Shining due to its marvelous world building, 2018's Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino was Arctic Monkeys most disparate release at that point, marking a profound change in direction for the band's career. Following the overwhelming commercial success of 2013's AM (which, on the other hand, did not get showered with praise by the critics), Arctic Monkeys take us on a lunar adventure, exploring the halls and relationships within a lush, sci-fi hotel-casino on the Moon.
(Originally written on March 1st 2020 for RYM, updated on Sep. 12th 2026)
Arctic Monkeys, hailing from Sheffield, gained notoriety during the middle 2000's due to the very solid releases Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and Favourite Worst Nightmare, garage rock revival efforts that quickly infected the Indie Rock consciousness. During the 2020's, the band's output stagnated, and Arctic Monkeys resigned to putting out bland records clinically engineered for the sole purpose of being crowd pleasers, such as the ineffectively vulgar AM from 2013.
Five years later, however, the band decided to take risks: instead of continuing to play it safe, they decided to shake things up. Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino represents an astronomical left turn in the band's discography, such that the music leaves our atmosphere and heads straight for the Moon. Such an interesting output from Arctic Monkeys, especially this late in their career, was unexpected, but his makes up for one powerful statement: the band isn't afraid to make a polarizing release even if it alienates their fan base.
That being said, this album is fantastic. I deeply appreciate the emphasis on artistry (even if the albums stink of passion project) and in the overarching theme of a futuristic hotel on the Moon. The album has a vintage, smooth sound that perfectly encapsulates the vibe "Moon casino" vibe: the velvety piano-rock compositions transport you to a beautiful hall, overwhelmingly beige and carpeted with burgundy, except for the large tilled window that displays a vast, rocky landscape. The music is dreamy and spacious, making the hotel feel liminal: there's a disturbing impression visitors don't stay long (or maybe the subject is simply too alone with his drink). The music sounds like the lounge-y ambiance that would be played in the halls of an hotel, and the vocals are those of a lonely and lost visitor. The fact that the album's theme is so concise really does work in its favor.
The album doesn't try anything beyond the concept: while it is definitely different from the bands previous releases, the piano-rock sound on display here is something you have definitely heard before. It really is the wrapping that makes the experience: Alex Turner's singing, which at times feels almost like rambling, contributes a lot to building the soundscape.
That being said, this album is fantastic. I deeply appreciate the emphasis on artistry (even if the albums stink of passion project) and in the overarching theme of a futuristic hotel on the Moon. The album has a vintage, smooth sound that perfectly encapsulates the vibe "Moon casino" vibe: the velvety piano-rock compositions transport you to a beautiful hall, overwhelmingly beige and carpeted with burgundy, except for the large tilled window that displays a vast, rocky landscape. The music is dreamy and spacious, making the hotel feel liminal: there's a disturbing impression visitors don't stay long (or maybe the subject is simply too alone with his drink). The music sounds like the lounge-y ambiance that would be played in the halls of an hotel, and the vocals are those of a lonely and lost visitor. The fact that the album's theme is so concise really does work in its favor.
The album doesn't try anything beyond the concept: while it is definitely different from the bands previous releases, the piano-rock sound on display here is something you have definitely heard before. It really is the wrapping that makes the experience: Alex Turner's singing, which at times feels almost like rambling, contributes a lot to building the soundscape.
Overall, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino is a very pleasing experience, and one that I keep on coming back to. I have bought it on CD, and it sees regular rotation.
Final Verdict
A genuinely great album, with enough quality and character to make it worth owning and returning to from time to time.
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