2018 Contenders - Lounge Monkeys

On paper, the first Arctic Monkeys album in 5 years, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, should be an instant winner for me. Backing away from big indie anthems (mirroring my own changing tastes in recent years) to pursue a sci-fi lounge concept album which allows Alex Turner's skills as a wordsmith to take centre stage, this sounds like it would be right up my street. And it almost is. I like it. Maybe a lot. But I don't love it, and once it goes on the shelf, I don't know if I'll be revisiting it any time soon.

During his time away, Turner appears to have been greatly affected by the death of David Bowie. The Dame's influence is everywhere on this record, from the ever-present sci-fi themes to the obvious disillusionment with staying the same and delivering the record your fans want or expect.

Reflections in the silver screen of strange societies
Swamp monster with a hard-on for connectivity
The ascension of the C.R.E.A.M
Mass panic on a not too distant future colony
Quantitative easing
I want to make a simple point about peace and love
But in a sexy way where it’s not obvious
Highlight dangers and send out hidden messages

Turner's voice even strays into Bowie territory at times, though it often reminds me more of Flight of the Conchords doing Bowie, rather than the great man himself. And while I love Flight of the Conchords, they're a lot funnier when it comes to parody than Alex Turner will ever allow himself to be.

Technological advances
Really bloody get me in the mood
Pull me in close on a crisp eve, baby
Kiss me underneath the moon's side boob

Lyrically, as always with an Arctic Monkeys record, there's much to admire... but not much that really speaks to me. I read an interview with Turner where he said that once he decided upon the sci-fi theme, he was flooded with ideas for words and phrases he could use... but sometimes I feel he's using them for the sake of it, rather than because they actually might communicate anything to the listener.

The exotic sound of data storage
Nothing like it, first thing in the morning

Other times, he seems to be using the Bowie technique of cut-and-paste, throwing words and phrases together at random to create abstract poetry, then leaving the listener to make up their own mind what it all means.

You and Genie wearing Stetson hats
Trying to gain access to my lily pad
There are things that I just cannot explain to you
And those that I hope I don’t ever have to

Turner's reached that awkward point where he's so detached from the real world that he can't write songs about discos and kebabs and taxi rides home in Sheffield anymore. He lives in rock star isolation in LA - what does he know about the everyman experience? He communicates the sadness and loss of that very well throughout this record

Still got pictures of friends on the wall
I suppose we aren't really friends anymore
Maybe I shouldn't ever have called
That thing friendly at all
Get freaked out from a knock at the door
When I haven't been expecting one
Didn't that used to be part of the fun, once upon a time?

The other major influence on this record would appear to be the last Father John Misty album, the one where Tillman rambled on to excess about what a bunch of useless tools the human race are, but forgot to include many actual tunes (a flaw he's rectified on his latest release, which I'll discuss elsewhere). There's a fair amount of rambling from Turner here, and a genuine sense of mid-life crisis - pretty scary for a 32 year old, but I can see why it would come earlier to a rock star.

I just wanted to be one of The Strokes
Now look at the mess you made me make
Hitchhiking with a monogrammed suitcase
Miles away from any half-useful imaginary highway
I'm a big name in deep space, ask your mates
But golden boy's in bad shape

The rest of the Monkeys struggle to thread tunes in and amongst this, but it's telling that the song chosen as a radio single - Four Out of Five - is the most traditional pop song here. On any other Monkeys record, it would be an album track or b-side at best.

All that said, I do like this record more than the above diatribe would have you believe. There are some great ideas here (amid the waffle) and some genuine flashes of the old Turner wit.

The leader of the free world
Reminds you of a wrestler wearing tight golden trunks
He's got himself a theme tune
They play it for him as he makes his way to the ring

 

And I do feel Turner's disillusionment, that's the overriding thing I take away from this record. Musically, it sits alongside last year's album by Jarvis Cocker & Chilly Gonzales, though I took that to my heart a lot more than I have Tranquility Base. Still, it's good to see this band trying something new and not just repeating safe former glories. And when Turner gives in fully to his inner Barry Manilow, as he does on The Ultracheese... wow!