The Car
by Arctic Monkeys
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Oct 21, 2022
User Score
8.1

Universal acclaim- based on 289 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 231 out of 289
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 289
  3. Negative: 34 out of 289
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  1. DOWNEY2010
    Nov 9, 2022
    0
    This is the most boring album in the arctic monkey's discography. I mean there isn't one song to get excited about whatsoever. This sounds like a bad Alex Turner solo project. All these AM's fanboys saying this a masterpiece? I don't believe you. If any other band released this lounge music rubbish, you wouldn't listen to it!
  2. Horror2018
    Oct 21, 2022
    0
    Alex turner continues his boring hotel lobby music in the monkeys new album. Absolutely pretentious rubbish from start to finish.
  3. Epicurus
    Oct 21, 2022
    1
    There is much better lounge music from other decades!!! This is boring pretentious drivel.
  4. kflorence
    Oct 22, 2022
    3
    Alex Turner going full on lounge mode. The most boring album I have listened to this year.
  5. chuck_Vindaloo
    Nov 29, 2022
    1
    What the hell is this!! They sound like they've been heavily medicated on "doctor's order". Did someone replace Matt with an automated drum machine. Are they a weekday basement lounge band now. Is this lounge music? Did someone lobotomize the band. What did they do to them? This is terrible... Can't differentiate between any of the songs. They all sound the same and are unmemorable. ItsWhat the hell is this!! They sound like they've been heavily medicated on "doctor's order". Did someone replace Matt with an automated drum machine. Are they a weekday basement lounge band now. Is this lounge music? Did someone lobotomize the band. What did they do to them? This is terrible... Can't differentiate between any of the songs. They all sound the same and are unmemorable. Its like one really long bad spoken poetry set to generic music with intervals. I'm all for bands changing their sound and experimenting but this not that. Really breaks my heart. I've loved their music for over 15 years now. Either this sucks or maybe I'm just old and dumb, and they've evolved to another level. I'm just too stupid and just don't get it anymore. Oh well..… Expand
  6. vitordill
    Oct 23, 2022
    1
    a lot is said of an evolution of the band, understandable such a vision, but it’s a difficult album to hear. even with a beautiful melody, but Alex's voice are annoying when trying to sing in a very different way than the general public was used to. it's sounds more like a solo album of the Tuner than the album of the band Arctic Monkeys. anyway, less bad than TBHC.
  7. Gosh_reiners938
    Nov 18, 2022
    1
    I was so disappointed by how much the songs sounded the same and I felt like i was in some old jazz club boring as hell do not recommend
  8. idealpages
    Oct 26, 2022
    3
    Songs sound all the same - the tin hat being a song about literally watching paint dry. Not an enjoyable album.
  9. ezio33
    Oct 26, 2022
    2
    I haven't listened to Arctic Monkeys since "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not." I am by no means a dedicated fan, but when I noticed a new album drop, I checked it out.

    Just to confirm I was remembering "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" correctly, I put it on as well, just to compare the two. Talk about whiplash.
  10. Alix-Farron
    Dec 15, 2022
    3
    Experimental and unpleasant music topped by Alex Turner's extremely repulsive vocals.
  11. KingForADay
    Jan 10, 2023
    3
    Let me just say it outright - this album is very hard to listen to. The way to enjoy it would be if you are JUST listening to it on a rainy day in a low lit empty hotel bar in the mountains. Not while you work or clean, not while you're driving, not while you're doing anything else. You MUST give it your full concentration, otherwise it is just unbearable. For me this gives the album aLet me just say it outright - this album is very hard to listen to. The way to enjoy it would be if you are JUST listening to it on a rainy day in a low lit empty hotel bar in the mountains. Not while you work or clean, not while you're driving, not while you're doing anything else. You MUST give it your full concentration, otherwise it is just unbearable. For me this gives the album a vibe that is quite arrogant and pretentious. "Big ideas" has a very nice bluesy guitar to it, but other than this the album is as exciting as watching paint dry (funny enough - watching paint dry is mentioned on "Jet Skis On The Moat" perhaps in an attempt at a jolly forth wall break by the artists to rub in what they are making you listen to).… Expand
  12. powershindley
    Oct 21, 2022
    3
    Quite possibly the worst set of music i have ever listened to in my entire life.

    Fans seemingly love this absolute drabble but personally i believe that if a band is to experiment this much with their sound it's best left to side projects and leave the essence of what the band was in the past. The Gorillaz very rightly split off from Blur and went in a new direction to very clearly    Quite possibly the worst set of music i have ever listened to in my entire life.

    Fans seemingly love this absolute drabble but personally i believe that if a band is to experiment this much with their sound it's best left to side projects and leave the essence of what the band was in the past.

    The Gorillaz very rightly split off from Blur and went in a new direction to very clearly define the fact that the music made now by the Gorillaz is a far cry from Blur. The Arctic Monkeys should have split off and made the Autumn Orangutans the same way and left what the fans loved about Arctic Monkeys alone.

    If i wanted to listen to smooth lounge and falsetto voices i'd have picked up Robbie Williams' collective works or delved into some Richard Cheese, by the way nothing against these 2 examples just proving a point.

    I initially marked this review as 0 but upgraded it to 3 because as lounge music goes it's alright, got some funk and Alex Turner still has a beautiful voice. But Arctic Monkeys music this is not. Maybe they should have quit after they finished AM, the last good album they made.    … Expand
  13. Cockrel01
    Oct 21, 2022
    2
    Have to say that another reviewer hit the nail on the head with this Album. This is not Arctic Monkeys at all and feels a disservice to those fans who have grown up, loved their music and attended gigs in the past.

    This sadly confirms their direction to the Lounge genre and if it didn't have the Arctic Monkeys name, it would largely have gone forgotten. Fans need to ask themselves - if    Have to say that another reviewer hit the nail on the head with this Album. This is not Arctic Monkeys at all and feels a disservice to those fans who have grown up, loved their music and attended gigs in the past.

    This sadly confirms their direction to the Lounge genre and if it didn't have the Arctic Monkeys name, it would largely have gone forgotten.

    Fans need to ask themselves - if they didn't know this was Arctic Monkeys, and you heard it for the first time, would you actually buy it ?

    It's a desperate shame to see this happen to a truly talented band, who added a distinct favour to the the rock and roll genre.

    Seeing so many 10s being awarded is extremely surprising given that I'm sure there aren't many fans of rock and roll who also like Lounge!    … Expand
  14. willemb98
    Oct 21, 2022
    0
    For the life of me I cannot understand where this high rating is coming from! This album is absolute dross.

    This is an Alex Turner solo project under the name of Arctic Monkeys (Matt hasn’t been allowed to play drums properly on an album since AM). It is riding off the earlier success of this band’s name, cause if this was a debut album absolutely no one would find this acceptable as a    For the life of me I cannot understand where this high rating is coming from! This album is absolute dross.

    This is an Alex Turner solo project under the name of Arctic Monkeys (Matt hasn’t been allowed to play drums properly on an album since AM). It is riding off the earlier success of this band’s name, cause if this was a debut album absolutely no one would find this acceptable as a “rock n roll” album.

    I was already sceptical once TBHC was released, but this feels like the band took away everything I loved about them and decided to piss it back onto my face to mug me off.

    I’d rather listen to baby seals being tortured than have to ever listen to this album again    … Expand
  15. AlexSantosP
    Oct 23, 2022
    1
    A self indulgent tentative of wannabe David Bowie and Scott Walker. Alex Turner trying hard to sound obsolete.
  16. R55Clubman
    Oct 24, 2022
    2
    A band I would have loved to see Live, but after the last 2 albums, there is no point.

    Watch the latest live shows, and hear how much the crowd go wild for their upbeat, indie rock music numbers - then listen to the silence when the newer songs start. I can only recommend this album to people who DON'T like the Arctic Monkeys. I've listened to it twice through, and I never want to    A band I would have loved to see Live, but after the last 2 albums, there is no point.

    Watch the latest live shows, and hear how much the crowd go wild for their upbeat, indie rock music numbers - then listen to the silence when the newer songs start.

    I can only recommend this album to people who DON'T like the Arctic Monkeys. I've listened to it twice through, and I never want to hear it again.

    2/10 purely because Alex Turner has become a meme.    … Expand
  17. mullakhan
    Oct 21, 2022
    0
    Some bands should quit while they're ahead. They just aren't musical enough to pull off this feeling. Ill just listen to Al Green again.
  18. ImAProffesional
    Oct 25, 2022
    3
    Bad, pretentious and boring. Not worth it, its like david bowie but worse .
  19. jasonashton0112
    Oct 24, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Almost like they're trying to recreate Bowie. They've lost all their own feel and identity.… Expand
  20. barillas
    Mar 19, 2023
    0
    This album is not good. Just bad lounge music that the fanboys feel obliged to like.

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Most Discussed Album of 2022

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Record Collector
    Nov 7, 2022
    80
    The Car is a slick mover, immaculately appointed and often beautiful. What it’s driving at, though, can feel naggingly elusive.
    Read full review
  2. The Observer (UK)
    Oct 31, 2022
    80
    There is one salient, nailed-on fact about this enigmatic album, however. It’s how easily its most anthemic cuts will slot into those revved-up Arctic Monkey festival set lists.
    Read full review
  3. AllMusic
    Oct 26, 2022
    70
    Turner seems to be angling for atmosphere, not hooks, with his melodies. The free-floating croon helps The Car amiably drift in space but it also highlights how the record could use a couple of elements to bring it back to earth.
    Read full review
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