Watch Arctic Monkeys perform songs from Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino live on BBC Radio 1
British indie rock band Arctic Monkeys showed up on BBC Radio 1 yesterday — June 8th, 2018 — where they gave a phenomenal live performance of tracks from their new album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, as well as played several classics.
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is the first album from the band in five years, and one that is a huge departure from the music they have previously released.
So much so, fans of the band seem to be split into two camps. Those that are thrilled the Arctic Monkeys are back, and trying new things, and those that expect bands to stick with the same sound they have had for the previous 15 years. (Note to the latter — “It’s not going to happen. And, if it did, that is a band that is stagnating”).
And, by the way, I recommend you give Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino a second, third and fourth listen if you did not initially like it. Because it is gorgeously written, with some of the most interesting and imaginative lyrics the Monkeys have ever produced, and with songs that grow on you, then latch on and won’t let go.
The album’s new direction, of course, has a lot to do with how frontman Alex Turner wrote it. On a piano instead of on the band’s usual guitar.
As Turner said about the album during their visit to BBC Radio 1, “The guitar had seemed to have lost its ability to give me ideas. Every time I felt like I sat with a guitar, I was suspicious with where it was gonna go. I think I had a pretty good idea of what the outcome might be. Which was completely contrary to how I felt when I sat at this piano, and suddenly my imagination was ignited once more”.
Let’s just say the Arctic Monkey’s new musical direction has obviously ignited the imagination of millions of others around the world as well, as it became the UK’s fastest-selling vinyl record in a quarter of a century upon release, as well as made it to the number 1 spot in 10 countries, including the UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium and Australia.
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino also hit the top 10 in 10 other countries, including the U.S.
The songs the Arctic Monkeys performed live on BBC Radio 1 yesterday were:
- Cornerstone
- 2. One Point Perspective
- R U Mine ?
- Four Out Of Five
- I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
- Do I Wanna Know ?
- Star Treatment
- 08. Outro : Golden Trunk
You can watch their performances of ‘Four Out Of Five’, the album’s first single’ and ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor‘ on BBC Radio 1 in the videos below. And, of course, Spotify serves you up the entire new album.
Now aren’t they something special? In both music and lyrics and, of course, in performance.
Related: Watch Dua Lipa sing slow version of the Arctic Monkeys’ song ‘Do I Wanna Know?‘ — it’s stunning