Arctic Monkeys are trading in their denim jackets for tailored suits and their cigarettes for cigars on their new single, “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball.” 

Audiences generally recognize Arctic Monkeys for their punchy, garage rock sound, but “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” suggests a new era for Arctic Monkeys. The track is the lead single of their 2022 album The Car. So far, the album seems to be much lighter than their previous work, gentler and almost jazzy. 

“There’d Better Be A Mirrorball” introduces this new soulful tone, but lead vocalist/songwriter Alex Turner’s lyricism is unmistakable.

“You’re getting cynical and that won’t do /

I’d throw the rose tint back on the exploded view.”

13-year-old me would be making these lyrics into an aesthetic Tumblr header. Turner has a knack for these wistful, longing breakup songs. The newly adopted soulful sound provides an easy backing to Turner’s classic romantic metaphors.

The band’s 2018 release Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino moved in this smoother direction and away from their more aggressive sound. Hearing this new single, it seems like that album was a stop on the way to the final destination of The Car, which dropped on Oct. 21st and is definitely worth a listen.