5/18/2025
Sixth studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, hit the scene and became a massive phenomenon. Released in May of 2018, its shift in sound from the band’s previous work was a mark of curiosity, creativity, and genius.
At this point in my life, I was battling crippling anxiety without any intervention or diagnosis. I was also battling severe suicidal ideation.
This wasn’t just an album to me—it mirrored something deeper I was going through.
First Contact
The moment I first heard the album I knew I stumbled on my latest obsession. My initial impressions was one of intrigue. It contrasted from what I was used to from the Arctic Monkeys.
It contrasted from myself.
Here was this album, dusted in black and fine gold, telling me, “Bear with me, man, I lost my train of thought.”
And the fluidity from one song bleeding into the next, perpetuating a collapse of local breath. I couldn’t help but hear all the instrumental elements separately and morph it back into one smooth, soulful, dreamy, and strange album-long track. ‘One-Point Perspective‘ into ‘American Sports‘ was the best transition.
Lyrics That Hit Too Close To Home
In the track ‘Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino,’ we get to ponder together, “And do you celebrate your dark side Then wish you’d never left the house? Have you ever spent a generation trying to figure that one out?”
I was someone that up to this point in life, stayed at home and fell into creative pursuits at a desk for many hours. I had extreme social anxiety, hated going out and decided to take inspiration from my favorite artist and go to my first concert for them. This was exposure therapy at its finest.
This was also a final attempt, as I had been planning my own death. I decided I should buy an overpriced resale ticket for their show, in July 2018, a few months away. This was to guarantee something to look forward to in life (because long-term dreams didn’t hold much meaning to me).
But was this me celebrating my dark, depressive side? Would I inevitably go and wish I’d never left the house? Perhaps. In hindsight, I see that this sparked a turning point and potentially saved my life from an early defeat.
The Mood And The Mirror
The atmosphere of the album was dreamy and lonely. This reflected my inner world at the time.
The surreal, space-lounge concept felt like escapism, and a little like strange comfort, as it allowed me to envelop a new persona as I embraced the world around me.
This new persona I painted was embedded in-between the songs. I had to pull to draw inspiration but found it apparent like a mirror.
Growth in Hindsight
Listening to this album repeatedly affected my emotional processing, creativity, and outlook. It was a companion during my journey.
As I’ve grown, my feelings about the album have stayed the same and I appreciate the way it allowed me to evolve into a new chapter and into a new character. I began attending more and more live shows and concerts, becoming slightly addicting to the strange underground scene that existed when darkness fell, and my anxiety did lessen.
A Soundtrack to Self-Understanding
The role this album played in helping me navigate this chapter of my life was one of inspiration.
Art, even unexpectedly, can become part of personal transformation.
Experimentation in creative pursuits, like this album, might be found strange to an audience, but oh how strange this thing called life is and the way in which it can be lived and experienced. Why not create a whole concept for the way you approach the lyrics, the sounds, and even the album cover, a hotel on the moon. Why not create a whole concept for the way in which you approach life, approach your avatar, and the things you think you need.
One final lyric that still lingers with me:
“Opening credits roll…
Panoramic windows looking out across your soul.”
Leanna 