Sculptures of Anything Goes explained

Sculptures of Anything Goes
Type:song
Artist:Arctic Monkeys
Album:The Car
Published:Domino
Released:
  • (album)
  • 6 March 2023 (video)
Recorded:2021
Length:3:59
Label:Domino
Producer:James Ford

"Sculptures of Anything Goes" is a song by English rock band Arctic Monkeys released on 21 October 2022 by the Domino Recording Company. The song is the third track on their seventh studio album The Car (2022). It was produced by James Ford and written by lead singer Alex Turner and guitarist Jamie Cook.

Music critics noted the stylistical departure taken with "Sculptures of Anything Goes" towards a darker, and more electronic sound, in contrast to the more classical sounds found on the album. The song was compared to the late works of Portishead. The track has been nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. It debuted at number 5 on the UK Indie Chart.

The accompanying music video was directed by Ben Chappell. The video features live recordings of the band's South American tour, interspersed with footage of Turner in different places. It was released on their YouTube channel on March 6, 2023.[1]

Background

Prior to the release of The Car, in a NPO 3FM interview Alex Turner described the track as being reminiscent of their fifth studio album AM (2013). He explained how the track reminded him of the desert-ier songs off of AM, and how it feels like there is a "bit of that dust in there."[2] According to Turner, the song came about after Jamie Cook got a Moog synthesiser and put a Drum machine through it. Following that, they wrote a song based on the sound it made. Following that Turner exclaimed:

“We wrote a song based off that, really… is the succinct answer. It started there [and then] it became a million other things. There were multiple different versions, and it ended up kind of back where it started… having had a haircut"
In that same interview, drummer Matt Helders said that they were rehearsing a live version of that track, stating that it was a very fun song to play live.

Composition

Musically the song has been described as having "gothic synths"[3] and "a brooding electronic beat and breathy, high vocals."[4] [5] as well as "drifting in a retro-futuristic vibe."[6] The beat was also noted as "industrial," and "dystopia-esque," being compared to Portishead's "Machine Gun" (2008).[7] The track is ominous, darker, and more brooding compared to the rest of the album, being the only song that, "ventures far from the Vegas strip."[3]

Lyrically, it features "cryptic verses about fakeness and truth," which have been said to be, "a regular theme in Turner’s writing,"[4] combined with "a return to self-reflection."[6] Other critics found references to the public's mixed response towards the band's previous album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018).[8]

Music video

On March 6, 2023, a music video was released for the track despite having never been released as a single. It was directed by Ben Chappel & edited by Matt Cronin.[9] The music video was filmed during the Australia & South American tour in promotion of The Car.[10] [11] The video has been described as having a Psych rock retro-aesthetic with grainy film footage.[12] The track also features visuals & footage of the band during live shows.[13] [14]

Accolades

The song was nominated for Best Rock Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.[15]

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peakposition
UK Indie (OCC)[16] 5
UK Streaming (OCC)[17] 56
IFPI Digital Singles Chart[18] 75
Ireland (IRMA)[19] 32

Personnel

Arctic Monkeys[20]

Additional personnel

References

  1. Web site: Singh . Surej . 6 March 2023. Arctic Monkeys share captivating music video for 'Sculptures Of Anything Goes' . 1 April 2023. NME . en-GB.
  2. Web site: Skinner . Tom . 13 October 2022. Arctic Monkeys say new song 'Sculptures Of Anything Goes' is reminiscent of 'AM' sound . 1 April 2023. NME . en-GB.
  3. Web site: 21 October 2022. Alex Turner's persona gives Arctic Monkeys' The Car its charm - review . 1 April 2023 . The Independent . en.
  4. Web site: 'Arctic Monkeys' The Car album review — a stylish, plush affair. Hunter-Tilney. Ludovic. 18 October 2022. Financial Times. https://archive.today/20221018122513/https://www.ft.com/content/773c9da8-b642-4494-8928-9c37ce1211e9. 18 October 2022. live.
  5. News: Barton . Laura . 18 October 2022 . Arctic Monkeys: The Car review – aching songs of soured dreams . en-GB . The Guardian . 1 April 2023 . 0261-3077.
  6. Web site: Arctic Monkeys - The Car. Louder Than War. Whittle. Nathan. 19 October 2022.
  7. Arctic Monkeys - The Car. Uncut. 307. Richards. Sam. December 2022. 24.
  8. Web site: Arctic Monkeys – 'The Car' review: a swashbuckling, strings-fuelled epic. NME. Smith. Thomas. 18 October 2022.
  9. Web site: 6 March 2023 . Arctic Monkeys Shares Captivating Video for Song "Sculptures Of Anything Goes" - . 1 April 2023 . mxdwn Music.
  10. Web site: Rockpit . The . 13 March 2023. ARCTIC MONKEYS Release "Sculptures Of Anything Goes" Video . 1 April 2023. The Rockpit . en-US.
  11. Web site: 6 March 2023 . Watch Arctic Monkeys' New Video for "Sculpture of Anything Goes" . 1 April 2023 . Pitchfork.
  12. Web site: Jones . Abby. 6 March 2023 . Arctic Monkeys share retro "Sculptures of Anything Goes" video: Watch . 1 April 2023. Consequence .
  13. Web site: 6 March 2023 . Arctic Monkeys Share The 'Sculptures Of Anything Goes' Music Video . 1 April 2023 . UPROXX.
  14. Web site: Arctic Monkeys - Sculptures Of Anything Goes (Official Video) . . 1 April 2023.
  15. Web site: 10 November 2023 . 2024 Grammy Nominations: See The Full Nominees List . 10 November 2023 . . 10 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231110165703/https://www.grammy.com/news/2024-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list . live .
  16. Web site: Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50 Official Charts Company . 2023-04-01 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  17. Web site: Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company . 2023-04-01 . www.officialcharts.com . en.
  18. Web site: 2022-11-02 . Charts . 2023-04-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221102071727/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html . 2022-11-02 .
  19. Web site: irishcharts.com - Arctic Monkeys - Sculptures Of Anything Goes . 2023-04-01 . irish-charts.com.
  20. Web site: October 2022 . Uncut December 2022 Music Review .