I've been a fan of the band since the early days. I was a little disappointed with this release, so I didn't pick up a record when it came out in 2018. Since then, over the years, it's ear wormed me. I looked online, and reviews of the pressing and packaging were commendable. They're all true; it's a beautifully mastered and pressed record with minimal surface noise. The gatefold packaging is excellent. Give the album another try if you dismissed it in 2018 – it's matured nicely!

Know what you're going in to before listening to Arctic Monkeys latest album. After a long hiatus, zero pre-release singles and a few teases of unique imagery and sounds, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino was always set up to be a very odd record far outside of the mainstream. It won't take long to figure out via interviews (or obviously by listening to it) that this is a piano heavy, lyric heavy atmospheric experience not like any of the bands previous work. There are elements of previous albums influences (a few obscure tracks off Humbug/Suck It And See spring to mind) but otherwise this is a holey new experience (some people say they can detect The last Shadow Puppets vibes, but I just don't hear it). It's difficult to explain briefly so just know that you're in for a different treat when you pop this album on. Still worthy of 5 stars.