Embedded Files
The end of the trilogy: Peter does some reflecting and realizes the beauty of the Arctic Monkeys album The Car.
Peter is Repenting for his Sins
Peter is Repenting for his Sins
By: Peter Easterwood
By: Peter Easterwood
In Peter’s previous history with the Arctic Monkeys, he slandered their latest album, The Car. Whether that be due to the possibility that the 5G virus got to his head or if he was just coping with the absolute beauty this album displays, there HAS to be a change in his opinion. Well, there was. While it was explained as a boring snooze-fest, now it is personally seen as an exciting yet relaxing listen.
The first idiotic statement by Peter was talking down on the opening track, “There’d Better be a Mirrorball” in his article "The Car - Farctic Monkeys". He described it as an “uninteresting” listen, but the song's point is to be methodical, to pave the way for the rest of the album. Even after this “boring” song, Peter does not bother to recognize that the song placed right after it is the most loud, exhilarating song on the album. “I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am” utilizes an immense collage of loud wind instruments, with the regular rock elements, as well. The song builds up to the long-awaited climax, with everything coming together at the end.
Photo from: Ruta 66
The greatest flaw of Peter’s critiques of The Car is tarnishing the great song “Body Paint”. Yes, the song dwells on the idea of sex, but Turner’s writing displays classic Arctic Monkeys ideas. To explain what that means in a basic way, Turner loves describing themes through abstract language that resonates with his past and what he grew up with, especially influencing his writing. “Body Paint” combines Arctic Monkeys writing with the new sound they have built since Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino. Another incorrect statement Peter made was the complaint about Turner’s singing, giving it the “worst part” title.
Now, if you were to witness or listen to the Arctic Monkeys live, you would call it a far cry from their prime. Turner has changed the usage of his voice, going more jazz-esque, especially with the long-winded notes he belts out more than ever. Tranquility Base had Turner use his falsetto here and there, but never consistently, the band dwelled more into this sound on The Car, especially on songs like “There’d Better be a Mirrorball”, “Jet Skis on the Moat”, and the previously mentioned “Body Paint”. The well-known music news and rating website Pitchfork mentions this from their writer Matthew Strauss, who writes, “Turner sings much of The Car in falsetto/Over the years, he would expand his range, but when he’d switch to a higher register, it was almost like a send-up, embodying the hip-swinging showman who can poke fun at rockstar machismo while still behaving a bit laddishly.”
Photo from: Wikimedia
Growth and reflection can make anyone's opinion change. This exact reflection caused the resurrection of the Arctic Monkeys, from a grimy garage rock band with Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, to a doo-wop indie rock band with AM, to finally a more funk, jazz-inspired progressive rock band with The Car. The same can be said with reviewers like Anthony Fantano, the “World Busiest Music Nerd”, re-reviewing Swimming by Mac Miller and giving it a well-deserved high rating. Finally, it can be said that The Car is one of those albums that takes time to marinate, but when it is time, the album fulfills what it was meant to display-- the new-age Arctic Monkeys. Altogether, The Car is a solid 8.5/10 album.
Page updated
Report abuse