The Car
I downloaded The Car a few days ago. I am listening right now through my best headphones as I sit at my regular table at the library. I hope no one is near me when I throw my laptop across the room. I think it might come to that; I am a little unhappy. There is a very good chance that I do not like this collection of tunes. Sigh.
Instead of live streaming my reaction, I will write as I listen. I am on my second time through and am disappointed so far. Many reviewers stated that the band has doubled down on the sound from Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino. I am not surprised they are correct; the energetic young men I used to know have morphed into pseudo-lounge singers.
I have a long history with this band; I have followed them from the beginning. Reckless Serenade became my favorite song the first time I heard it over ten years ago. It is still my favorite. It is a beautiful song with lyrics I consider brilliant. The stuff I am listening to now is simply confusing. Is it pretentious, or am I not understanding the concept? Can it be both? I find myself thinking about the band’s early music. Apparently, this new CD was created by the same musical group, but…
Am I at the point where I can proclaim that I dislike this new CD? I am leaning that way, but I need to give it another hundred or so listens. After all, this is my favorite band, and maybe I am missing something.
I suspect I have listened to the CD 50 times so far. I have listened to the songs in order on repeat. I am back at the library and see that I just missed a phone call. The number leads me to believe that something has gone wrong. If everything was smooth, they would never call me. I hear from them only when there is a problem. I find it interesting that I am listening to The Car when the message came through.
The last few months have been very dark in this neck of Hillbilly Land. Things, important things, are going wrong every day, all day. The struggle to live a productive life is real and annoying. It shouldn’t be this hard. If I could stay in bed, I would. I really needed to like this new CD. Another disappointment is not what I need. Once again, sigh.
I realize that if a person just keeps breathing, then there is a good probability that things might eventually get better. Of course, there is also a chance they will get worse. I don’t subscribe to the view that things can only get better. I would have thought that months ago, but here I am, still anticipating that I will soon reach the peak and break free from whatever this is. I could have used a transcendent CD from Arctic Monkeys now. I didn’t get it.
After dozens of front-to-back sessions, I still find myself ambivalent. I am simply not a big fan of this sound. I view it as a tragedy when your favorite band moves from a post-punk sound because they are called to morph into a lounge act. I doubt even one song will make it on a workout mix. Decades ago, I didn’t have to make concessions; their entire CDs pulsed through my headphones while I ran.
I am bending over to give these guys the benefit of all my doubts. I want to like this; I just wish the music was different. Did you just read what I wrote? These are my guys, and I try to remain loyal when I become interested in an artist. They don’t owe me anything; they need to create the music they are compelled to make. The fact that there is a 60-year-old guy in Hillybilly Land that is disappointed shouldn’t matter one bit. There is an easy solution; I can play the old music and pretend the new stuff was never released. Maybe I’ll just do that.
After many more sessions, I have come to a conclusion. Arctic Monkeys’ new CD, The Car, is CRAPTACULAR! It is time to move on (i.e., back) to Mozart as the background soundtrack of my life. Maybe in another four years or so the boys will redeem themselves in my eyes. I won’t be holding my breath. The next CD might be acapella barbershop.
