On Oct. 21, 2022, for the first time since their 2018 hiatus, English rock band Arctic Monkeys released their newest album, “The Car,” following the announcement of their 2023 European and North American tour. 

This album is being considered as a transitional album for the band, as it strays away from their title as one of the biggest rock groups of the millennium. It consists of ten songs featuring the pre-released singles “There’d Better be a Mirrorball,” “I Ain’t Quite Where I Think I Am,” and “Body Paint.” The overall feel of the album is uncharacteristically soft and vintage, which is causing a disconnect with some fans. The feedback has been one extreme or the other, with listeners placing it among their most disliked album, and others enjoying the new style. 

“I would say the new album is very different compared to their other songs, where the direction they took this album in is more calm,” Ari Havens, sophomore, said. 

The 2023 tour dates start in late April with Arctic Monkeys visiting Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, and ending in France. In late May, they are traveling to the United Kingdom and Ireland until June. From Aug. to Dec., they are playing in the major cities of Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver in Canada while also visiting 15 U.S. states, including Georgia on Sept. 11, 2023. 

“I am super excited to see how they perform those songs live,” Bella Jurs, senior, said. 

These tour dates seem like a lot, but most venues are sold out, and resale tickets are being marketed for close to triple the original price. Ticket Master is facing backlash from their failed ticket sales that are not giving consumers tickets after they pay or facing ticket scalping (bots bulk buying tickets to sell them for profit), which is driving ticket prices up. Tickets for the Ameris Bank Ampitheatre in Georgia are at least $200 per seat and hitting a maximum of over $900. Luckily, lawn tickets are more affordable at under $100. 

“That is crazy how much people are willing to spend on tickets,” Nick Denalsky, junior, said. 

See what the fuss is all about, and test drive The Car on any platform.