The Car

The Car is the seventh studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, released on 21 October 2022 by Domino Recording Company. The album's songs were primarily written by frontman Alex Turner in his Los Angeles home and Paris. It was produced in Suffolk, Paris and London by frequent Arctic Monkeys collaborator James Ford, alongside frequent guest musicians Tom Rowley, Loren Humphrey and Tyler Parkford, and arranged by Bridget Samuels and Turner. Drummer Matt Helders took the picture on the album cover, which depicts a white car in an otherwise empty car park. Its title refers to said cover and the abundance of vehicular references in the lyrics. The Car builds upon the sound from the band's previous album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018). It features a wide array of genres that include art rock, orchestral rock, lounge pop, baroque pop, and funk, as well as elements of jazz. It also draws influence from soul music, electronic music, glam rock, bossa nova, traditional pop and vintage film soundtracks. Its lyrical content explores nostalgia and show business, specifically the music and film industries. The album received critical acclaim upon its release. Critics complimented the band's artistic progression, the album's production, and Turner's lyrics, though some felt the band's continued deviation from their earlier indie rock sound would remain polarizing to longtime fans. It was nominated for the 2023 Ivor Novello Awards and was shortlisted for the 2023 Mercury Prize. The single "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball" was nominated for Best Alternative Music Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. It became Arctic Monkeys' first album to not reach the top spot of the UK Albums Chart, debuting at number two in ten territories, including the UK, as Taylor Swift's Midnights occupied the top spot. It became the third best-selling vinyl record, as well as the best-selling cassette of 2022 in the country. The album was promoted by the singles "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball", "Body Paint", and "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am", all of which peaked within the top 25 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as by a global tour and multiple television appearances. Background and recording The band's sixth studio album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino was released in May 2018 to critical acclaim, but its stylistic deviation was polarizing for listeners.