Recent endeavors from old favorites: Arctic Monkeys, MGMT, David Byrne | The Triangle

Recent endeavors from old favorites: Arctic Monkeys, MGMT, David Byrne

As 2018 rolled around, it seemed like countless artists emerged from hiatus to announce highly anticipated albums to eager fans. With bands reemerging after five years to 15 years of sojourn, certainly this is a period of reinvention and resurrection.

Arctic Monkeys

Back for the first time since “AM” in 2013, the modern indie rock staple band announced the release of their highly awaited sixth album. After putting out “AM” to wide critical praise and snatching the number one spot on the UK charts, frontman Alex Turner announced the band’s hiatus in 2014. Since then, Turner released an album with his side band, The Last Shadow Puppets, in 2016. Along with the new album, the band will be touring the summer festival circuit, starting at the Primavera festival in June and stopping on the East Coast for Firefly.

MGMT

After 2007’s “Oracular Spectacular,” MGMT took over the indie-electronic scene with hits like “Kids,” “Electric Feel” and “Time to Pretend.” Since then, the duo released two more albums: “Congratulations” in 2010 and “MGMT” in 2013. Though “Oracular Spectacular” was a smash, both albums that followed declined in popularity. The February release of “Little Dark Age” was a great reinvention for the group, garnering positive reviews from “Rolling Stone” and “Pitchfork,” all while making a comeback into the mainstream.

Vampire Weekend

The prime source of summertime indie music, Vampire Weekend has produced three dreamy albums in the past decade. The gap between self-titled “Vampire Weekend” and sophomore album “Contra” was two years, while the bridge from “Contra” to “Modern Vampires of the City” was three years, making the five year divide a dramatic one. Though there is no set release date for the fourth album, the title “Mitsubishi Macchiato” was confirmed on lead singer Ezra Koenig’s Instagram handle. In the same post, Koenig wrote: “It’s a lil more springtime than the last one.”

David Byrne

Talking Heads frontman is back with longtime collaborator Brian Eno for the first time in over 14 years. “American Utopia,” coming out March 9, will be a reflection of today’s society.

These songs don’t describe an imaginary or possibly impossible place but rather attempt to depict the world we live in now,” Byrne said about the album. Singles “Everyone’s Coming to My House” and “This and That” were released in February and March, respectively. At the same time, Byrne announced a massive national tour for the spring with choreography and staging rivaling that of “Stop Making Sense.”