I don't expect anybody to read/care about this, but since this sub is a bit slow, why not?
First got into them in 2013 when AM was huge with the Tumblr indie/alternative scene (I thought I was real hot shit for listening to this "sophisticated British rock" in my little redneck town) Forgot about them for a while, but came back when TBH&C came out. I thought it was ballsy as hell of them to follow up their colossal rock and roll album with this radio-unfriendly collection of songs. But I also loved it on its own terms...it's a great fucking album that I come back to more than any others. Definitely a desert island album.
I also loved The Car. It's slower, more introspective, more beautiful than anything they've done before. And this is from someone who hates "nostalgia" music, ya know, stuff that tries to sound like it's old (why not just go and listen to actual music from that time?). But that's how much I love the Monkeys, I wouldn't give any other artists who made two 70s-ass albums the time of day.
I know some people are pissed they've "abandoned" their working class roots (I'm a dumb American and have no clue as to the localized tensions and nuances that go on across the pond) but I don't care, their musical talent has only increased since the first album. I am very very excited to see what they do next.
I would love to hear what y'alls experience with them has been!
I met someone in a random chat room in my teendom who told me about their favorite band, guess which one. The first song I heard of theirs was Riot Van, but I wouldn't really "get it" until some years later when I heard Fluorescent Adolescent.
From there I became consumed with all of their released music, and their discography has been deeply woven into emotionally formative parts of my life. No other band will ever take their place for me, and that goes for The Last Shadow Puppets as well.
OP, I agree with your outlook on TBH&C being ballsy but good in its own right. My favorite album will always be Humbug, though.