Between Us Album Review #29: Why Arkells’ Ninth Album Feels So Complete

By the time a band gets to its ninth studio album, you usually have a pretty good sense of who they are. What I love about Between Us is that the Arkells do not sound locked into just one version of themselves here. Some songs feel rooted in the classic Arkells sound, some lean into the bigger production style the band has grown into over the years, and some feel fresh compared to just about anything else they have done.

That is the strength of this album. It blends all of that together and turns it into something complete.

Between Us sounds like a band that understands its own history and knows how to pull from every part of it without losing the thread. As the Arkells’ ninth studio album, that makes this record feel full in the best way.

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Quick Details

Artist: Arkells
Album: Between Us
Album Review #: 29
Released: April 17, 2026
Tracks: 11
Length: 40:21
Producer: John Congleton

What Is Between Us About?

Between Us feels like an album about connection. There is love in it, community in it, longing in it, and a constant push toward something real. A lot of these songs feel like they are wrestling with what matters and what does not, what fills a life and what only distracts from it.

That fits the Arkells perfectly.

This has always been a band that can write songs built for crowds without losing the human side of them. On Between Us, that balance feels especially strong. The record has plenty of big moments and polished production, but the emotional center never gets buried. The songs keep circling back to people, shared experience, and the idea that life feels fullest when you are actually in it instead of watching it pass by from a distance.

That is a big reason why the album feels so complete. The sound moves through different textures, but the themes running through it keep everything tied together.

Between Us Track by Track Review

1. Next Summer

“Next Summer” is a strong opener because it immediately brings in that bigger modern Arkells sound. It feels bright, urgent, and made to hit right away, but it still has the warmth that keeps it from sounding too polished or distant.

As an opening track, it does a great job setting up one side of what makes Between Us work. It sounds big, but it still feels personal. That balance runs through the whole album.

2. What Good?

“What Good?” brings some edge into the record early, and that is important because it keeps the album from feeling too smooth. There is frustration in it, but also purpose. It sounds like a song trying to cut through a lot of noise and get back to what really matters.

This is one of the tracks that feels connected to classic Arkells for me. Even if the production feels current, the directness of it feels very true to the band.

3. Ride (feat. GROUPLOVE)

“Ride” feels like one of the most important songs on Between Us because it gets right to the heart of what this album is reaching for. With GROUPLOVE on the track, the song has an even bigger sense of lift and movement, but it never feels overcrowded. The collaboration adds to that feeling of openness and shared energy that the song is built on.

What I really like about “Ride” is how it seems to be about breaking out of your own routine, your own head, and all the things that can make life start to feel boxed in. There is a freedom to it. It feels like a song about wanting to feel present again, wanting real connection, and wanting life to feel bigger than just going through the motions.

That is a huge part of why it works so well on this album. It has the kind of hook and momentum that makes it instantly appealing, but there is a real meaning underneath it too. It feels like one of the clearest statements on Between Us about choosing experience, connection, and shared life over distance and isolation.

4. Money (feat. Portugal. The Man)

“Money” feels like one of the album’s most distinct tracks, with a Talking Heads-inspired energy and a synth-filled groove that gives it a nervous pulse. Portugal. The Man add to that sound in a way that helps the song stand out even more.

It is one of the best examples on Between Us of the Arkells bringing in a different texture without losing the larger feel of the album.

5. Imagine Barcelona

“Imagine Barcelona” feels like an instant fan favorite. It has a really fun, summer rock vibe to it, and it gives the album a different texture. There is something easy and immediate about it that makes it stand out right away.

It helps open the album up and adds another side to the sound. This is one of those songs that feels like it is going to stick with people fast.

Read our breakdown of “Imagine Barcelona” here:

Imagine Barcelona Lyrics Meaning: Arkells’ Song About Romantic Escape

6. Desire’s Got Some Questions

This is one of the most interesting turns on the album because it strips things back. Compared to some of the bigger songs around it, this one leans heavily on the piano and the vocal melody, and that gives it a different kind of presence.

That more stripped-down approach works really well here. It gives the album some breathing room and shows that Between Us does not need to be big all the time to be effective. Sometimes pulling things back gives the emotion even more room to land.

7. Universe Talking

“Universe Talking” feels like one of the most exciting songs on the album because it sounds like a new space for the Arkells, and it sounds great. Mike DeAngelis’ guitar is a huge part of that. It has a classic rock feel to it, and it gives the song a different kind of weight than a lot of the other tracks here.

That is what makes it stand out so much. It still fits the album, but it also feels like the Arkells stretching into something a little different. On a ninth album, that kind of moment matters. It shows there is still room for the band to surprise people.

8. Two Hearts

“Two Hearts” brings things back to a more direct emotional place. It does not try to overdo anything. It just goes right at the feeling.

To me, this song screams classic Arkells in the best way. There is a sincerity to it that the band has always done well, and it fits naturally into the album.

9. What’s On Your Mind (feat. Poolside)

“What’s On Your Mind” is another collaboration that really pays off. Poolside gives the song a daytime disco feel mixed with the pop rock sound of the Arkells, which opens the album up to yet another texture. By this point in Between Us, that added shade of sound really helps keep the record feeling fresh.

It is a great example of what this album does so well. Arkells bring in different sounds and different sides of the band, but instead of feeling scattered, it all blends into one complete album.

10. Rumour

“Rumour” brings a different kind of energy to the album. It feels like a mix of indie pop, funk, and alternative rock, which gives the song a really lively, upbeat feel. The groove stands out right away, and the catchy chorus makes it one of those tracks that sticks almost immediately. It adds even more variety to Between Us.

11. Escape Door

“Escape Door” ends the album with an atmospheric sound and a more reflective feel. The piano and atmospheric guitar give the song a real sense of space, and Max’s vocal adds even more to that mood. There is something understated but really effective about the way he delivers this one, and it helps the song land as a strong closing moment.

After all the movement and different textures across Between Us, “Escape Door” brings the record to a thoughtful ending that feels natural and complete.

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Final Thoughts

What makes Between Us work so well is how completely it covers everything the Arkells do well while still bringing in new textures. The album has songs that feel classic, songs that lean into the band’s bigger modern sound, and songs that open things up in new ways. But none of it feels disconnected. It all blends together into one complete album.

That is what makes this such a satisfying ninth album. It sounds like a band that knows exactly who it is, but still has room to grow. More importantly, it sounds like a band that understands how all those different sides of itself can serve the same larger idea.

The themes running through Between Us fit the Arkells perfectly. The album is about connection, love, longing, and trying to hold onto something real. When you pair that with a sound that pulls from across the band’s history, the result is an album that feels full without feeling crowded, varied without feeling scattered, and polished without losing its heart.

Between Us sounds like the Arkells pulling together every side of what they do well, adding new textures, and turning it all into one complete album.

**FAQ About Between Us by Arkells**

What is Between Us by Arkells about?

Between Us feels like an album about connection, love, longing, and trying to find something real in a world that can feel shallow and disconnected.

Does Between Us sound like classic Arkells?

Parts of it do, but that is only one side of the album. Some songs feel rooted in the classic Arkells sound, others lean into the band’s bigger modern production style, and a few push into new territory.

Why does Between Us feel like such a complete album?

Because it blends all of those different sides of Arkells into one record without losing its center. The themes and sequencing keep everything tied together.

Is Between Us worth hearing front to back?

Yes. This feels like a full album, not just a collection of individual songs. The songs build on each other, and the complete record hits harder because of that.

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