distractions, like in the city. Extra focus, no prying eyes".[8] Later, vocals and overdubs were recorded at La Frette in Paris, where Turner picked up his 16mm movie camera and captured footage of the band at work, Ford was apparently happy with Turner's hobby, as it kept him away from meddling too much with the recording.[7]

In London, strings were recorded at RAK Studios, arranged by composer Bridget Samuels and Turner himself.[9]

Composition

Musical style and influences

The Car builds up on the sound developed on Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, although this time more accessible than the previous record.[10] It has been characterised as Orchestral rock,[11] lounge pop,[12][13] baroque pop,[12][14][15][16] and funk,[11][12][17][10][13] The album further incorporates influences from jazz.[12][17][18] soul music,[14][13][16][19] electronic music,[11][20][19] bossa nova,[13] traditional pop,[7] and vintage film soundtracks.[12][15]

Artwork and title

The album's cover artwork was revealed on the same day of the album's announcement.[21] The picture was taken by the band's drummer Matt Helders using a Leica M6 film camera[22] and shows a white Toyota Corolla (E90) parked alone on the rooftop of a parking garage in Los Angeles.[23][24] Helders was testing an old 90mm lens he had just acquired, and decided to shoot the view from his old apartment window, inspired by the work of photographer William Eggleston. A series of pictures were taken, and later shared with lead singer Alex Turner, also interested in photography. Turner got fixated in the one featuring the car, and wrote a song inspired by it. The song would later also inspire the title of the album.[25][6]

Release and promotion

In August 2021, Peter Harrison, the cook at the Butley Priory in Suffolk, posted a photograph of himself with the band to his Instagram account. Several hours later a screenshot of the Butley Priory website, confirming the band had been recording there in June and July .[26] In May 2022, drummer Matt Helders said the album "picks up where the other one left off musically" and that it's "never gonna be like 'R U Mine?' again".[27] The album was announced on 24 August 2022, and is set for release on 21 October of the same year.[28]

Singles and videos

The album's lead single, "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" was released with an accompanying music video, directed by lead singer Alex Turner, on 30 August 2022.[29] The video features the band during the proccess of recording the album.[30] Turner brought his own 16mm video camera to document the sessions, later compiling his footage for the video.[7]The single debuted at number 26 on the UK Singles Chart.[31]

In September, the band released a music video for the album's fifth track, "Body Paint", directed by Brook Linder. Like its predecessor, the video was shot on film, and inspired by the proccess of filmmaking and the creation of symbolic imagery. [32] The track was announced as the album's second single alongside the release of the video.[33][34]

Four days before the album release date, the band released their third single "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am", alongside a music video. The video featured a live rendition of the track, performed at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre on 22 September, and was directed by Ben Chappell & Zackery Michael.[35][36]

Tour

In November 2021, the band announced a tour of Europe which began in August,[37] In April and June they extended the tour into November 2022, with dates added in the United States and England, as well as Latin America.[38][39][40] On 9 August, the band played live in Istanbul. This was the tour's opening performance, and the Arctic Monkeys' first performance since 2019.[41] No new songs were debuted until their performance at Zürich OpenAir Festival on 23 August, where they played "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am".[42] Other tracks debuted during their first leg of tour include "Mr. Schwartz", "Big Ideas" and "The Car", alongside singles, "There'd Better Be A Mirrorball" and "Body Paint". Their stadium tour was announced on September 2022, with dates on UK and Ireland, North America, and Central Europe, finalizing on September 2023.[43][44][45] For the tour, the group are joined by longtime touring members Tom Rowley, Davey Latter, and Tyler Parkford.[3]

Other performances

The band made a number of television performances in promotion of the album including on the late-night talk shows The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,[46] and Late Night Berlin.[47] After their perfomance at Late Night Berlin the Band played a secret show at the television studio, where they debuted the track "The Car". The show, that contained 13 songs, will be broadcast in December.[48][49]

In October, the band played an exclusive set, at VRT Studios in Belgium, for Studio Brussel and Dutch radio station NPO 3FM.[50] Their setlist consisted mostly of early songs, as well as some songs from The Car , including the debut of unreleased track, "Big Ideas". An audio-only recording of the performance was streamed on Studio Brussel the next day.[51]

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10[52]
Metacritic84/100[53]
Review scores
SourceRating
Far Out[17]
The Guardian[19]
i[54]
The Independent[13]
Mojo[14]
NME[10]
Paste7.7/10[55]
Pitchfork8.0/10[15]
Rolling Stone[56]
Uncut8/10[57]

The Car has received critical acclaim.[53] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received a score of 84, based on 17 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[53]

Thomas Smith of NME thought the album best summarized the story of the band, "sharp songwriting, relentless innovation and unbreakable teamwork", adding that it would be a rewarding listen for old fans, as well as, a remarkable starting point for new ones.[10] Ludovic Hunter-Tilney of Financial Times thought the band "doubled down on the stylistic swerve that they made on Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino" but was more positive to this record, saying "unlike its predecessor, the results do not exhaust or disappoint."[11] Mark Beaumont of The Independent also compared the lyricism of both albums, describing it, as "roaring off in every direction, as wonderfully imaginistic as it is largely impenetrable", unlike, "the sci-fi framework" of the previous record.[13] John Mulvey of Mojo, though the record was the "next logical step on from the cinematic sound world" built on Tranquility Base.[14] Alex Cabré of DIY praised the band "keenness to explore new styles" but doubted the album would reach the commercial success of their previous work.[58] In an overwhelmingly positive review, Kate Solomon of i, called the album "swooningly glamorous and musically theatrical", comparing it to the diverse works of David Bowie, "With songs as simultaneously vast and focused as this, Arctic Monkeys can take their [Bowie Era] pick."[54] Ewan Gleadow of Cult Following highlighted the influence of Elton John and Jimi Hendrix as well as David Bowie on the Arctic Monkeys, calling the album "a deeply moved and heavy-set filter for the late 1960s and early 1970s of rock and pop music."[59] Matthew Strauss of Pitchfork described The Car as "an album of love, longing, and doubt", and noted the music matched the uncertainty of the lyrics.[15] On the mood of the album, Sam Richards of Uncut, felt it was "pretty bleak" and allowed "the lyrics to take hold" but thought the second half wasn't as varied as the first.[57] For Paste Grant Sharples said it was "a joy to hear [the band] lean into their more recondite side, picking up where they left off four years ago" adding the band "transformed a once-antiquated object into something with modern panache".[55]

Dan Cairns of The Sunday Times noted "a sameyness of texture, pacing and delivery" on the album and saw a lack of evolution, but praised the "beautiful" melodies of tracks "There'd Better be a Mirrorball" and "Big Ideas".[60] In a similarly mixed review Andy Hill of Clash described the record as "exquisitely tailored, masterfully crafted. The heft, the sheen, the sheer bloody marquetry of it all is sublime", but dismissed the lyrics as going between "infuriatingly opaque" and "fourth-wall-breaking hater-baiting." Overall, he felt the band had taken a "wrong turn" with the album.[61]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Alex Turner except where noted

The Car track listing
No.TitleLength
1."There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"4:25
2."I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am"3:11
3."Sculptures of Anything Goes" (Turner, Jamie Cook)3:59
4."Jet Skis on the Moat" (Turner, Tom Rowley)3:17
5."Body Paint"4:50
6."The Car"3:18
7."Big Ideas"3:57
8."Hello You"4:04
9."Mr Schwartz" (Turner, Rowley)3:30
10."Perfect Sense"2:47
Total length:37:18

Personnel

Arctic Monkeys[62]

Additional personnel

  • Tom Rowley - guitars
  • Tyler Parkford - backing vocals
  • Loren Humphrey - engineering[63]
  • James Ford - production, string arrangements
  • Bridget Samuels - string arrangements
  • Alex Turner - string arrangements

References

  1. ^ "Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino by Arctic Monkeys Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  2. ^ Britton, Luke Morgan (11 May 2018). "'Sci-fi Spandau Ballet": The best fan reactions to Arctic Monkeys' new album 'Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino'". NME. Archived from the original on 15 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d Cameron, Keith (15 October 2022). "From the Rubble to the Ritz". Mojo. No. December 2022. p. 79.
  4. ^ Gross, Torsten (15 October 2022). "Bleibt Alles Anders". Musikexpress (in German). No. November 2022.
  5. ^ "Entrevista con Alex Turner y Matt Helders | El regreso de Arctic Monkeys y los secretos de "The Car"". Sopitas.com. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Appleford, Steve (18 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys Hit a New Gear". SPIN. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Monroe, Jazz (30 September 2022). "Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner: 'I'm comfortable with the idea that things don't have to be a pop song". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  8. ^ Benboom, Willem (October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys Interview". OOR (in Dutch). No. 10.
  9. ^ "Arctic Monkeys announce new album 'The Car', to be released Oct 21st | News | Domino". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d Smith, Thomas (18 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys – 'The Car' review: a swashbuckling, strings-fuelled epic". NME.
  11. ^ a b c d Hunter-Tilney, Ludovic (18 October 2022). "'Arctic Monkeys' The Car album review — a stylish, plush affair". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d e Richardson, Mark (18 October 2022). "'The Car' by Arctic Monkeys Review: The Tranquility Continues". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022.
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  14. ^ a b c d Mulvey, John (18 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys' The Car Reviewed!". Mojo.
  15. ^ a b c d Strauss, Matthew (20 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys: The Car Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
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  19. ^ a b c Barton, Laura (18 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys: The Car review – aching songs of soured dreams". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  20. ^ Whittle, Nathan (19 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys - The Car". Louder Than War.
  21. ^ "The new album from Arctic Monkeys, 'The Car' is out 21st October. Pre-order now". Twitter. 24 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Matt Helders on Instagram: "The Car // Leica M6 // #portra400 #35mm"".
  23. ^ "Where was the Arctic Monkeys' album cover photo taken?".
  24. ^ "What is the car on the Arctic Monkeys' "The Car" album sleeve? An investigation". British GQ. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Entrevista con Alex Turner y Matt Helders | El regreso de Arctic Monkeys y los secretos de "The Car"". Sopitas.com. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  26. ^ Aubrey, Elizabeth (14 August 2021). "Arctic Monkeys have reportedly recorded a new album in Suffolk". NME. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  27. ^ Moore, Sam (16 May 2022). "Matt Helders on Arctic Monkeys' new album: "It's never gonna be like 'R U Mine?' and all that stuff again"". NME. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Arctic Monkeys announce new album 'The Car', to be released Oct 21st | News | Domino". Domino Recording Company. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  29. ^ Robinson, Ellie (30 August 2022). "Listen to Arctic Monkeys' first single in four years,'There'd Better Be A Mirrorball'". NME. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
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  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  32. ^ "Body Paint' Arctic Monkeys by Brook Linder". Directors' Library. October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  33. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Release New Single "Body Paint": Listen". 29 September 2022.
  34. ^ Mier, Tomás (29 September 2022). "Arctic Monkeys Splice Together a Vintage Video for 'Body Paint'". Rolling Stone.
  35. ^ Jones, Damian (18 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys share funky new song 'I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am'". NME. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  36. ^ Monroe, Jazz (18 October 2022). "Watch Arctic Monkeys' Video for New Song "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  37. ^ Skinner, Tom (16 November 2021). "Arctic Monkeys announce 2022 European tour dates". NME. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  38. ^ Jones, Damian (27 April 2022). "Arctic Monkeys announce South American tour dates". NME. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  39. ^ Moore, Sam (8 June 2022). "Arctic Monkeys announce new tour date". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  40. ^ Sacher, Andrew (31 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys first headlining US show of 2022: Brooklyn's Kings Theatre". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  41. ^ Mensah, Jenny (10 August 2022). "Arctic Monkeys return with first gig in three years: Full Istanbul setlist". Radio X. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  42. ^ Mensah, Jenny (23 August 2022). "Watch Arctic Monkeys debut new song at Zürich Openair Festival: Full setlist". Radio X. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  43. ^ Skinner, Tom (23 September 2022). "Arctic Monkeys announce 2023 UK and Ireland stadium tour". NME. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  44. ^ Monroe, Jazz (3 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys announce 2023 North American Tour". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  45. ^ Richards, Will (10 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys confirm 2023 European tour dates with Inhaler". NME. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  46. ^ Breihan, Tom (30 September 2022). "Watch Arctic Monkeys Play New Song "Body Paint" And Look Cool As Hell On Fallon". Stereogum. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  47. ^ Richards, Will (17 October 2022). "Watch Arctic Monkeys Perform perform 'Body Paint' on German TV". NME.
  48. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Setlist at Studio Berlin Adlershof, Berlin". setlist.fm. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  49. ^ "Arctic Monkeys Secret Show in Berlin 11th October". Arctic Monkeys US. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  50. ^ Wicks, Amanda (29 September 2022). "WINNEN: TICKETS VOOR DE 3FM EXCLUSIVE MET ARCTIC MONKEYS". NPO 3FM (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  51. ^ "Dit was de exclusieve show van Arctic Monkeys: Alex Turner met volle goesting én nieuwe muziek". Studio Brussel (in Dutch). 11 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  52. ^ "The Car by Arctic Monkeys reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  53. ^ a b c "The Car by Arctic Monkeys Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  54. ^ a b Solomon, Kate (19 October 2022). "Album Review: Arctic Monkeys, The Car, review: Alex Turner enters his David Bowie era". i.
  55. ^ a b Sharples, Grant (17 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys Stay in the Stratosphere on The Car". Paste.
  56. ^ https://www.rollingstone.co.uk/music/album-reviews/arctic-monkeys-the-car-review-24068/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  57. ^ a b Richards, Sam (December 2022). "Arctic Monkeys - The Car". Uncut. No. 307. p. 24.
  58. ^ Cabré, Alex (October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys - The Car". DIY. No. 123. p. 8.
  59. ^ Gleadow, Ewan (21 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys – The Car Review". CULT FOLLOWING. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  60. ^ Cairns, Dan (16 October 2022). "Arctic Monkeys - The Car". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022.
  61. ^ Russel, Will (18 October 2022). "Album Review: Arctic Monkeys, The Car". Clash.
  62. ^ "Uncut December 2022 Music Review". October 2022.
  63. ^ "RAK Studios - Arctic Monkeys have released the lead single from their upcoming album 'The Car', which will be out on the 21st of October. Strings for 'There'd Better Be A Mirrorball' were recorded in studio 1. Engineered by Loren Humphrey and pro tools operated and assisted by Emma Marks. #rakstudios #arcticmonkeys | Facebook". ne-np.facebook.com.
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