Arctic Monkeys Transform Into a Full Jazz-Rock Ensemble for New Record

The Arctic Monkeys' transformation from Sheffield indie rock upstarts to sophisticated art-rock adventurers reaches its logical endpoint with their latest album, a record that fully embraces the jazz-rock fusion that has been gradually infiltrating their sound over the past several releases. It's their most polarizing work yet, and quite possibly their best.

The album was recorded primarily with a core band expanded to include a permanent jazz pianist, upright bassist, and horn section. Alex Turner's vocals, delivered in the languid croon he's perfected over the years, float over arrangements that owe as much to early 1970s fusion as they do to anything in the Arctic Monkeys' back catalog.

What prevents the album from feeling like an indulgent genre exercise is the strength of the songwriting. Turner's lyrics remain as sharp and observational as ever, and the melodies are strong enough to survive the complex harmonic environments they inhabit. The jazz elements serve the songs rather than dominating them, creating a sound that's genuinely new rather than merely borrowed.

Fan reaction has been predictably divided, with some celebrating the band's refusal to repeat themselves and others longing for the garage rock energy of their debut. But the Arctic Monkeys have always been more interested in following their creative instincts than satisfying expectations, and this album is the purest expression of that philosophy they've released.