Reviews (page 10 of 15)
This album rocks
Very good album. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be adding this to my YTM Library.
4☆/5 11.01.2024
I know every single word, every note, and every ad-lib - but still loved listening again. Also one of my daughter's favourite albums, so we must have raised her right!
Never was a big fan of it.
My whole youth I could have sworn he was wearing a T-shirt, my mind is blown to see that it's actually a button down. This album doesn't take off for a single song- no misses. When I was a kid I loved this album but I underestimated how impressive the degree of difficulty of some of these songs. It's got a lot of what I like about punk and grunge with a little bit more musicality and space for some of the sounds to breathe. Great epitome of a decade.
4.75
A classic, obviously.
Meh
Nothing that hasn’t,t been heard before, don,t understand the hype other than the generations own shouty boys. Highly derivative
Nope. Didn't like it when it came out, don't like it now. 2/5
Great album that has got better with time
I was surprised I liked this band. I like the lead vocals and the high energy music. Everything about the music on the album seemed to work for me. I'm just very surprised.
Really solid debut album. Probably a 3.75, but listened to this 4 times today and really enjoyed, so I’m going 4.
I've never been an Arctic Monkeys fan, I don't hate them, I just never paid them any attention. They were popular at a time when I didn't think it was cool to be popular, a time when I was too busy listening to the hardcore punk albums of the 70s and 80s. I can't say I was surprised I loved this album all the way through. Arctic Monkeys takes everything I love about The Strokes, The White Stripes, and other early 2000s alt rock bands and reflects a familiarity that is comforting while introducing their own sound into the mix to keep it fresh.
Wow....did not see this one coming. Excellent fun quick album. 13 songs in 40 minutes. Rock/punk upbeat and catchy. Didn't recognize a single song and still enjoyed it.
A fantastic debut album, it was overlooked when released. Solid offerings.
I liked it
I like the guitar work but nothing else.
Opens up with an ass kicking! Nice blend of post-punk, garage, and Britpop going on here. Really seems to take the best from each and just rocks out with it.
Didn't like this much. Too noisy.
holy moly this was awesome! I honestly can't believe I've managed to avoid the Arctic Monkeys thus far, I was unaware they did some proper good rock like this. didn't take any proper notes while listening, but it's got everything... it's energetic, groovy, rockin. a struggle to pick favourites as well. I felt... nourished? after listening, very satisfying. rated as a 4 rn, but will probably grow to a 5 upon relistening. GOD THE BRITS ARE GOOD.
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is the debut studio album by Arctic Monkeys, originally released in 2006. I was only really familiar with the Arctic Monkey's later work like the record AM. This is so different, but in a good way! I never realized how influenced they were by Britpop. They also keep a lot of that 2000s garage rock influence that was so popular at the time. The songwriting is pretty solid too. This shit really rocks! It's crazy to see how much their sound changed over the years. It's like a completely different band.
I only heard this album for the first time in 2013 or so, but it still has such a nostalgic feeling for me
Arrangements are cool. At first I thought that It bored me, maybe it's designed to be a slow burn...re-listening made me change my mind, I don't know why, but they are kind of addictive. Solid 4/5, maybe even higher.
Finds itself soooooooooooooooooooo clever
Bought this one the week it came out!
The View from the Afternoon 4.1 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor 4.3 Fake Tales of San Francisco 4.3 Dancing Shoes 4.2 You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me 4 Still Take You Home 4 Riot Van 4 Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured 4.1 Mardy Bum 4.2 Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But… 3.8 When the Sun Goes Down 4.3 From the Ritz to the Rubble 3.8 A Certain Romance 4.5 Score: 4.123076923
Arctic Monkeys was never my favorite 00's indie rock band, but their debut is still quite a good album, albeit nothing groundbreaking. Also impressive they became instantly as successful as they did considering the sheer amount of band of this genre existed at the time. Key tracks: The View from the Afternoon I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor When the Sun Goes Down
i actually liked this album a lot some of the songs were a bit samey since I'm sure they used the same riffs The View From The Afternoon was my fave song off the album easy
A great debut album. Thought-provoking, raw lyrics with infectious hooks combined with an understated voice that blends into a well mixed band.
4 stars just because a couple of tracks still hit close to my heart and are undoubtly very good songs. But maybe this album belongs too much to the years it came out
I mean, it defined indie rock for like 3 generations and somehow managed to remain relevant to this day, what else can I say?
I think probably the first album I've come across on the tour that I've physically owned. This is probably the peak of the Artic Monkeys before they started becoming lounge singers
Nicht meine Musik, zu stressig und punkig
Die ganze Zeit zwischen 4 und 5 Sternen gehadert, aber als dann "When the Sun goes down" war einfach klar, für mich ein 5er Album. Interessante Stimme, geile Gitarrenriffs und ein Album meiner Jugend.
Great album, a song here and there that doesn't keep up the standard but overall I really enjoyed this one. High 3.
I guess now I know why I can’t name a single AM song.
Incredibly boring repetitive and ultimately not special in anyway.. FUCK ARCTIC MONKEYS
2006. This album fucks! I was never into the Arctic Monkeys at the time, but glad I listened to this now. It's like The Strokes, but harder. Kind of the like The Hives, too. I think the appeal is just the tightness all-around. Alex Turner's blasé, punkish style reels you in for this ride. Sometimes it just sounds like he's riffing about not getting his way in public - it's cool. Fav Song: From the Ritz to the Rubble
Ohhhhhh a classsiccccc.
nothing super exciting, but pretty decent.
Back in the day this wasn't really my particular scene, but of course I was aware of the band. I'm impressed that the whole album is genuinely quality, with loads of great songs, tons of energy and loads of great hooks. It's still not something I'd naturally flock to but I have to admit it's really good. It's a really accomplished debut.
Good album but wish there was real arctic monkeys
Boring. Totally generic.
Я буду тем человеком и скажу, что раньше было лучше. Лучшая песня - Mardy Bum.
This album is fine and dandy, but I didn’t find it especially appealing. It’s ok. Some good moments of high energy and some good lyrics. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-whatever-people-say?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
it sounds like Blur if Damon Albarn's voice went up a few octaves and he applied a more annoying affectation to his voice. Outside that its not bad, pretty generic English rock. Some clever lyrics here and there, nice breakdowns, but I'll be damned if I wasnt thoroughly annoyed at some points.It keeps this high tempo that gets exhausting. Still Take You Home is a fantastic example, it just runs a bit too fast, but has a great breakdown, instruments are on point, but lead vocals, ugh.
Look my reasoning is petty but I can’t stand the lead singers voice and accent. It made the album unlistenable. Which is a shame because I liked the lyrics and the music was fine enough. But bleh overall
Liked this a lot! Going to give it another listen when I have more time so I can pick my favorite tracks.
Again, was hoping to like this better — maybe I like their later albums more? Bouncier tracks like From the Ritz to the Rubble and A Certain Romance were enjoyable but too much else sounded similar.
Senior year of college, my job involved a significant commute 2-3 days a week. This was the soundtrack to that commute (at least for the second half of that school year, since the album came out in January at the start of my final college semester). Didn’t have to listen today, because I know it pretty well. Dancefloor and Fake Tales are indie classics.
4.5 rounded up Fun one
Infectious and fun. Reflections of young British nightlife.
I thought the Arctic Monkeys were one of those virtually interchangeable radio rock bands, but this was a fun album. Maybe my favorite post-2000s rock album yet given from the list.
I somehow managed to never listen to this one when it was big. What a miss, it was amazing outside of the radio hit
Non memorable British 2000s rock.
excellent
This sounds like someone....I can't place it. This album is trying too hard. I don't know but there was a British band that sounded like these guys at a roughly similar time. This doesn't sound "bad" but it's not compelling.
could i write poetry to this? y
Odd turns of phrase. Too many words crammed into too little space. Music sounds like it could fall apart into a mess at any moment. I love it.
Some vivid stories but probably won’t come back to it
Hands down the second best Strokes album.
Insanely great debut, one of my favourite albums ever… 💥
Enjoyable alt punk rock vibes, but awfully repetitive.
Not bad. Not great. Just average alt-punk rock.
I remember when this came out. There was so much excitement around the Arctic Monkeys, but the album ended up being a big disappointment after hearing the raw earlier tapes. Songs like Mardy Bum and especially Riot Van are so over produced here. I can't listen to this sleepy version of Riot Van here. The original featured Alex Turner singing and playing solo guitar, which was so much better. Having said all of that, it's still a good album! Liked Songs Added: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor Fake Tales Of San Francisco You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me From The Ritz To The Rubble A Certain Romance
Not a fan.
Frantic and aggressive British pop rock. Cookie cutter crap that isn’t special but filled a void when it was released. Nothing special, but dudes seemed to dig it.
Enjoyable but without the real bangers of AM and Favourite Worst Nightmare.
Classic from my teen years. All bangers!
A blistering Sheffield album of indie that changed the face of indie music. I've never been mega into AM, but relistening to this reminded me how good and how influential this album was in 2006.
Absolute banger of an album -has a place in my heart. Listened to it through twice on a drive and regret nothing.
Bah. Every song sounds the same.
Not my style of music but this is about as good as this genre gets. 3.5 for me
Arctic Monkey’s debut album did not move waves for me personally. Instrumentally, the angular riffs and taxing chord shapes served to add some much needed liveliness on this project. However, Alex Turner’s vocal performance, coupled with lacklustre songwriting, really hindered what was already a stale sonic experience.
It's a classic to my youth so I'm biased
An album always in the background of my adolescence, being able to dedicate some time to really take it in now I'm beyond that age, and it's such a solid project, somehow raw and polished, juvenile and mature, 2000s Arctic Monkeys were something else.
This album is just liquid gold. Straight up banger after banger. I really wish I wasn't listening to this alone in my room on a Saturday night cos I'd sell my left tit to be out dancing to this album right now.
Fantastic album. I adore 'deep cut' Mardy Bum, but the big hits (When The Sun Goes Down and I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor) are amazing too. I adore the raunchy style on this album.
Eén voor één kleppers. Nog steeds het beste album van AM. 5.0
All adrenaline, no feel. Decidedly British.
I can get with some garage rock. I like how like 80% of this album is themed around British nightlife/pub culture and yet never feels stale. Each track has a story to tell amid the crashing drums and clangy guitar chords. It's just a fun romp, as were most other garage rock acts from this era.
Lots of love for this across the board, but I lost interest by about the halfway mark. It’s fast frenetic and energetic, but perhaps that the problem as it’s just a bit too busy. It’s not terrible it just all kind of sounds the same after a while.
En löytänyt paljoa diggailtavaa.
Loved this album since it was released. I first discovered Arctic Monkeys when they were still an Internet band so I already knew some of the songs before the album was released and infact I still prefer the early mp3 download of Certain Romance to the album version. I would go as far as saying that this album is genius especially given the age of the band when they wrote these great tunes and quirky lyrics
Classics
good record but as long not their best. (3.5/5.0) big fan of arctic monkeys and one of the last good mainstream bands that still drops music
♥️ Arctic Monkeys but never heard their earlier records...is this their debut? This rocks a lot harder than the stuff of theirs I do know. Amazing how much they've evolved. Go listen to the opening track on their most recent album - There'd Better Be A Mirrorball - also great, but in a very very different way but one that feels like they come by it honestly as reflective artists twenty years older than before. This album gives a feel like a young band with a huge chip on their collective shoulder made up of talented players who know each other well and are playing the sh*t out of these tunes. This album sounds like the band left it all on the field, as they say in sports about players who give it their all. I should know the singer's name but one thing I like about him is the Bowie influence. I also love the unselfconsciously unfancy British accent - goes well with his attitude and as opposed to most of the records we've been getting lately, Artic Monkeys sound like they actually have something to say. Something that needs to get out. And I'm very glad it did. One of my favorite bands of the millennium!
I feel like I've seen several references to the Arctic Monkeys in various Wikipedia entries for other albums in this collection, so it's nice to get one of their albums. They sound familiar, so I'm guessing I've heard a few of their radio hits over the years, but this album is largely (completely?) new to me. They may not have a huge range, style-wise, but they seem and sound like a solid band, with fun songs, and elements of the White Stripes and maybe a bit of Franz Ferdinand too. I particularly enjoyed "Fake tales of San Francisco", "Dancing shoes" and "Red light indicates doors are closed". And the video for "The view from the afternoon" was very reminiscent of the movie "Whiplash" (in a good way). This is really an impressive debut album, and a really solid album on its own; also pretty impressive how they became so popular outside the regular label/studio route. I enjoyed this from start to finish, and I also really appreciated it that this is the only Arctic Monkeys album in the collection, which bumps this up to (at least) 4 stars.
Clever lyrics at times but none of the songs stuck with me for very long.
I liked it, will probably listen again. Nothing stood out to me as a certified banger.
Formative album for me. It still holds up nearly 20 years later too. Just bangers from start to finish.
This album is both an interesting and understandable inclusion to this list. Arctic Monkeys brought post-punk revival/indie rock to a broader audience. Where Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and The Futureheads set the stage, Arctic Monkeys scored a big hit with this debut. The vivid, relatable story telling about youth and night life in Alex Turner’s lyrics and the energy of the compositions make for a fun album. I can appreciate the album and how vital it was/is for people. I think had I not explored the aforementioned bands before this came out, this album would have been on heavy rotation. Alas, I had moved on to my post-rock obsession and this felt a tad repetitive. Stand out track: Riot Van and Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured
This takes me back to senior year of HS. When this came out it sounded so fresh compared to the slew of post hardcore/emo bands that were still dominating MTV.
This album was a pleasant surprise. I’ve never listened to this band, may check out their other albums.
It's good. I remember them being huge when this came out, and I never got a chance to really dive in. It's nice that I got a chance to listen to this now.
Felt a little one note, but there were some nice deviations
Hits just as hard as it did in 2006. This was life changing for me. They’re weird now but this was incredible.
Not sure I expected to see this here, but fun to have something relatively new! When Arctic Monkeys came I think they took the world by storm a bit, especially in certain age groups. For me personally I had a bit of a hard time with them, and it wasn't until a few years ago that it actually clicked for me. I think this is definitely one of those albums that you either like or hate. It's quite noisy, and I can see how Alex's singing can feel like a whiny teenager going at it. What makes this record shine for me is in its simple, yet extremely catchy riffs, along with Alex's unexpected lyrics and singing melodies, which is quite unique else I dare say. The record contains quite a few uptempo songs that can set a crowd on fire, like 'I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor', 'Still Take You Home', 'When The Sun Goes Down', 'A Certain Romance' and so on. But the rest of the record also has really good songs though, which makes it a strong overall album. Not a perfect album, and I think it very much depends on whether this is anything for you or not, but I think a weak 5 is in order considering how many good songs there are on the record.
If there was one album that defined my teens maybe it would be this. I lived and breathed this album and it was definitely one of my favourite albums. I listened to it all the time on my iPod and I think I maybe had one of the songs as a ringtone? The subject matter was great, all about being a teenager, going to clubs, not getting into clubs, meeting girls etc etc. While they may not be as relevant to me today I still think they do a great job of catching the experience. Listening to it today I'm struck by how much it was inspired by the Strokes and how the simple production really lends itself to the garage rock feel of the album. The riffs and lyrics/melodies are really what sets it apart from the rest. I know all the songs by heart, It is catchy and energetic and I still love it. Can't be anything else than a 5 for me. It stands the test of time.
Not my thing
Really enjoyed listening to this. It's all in a bit too narrow of a range for me to get super excited about it as a full album. But I'd perk up in my chair anytime one of these tracks came on a playlist.
sehr Gut!
Im Vergleich zu dem anderen Schmutz muss man ja schon 4 Sterne geben :D Deutlich besser als der andere Mist
I used to love this when I was 16/17 and haven't heard it in years. So good to relisten. Its such a fun homage to just being a teenager and going out in small towns up north.
Good
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - Arctic Monkeys (2006) 6/5 Não vou elaborar. Melhores músicas: The View from the Afternoon, I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Fake Tales of San Francisco, Dancing Shoes, You Probably Couldn’t See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight at Me, Still Take You Home, Riot Van, Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured, Mardy Bum, Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But…, When the Sun Goes Down, From the Ritz to the Rubble, A Certain Romance 6/5
I should have listened to this when it was new, I think 16 year old me would have really enjoyed this and it would have made its way into my pantheon of great albums. Hearing it in 2024 was good, and I did enjoy it, but I don't think it was the right time for me.
This is getting a bit repetitive but this is another one where I knew the hits - when this was released I was seeing a lot of live bands and you could almost guarantee Look Good on the Dance Floor was played at the indie disco afterwards - but never really bothered to investigate further. It's okay. I like the energy and the slice-of-life lyrics (which is why later stage Arctic Monkeys doesn't seem like it is for me). It does have quite a few Young Band Just Starting To Find Their Feet issues. My least favourite one being the tendency to put *all* your ideas is one song.
pretty good Fav song: i bet that you look good on the dancefloor
CLASSIC. doesn’t hit the same as it did when i was an annoying wannabe teenager 10 yro, and some lyrics were so cringe but it doesn’t stop being an ultimate classic and a must if youre getting into music
Only ever listened to a couple songs by the Arctic Monkeys. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album. Took me back to a simpler time.
Excellent guitar driven indie.
Бибизяна 4/10
When Arctic Monkeys first emerged, I was ready to dismiss them as yet another overhyped guitar act, worshipped by the British music press as rock 'n' roll's next saviours. I actively avoided this record for six months, even though the singles were playing in every pub and club I visited. This was unfair—unlike many flash-in-the-pan bands, Arctic Monkeys had earned their stripes by building a loyal online following and commanding the stage at countless small shows with confidence beyond their years. My resistance finally broke when "The View From The Afternoon" came on the radio in sometime in the summer of 2006. Stuck in my car, I had no choice but to pay attention—and admit I’d been wrong. I bought the CD that same day, played it three times back to back, and realized that sometimes, the hype can be deserved. Beyond the angular riffs, intricate guitar work, and rough-edged sound—things I instantly loved—the real ace here, as in all Arctic Monkeys albums, is Alex Turner's sharp lyricism. Just a teenager at the time, Turner captured the Britain I saw outside my window, not the glossy, stylized version you’d see on TV. His cutting observations and witty lines shone a spotlight on the country's grittiest corners. This was a snapshot of everyday life, especially for young people in the North, documenting nightlife, friendships, and the local scene with a fresh, authentic voice. While tracks like "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," "Dancing Shoes," and "The View From the Afternoon" show the band comfortable operating at full throttle, songs like "Mardy Bum," "Riot Van," and, to a degree, "Fake Tales of San Francisco" reveal a more nuanced sound and Turner’s ear for melody and dynamics. Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not could very well be the last great British guitar album. Did I own this release? Yes Does this release belong on the list: Yes Would this release make my personal list: Yes Will I be listening to it again: Yes
fucking sucks 2/10
wenn es nicht rock wäre, wäre es punk. es ist ok, und doch immer wieder gleich, weshalb es dann auch einfach mal gut ist. 3
Starker Rock von der Insel. Wie oft bei diesen Bands fehlt mir der Höhepunkt auf der Platte.
What a fantastic album! Everything about this is just amazing. The sleeve, the music, the lyrics! Loved it when it came out and loving it now!
It's a refreshing album for someone that listen similar things
>>>
Of course. Brings me back to middle school and I love it.
I kinda like this. Some catchy riffs in there too.
This is apparently their debut album which I had not heard before and it's better than any of their other songs the radio constantly plays Standout: Fake Tales Of San Francisco
A sonic manifesto of youthful rebellion and disillusionment. Turner's lyrics capture the ennui of a generation navigating the pressures of modernity. The album's raw energy and poetic lyricism make it a timeless masterpiece
Not really for me. Every song sounds like the one before it. A good album, but not my style
I liked aspects of this, not much to take away. May revisit at some point to make sure I’m not missing anything.
Whatever people say I am supposed to like, that’s what I’m not always gonna like as much. Good post-punk feel that was an overall enjoyable listen. But the songs just weren’t as distinct as I expected and they started to run together. I wouldn’t turn the dial if this came on again, but probably won’t be seeking it out much more either.
Nice little album. Just didn’t have any standout moments that would take me to a 4. Prob a 3.25.
I prefer this more than their follow up, AM, which I believe is more critically acclaimed. Love the energy and lots of solid tracks. Solid all around. 4/5
A lot of nice Indie Rock Songs
I remember, as a nerdy 5th grader, pouring over the copy of the Guinness book of world records in my school's classroom-- I remember the image of a young, floppy-haired Alex Turner wielding a white Strat, with the caption explaining how Arctic Monkeys held the record for the fastest-selling debut album in U.K. history. Back when I actually got into rock music in high school, I finally gave it a listen-- man, what a band. The songs absolutely rip, the lyrics hold up after all these years ("sexy little swine" gets an audible reaction from me still), and while I might personally consider "Suck It and See" to be their best, this one deserves a spot on this list for sure.
Not my favorite album of theirs, but a damn fine album all the same!
The funny thing about the Arctic Monkeys is that they released this absolute banger of an indie rock album (one of the best of the entire decade) and then went on to release music that does absolutely nothing for me. The dirty garage rock instrumentation, dance sensibilities, and Turner's rapid-fire yet melodic delivery are all dialed up to the max here - it makes for a consistently enjoyable and addictive listening experience. It's not even "fake" dirty either like they're trying to water down the sounds of alt-rock greats like 'The Stooges' and 'The Velvet Underground' for the mainstream - it's genuinely quite "authentic" sounding and it managed to amass such levels of popularity doing it this way. The two opening tracks are my favorites here and are on constant repea and I love the slower switch-up of 'Riot Van'. The opening grooves and riffs are incredible on songs like 'Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured' and 'Mardy Bum - everything sounds so tight and crisp with such defined basslines. One of the best in this stream of post-punk, indie, and garage rock of the 2000s. Such a fun listen.
Fucking finally. Well what can I say, one of my favourite records from my favourite foursome (no offence to the Beatles). So influential that it arguably jump started the indie sleaze movement. It’s a concept album about those awkward years after graduating high school, you’re out clubbing and drinking every night, meeting new people and losing some along the way. It’s an incredible journey with great hooks and observant yet thoughtful lyrics. People are still begging them to go back to this style of music, that’s how good it is.
Third time giving this a go. Annoying.
Me gustó mucho, no es mi tipo de música y sin embargo no es nada aburrido
It's alright, was surprised by some aspects of the project and enjoyed it then and there. I usually feel this type of music is mostly forgettable and bland. Decent listen though.
luv this
I've listened to one Arctic Monkeys song and this album is nothing like that, which surprised me. A lot more British and as a result a lot more goofy sounding. But it's still fun listen. Low 4.
i LOVE 505 by them so this was lowkey a letdown, kinda boring but also phineas and ferb coded. couple bangers 3/5
v good. its the type of upbeat that makes the whole album kinda blur together in my brain so I couldn't really pick out songs I like more
6/10 - I like the other arctic monkeys songs more. They are just more popular so they grew on me. The only song that I felt was similar to the newer songs was Mardy Bum, which I liked. The rest were pretty good but not amazing.
Really fun listen, by far the best arctic monkeys stuff I’ve heard. Probably gonna regret not giving it a 5
Quite enjoyed this even though it heavily reminds me of the 2000s and I hate the 2000s
Maybe I’d have been more inclined to give a 5 if they weren’t shite at Reading. Just sing the hits! And do them in a normal way! Simpsons: No
Some great tunes here.
When this came out I thought I was too cool for mainstream music so didn’t listen to much of Arctic Monkeys but every song of there’s I heard was a banger so I don’t really know what I was thinking. This album is phenomenal though. Proper hypes me up, want to get drunk and rowdy with this as the soundtrack.
Padre pero no me voló la cabeza.
good album. Favs: Perhaps vampires is a bit harsh Fake tales of San Francisco From the Ritz to the rubble
I was completely obsessed with this album when it came out. I was in college, and at my major university in the southeast United States I was the only person I knew who listened to it. I think it’s one of the best debut albums by any rock band in history. From the brilliant opener to the end, it just uses with swagger, great playing, and awesome stories from young adulthood in Britain.
Yeah it's a banger of an album. Love the rawness of it and the "don't-give-a-wankers-bum" (Is that what the Brits say?) attitude! 9/10
Started actually quite well, then ok, but in the end quite boring.
how my dad must've felt in 2006 with a 5 yr old and my mom not loving him as much anymore. 10/10, im glad they got divorced, thank you maybe a little to the Arctic Monkeys.. I can imagine him listening. total stoner dad rock. felt the vibes while getting my life together as it falls apart
It was cool
My favorite Arctic Monkeys album. One of my favorite albums of all time. Basically the soundtrack of my 20s.
What a breath of fresh air this was at the time. The follow up was better in my view. A bit of a patchy album, I was a bit old for it but you can't deny it's impact or the few absolute classics on it.
Polished punk pop sound. But utterly forgettable music. They're like the Libertines without the magic. Cocaine may make for great musicians; but heroine is so much better for making music.
their second best album 🫢 i bet you look good on the dancefloor clears
I have never listened to this band, but I know a fair number of people who LOVE this band. This was pretty run of the mill mid-2000s meh for me. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing all that intriguing or interesting about it.
Escutaria regularmente se não fosse pelo meu pai
Somehow I have never listened to this album in my life, even though I like Arctic Monkeys from Humbug onwards. And I don't even know why is that, maybe I just assumed that the whole record will be filled with "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"? Truth be told, there is only one banger like this on the album, but it's a really solid start to a career. I had a lot of fun listening to it, and even though it's not the greatest rock album in the world, it's good enough for the weak 5.
My all-time favourite
it's good, very listenable, you look good on the dance floor was my favourite
Way more raw and punk than I imagined. I love how dark and fun and musical and angsty the album is without being cynical. This listen made me want to hear more from the artist.
I know about them but never got around to dive in. Oh I remember I bet you look good on the dance floor. Good song. Hives/parquet floors vibes. I bet this is great live. High energy. Good drums.
Raw, frenetic, powerful. Yet, personally, the Stratocaster sound and the noisiness gets on my nerves. 4/10
chock full of personallity, riffs, nice tones, and fast grooves that just transport me to UK pubs and vibes lol
Sonido interesante, parecido a The Strokes, pero not my cup of tea.
Somehow balances raw electricity with breezy grooves. Makes me feel like I’m running from a dogcatcher as a British Jack Russel terrier with a little hat. 3.75/5
I was a teenager in clubs when this came out and I thought it was a bit immature and cheesy even then.
Makes me want to go to a concert and jump up and down Listening on the drive from Breckenridge to Keystone Guitar and drums!!!!! In the mood for something softer so like riot van
Their second best after tbhc
Kick out the 2000s jams
It was "ok". I probably would not go back to this album although, I do like the band.
A lot of fun. Not necessarily indispensable.
Probably one of the most iconic indie albums ever, although in my opinion AM takes the cake for /most/ iconic. This album is fantastic. I was worried going into this as I hadn't listened to it in a very very long time, and didn't know if I'd hold it in as high of a regard - but every song here stands on it's own flawlessly. You can tell what the songs are on it that are 'standouts' by stream numbers, like IBYLGOTD, Mardy Bum, WTSGD. This is a flawless execution of what British indie should sound like, that became the fastest selling album by a band in UK and changed the way music is listened to and distributed forever (as they were one of the first bands ever to release their album online). This album is extremely consequential, so I think most reviews are either going to be a 'love it' or a 'hate it' mentality, and I'm firm on the side of the former.
充满了激情和活力的声音
Feels a bit like a mash-up of a few bands and styles that were popular at the time. Not really my cup of tea.
I miss this version of AM. Energetic, hard hitting, cutting, angsty and punked up.
I have heard Arctic Monkeys before but not this album. I was surprised that I liked it so much. It has great dynamics and characteristics Arctic Monkey's vocals. Tempo feels faster than on "AM" for most of the time.
Not my favourite but I enjoyed it. I could imagine this being as influential as it was. 3.5
I must confess to dismissing the Arctic Monkeys as just another indie band. This album is full of witty lyrics and some wonderful guitar playing. Top marks from me.
I don't fucking get it. To me, this album sounds as generic as it possibly can. Maybe this was really influential on a bunch of stuff that came later, and that's why it sounds generic to me, but to me it just sounds like shitty, overproduced, underwritten rock that isn't really adding anything to the music that came before it 2/5
Sometimes you just gotta go with your gut on something. I don't know why I tried listening to this on multiple seperate occasions between one another wondering if my opinion would change. I was initially concerned my contempt for britpop given how commonplace it is on this ranking would affect my enjoyment of this even though the album is more of a modern derivative that essentially paved what would become the new trend for hack british musicians to leech off of. But no, every time I gave it a listen I just came out of it thinking it was just sorta decent, nothing really grabbed out at me as being something I would like to throw in a playlist either. By no means a bad listen though, and each time I appreciated the novelty of the time capsule aspect, this just oozes the mid 2000's
The best Arctic Monkeys album...to me atleast.
This displays lots of talent and a refreshed listen after many years leaves me feeling much more positively about it
This album is a British wet dream Came out when everyone was screaming about real guitars It’s annoying
Genomgående bra!
all-time fav
Nice rock and roll. Emo.
Classic indie album, would have been a 5 for me a few years ago tbh. Enjoyable for sure, will listen again, but all indie kind of blends together (though you can say that for most genres, I suppose).
In the brief moments where I can understand what Alex Turner is yapping about, I find it thoroughly uninteresting, and not relatable, just pap. I really dislike Alex Turner's vocal style with the Artic Monkeys, this is subjective but it certainly precluded me from listening to the album a second time. The best performance I've ever heard from Alex Turner was a live acoustic cover of 'Feels Like We Only Go Backwards' by Tame Impala. I quite like it and that performance is better than anything I've listened to on this album. The instrumentals have glimpses of unique hooks and momentum but it's few and far between. The instrumentals are quite repetitive even between tracks albeit technically sound. Very much a product of its time but I don't think it's held up. The songs in this album elicit very little from me, nothing to chew on. Really not an album for me.
i was going to give this a five for pure nostalgias sake but after properly listening to it a 4 hits best. it WOULD be a 3.5 but this dogshit ass site won't let me do half star reviews so it is what it is. truly the greatest part about this album is the drums, with the lead guitar coming in as a second. it has some of the best drum fills and sections in rock/alt rock. an alt-rocker that actually knows what his toms and ride are instead of just abusing the snare, hi-hat and crash??? crazy. unfortunately they don't really give him much solo time to shine except for a few intros, and he manages to give such a rhythmic and layered performance that it gets watered down and washed out by the fact that other shit is going on around him. the lead guitarist obviously has some great solos throughout the entire album and he's using a les paul studio which just has such a nice full sound to it, but again he's often competing with other sounds of the band. the greatest parts of this album tend to be competing with eachother, while the mediocre vocal leads and over distorted dogshit power chords from alex turner wanking himself over his dogshit telecaster is often the loudest element and given the front row seat, while simultaneously being fucking shit and awful. the thing that really holds arctic monkeys back, and has for a while now, is both their bassist and their vocalist. theyve always gone for that smooth but grungy punk alt-rock vibe but that really needs strong bass. some of the greatest garage rock and grunge bands: white stripes, black keys, nirvana etc all understood the importance of a prominent bass line, but AM seems to have mistaken a strong bass line for a loud one. they often have the bassist effectively playing the rhythm guitar's section, just playing the key note for whatever section theyre in, instead of playing a lick or a permutation on the lead or rhythm's section. and when he play a lick its like 3 notes long and in the same exact same rhythm as the rest of the band, or like in the case of still take you home, he's just mirroring the vocals or lead guitar, and often simplifying their part as well. and the vocals. i think everyone knows that alex turner is a fucking wanker at this point, but at least he was a good lyricist on this album. he absolutely fucking sucks at the high register and he refuses to scream to ruin his pretty boy image. a proper grunge, punk, even a core or metal singer would have been able to do a lot more justice to the heavy sections of this album, which are clearly the highlights. in fact the one section where he does get a bit throaty at the end of dancing shoes is one of the highlights of the album, but they turned away from that sound because turner became the frontman and face of the band while being it's weakest part musically. ultimately whatever people say i am is both the best thing they ever made and the thing that killed the band musically. it showed what AM could have been, a technically capable grungy alt rock band, and the dihcotomy between the sound of this album, and the watered down, radiorock sound they have now is a testament to how a dogshit vocalist who's popular because british women have awful taste in male attractiveness can ruin a band. many such cases. still holds a soft spot in my heart but fuck alex turner and fuck the british. also the breakdown at the end of a certain romance is one of the best outros to an album ever. especially because turner shuts his fucking mouth for most of it, and its one of the few sections were the bassist is capable of playing something that sounds interesting and unique instead of just loud and annoying. the whole band comes together in that final segment, and tells alex turner to shut the fuck up while they show their musical chops, and its such a fucking shame that they didn't do that for the rest of the band's career. as much as i shit on turner he is a good smooth vocalist and i do still sing every lyric to this album when i listen to it, but he would be much better off with a different group instead of dragging down a bunch of legitimately skilled musicians to his level. also if he took his dick out of his own mouth and stopped trying to be a 60s greaser for whatever weirdo reason. nevermind fuck alex turner he's still a wanker i take it back.
All the tracks on this album have obnoxiously long names. I bet the guy who wrote this album LOVES the smell of his own farts. First track was ok I guess. Nothing special. Second song has a lovely opening riff. I've sorta tuned out the lyrics a bit due to a natural audio filter for British accents but whenever I tune back in I hear the gayest lyrics man. I enjoy the song "When the sun goes down" but other than that I really have no strong feelings about this album one way or another. It's just ok. I enjoy the instrumentation but it's balanced by having lyrics that sound like they were written by a teenage who thinks wearing a leather coat to school is cool. Only like two memorable tracks for me.
The chorus of you look good in the dance floor is so fucking milquetoast. Oh God, I forgot the whole album is like this. An album filled with songs with 10 seconds of a single amazing moment surrounded by utter mediocrity and blandness (4songs in) Riot Van, the only song I remembered being phenomenal on the album is still the goat Wait nvm I got home and finished listening to it, this might be one of my most personally contentious albums. FUCK this album is backloaded AS FUCK For context, for many years in highschool this WAS my favourite album of all time for quite some time. I returned to it a few years ago and thought it was mid as fuck and gave it a 4 /10 relistening to it today I think I was too harsh but it's easy to see why, the front half of this album is BAD and puts an AWFUL fucking taste in your mouth for the rest of the experience. Ima have to drop my individual track reviews for this one Length 1. "The View from the Afternoon" 8/10 2. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" 3/10 3. "Fake Tales of San Francisco" 3/10 4. "Dancing Shoes" 3/10 5. "You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me" 4/10 6. "Still Take You Home" 3/10 7. "Riot Van" 9/10 8. "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured" 8/10 9. "Mardy Bum" 8/10 10. "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..." 6/10 11. "When the Sun Goes Down" 8/10 12. "From the Ritz to the Rubble" 7/10 13. "A Certain Romance" 5/10 Average = 5.77 I'm gonna round down to 5/10 for the sake of the inconsistent listening experience. But will give 3 stars. What a ride
Fun album, not something I'd go outta my way to listen to. Solid background music or something you'd hear on the radio. 3/5
The first time I listened to this album was when I was 14. I probably listened to it like ten times in one day to try and impress a girl I had a crush on. It turns out not only did she think I was a gross retard but the album she was actually talking about was some bullshit by Interpol so I have memory holed this album completely. UNTIL NOW I have never been a big fan of a vocalist with a very prominent British accent it sounds kind of lame and put-on but it definitely works for this style of music. It’s the kind of music I associate with annoying male baristas who would go on to glaze artists like Tyler the Creator and MF Doom. I’m saying this because I’m a petty person whose ability to enjoy media is hampered by thinking about the fact that somebody who irritates me likes the same thing. However the album is good, my feet are tapping to some songs even though they all kind of sound the same. Nothing here is crazy good and to be honest I couldn’t really name anything from here that’s memorable. Overall, if I had a bunch of people over at my house for beers that I didn’t know who were my age or a bit older I would probably put this on as background noise and it’d work.
Behind the snarky banter, it’s a lovingly nostalgic portrait of a night out in a Northern town. The police ignore the back-chat they’ve heard a hundred times before, the bouncers secretly want it all to kick off, but instead you slink away and nothing kicks off. It’s a world where everyone knows their place, and the greatest ire is reserved for posers with ideas above their station. ‘You’re not from New York City you’re from Rotherham’ remains one of the funniest lines ever written. Alex Turner is a top-tier lyricist here, and the cherry on the top is he sings like he’s drunk, he’s really inhabiting the role.
4 stars is the rating, my actual critical reception is more like 3.5
I would have been about 22 and living in Sheffield when this first came out, and it just perfectly encapsulated what it was like being a young man in the mid-00s. Fights in taxi ranks, swapping clothes to try and get past a bouncer, the hot girl in the bar you actually can't stand but would go home with in a second if she asked you to, not having the confidence to speak to any girl in a bar so you just stand there and hope she makes the first move. The references go on. All of this delivered with a razor sharp wit, pounding drums and clanging guitars which was absolutely on the button for that time. The best debut album of all time in my opinion.
This is pretty interesting sounding to me. Good strong rock vibes yet some raw rough vocals (no idea what's being sung about) and a bit irregular and discordant.. I could listen to these guys some more. 3 stars
arctic monkeys from this era is kinda mid tbh
This is my favorite Arctic Monkeys album. Witty lyrics, catchy riffs, grooving basslines, it has it all. I've listened to this album a lotin the past compared to most items on this list, and my favorites have always been Mardy Bum and Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured, but everything on this album works. Though the band has changed a lot over the years, this is an album that's easy to come back to.
als je zo'n debuut kunt maken, ben je goed bezig. Enkele tijdloze nummers... maar tegen het einde toch net iets te veel van hetzelfde...
Feels wrong to award this the same as Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory, but I've never really liked Arctic Monkeys and listening to an entire albums just confirmed this for me.
Always been curious about these guys and just slept on them.. assumed they were a bit weak or postering but I have to say, this listen is a pretty fine time. While I'm not in the need of new entries of early-2000's tight pants indie rock sass in my world at this point in my life, I don't hate this at all. And as I always say, not hating something is the first step towards liking it. Some catchy bops in here, ample angles in the basslines, great instrument tones, ect. You can tell these boys earned their reputation with some effort and passion and it's nice to hear some stuff I always been skipping over.
If I were to put Arctic Monkeys' amusingly titled album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not into one genre, I would call it indie punk. A lot of this album pulls from punk in the late seventies and early eighties--and it's even reminiscent of glam rock but without the stage presence. Arctic Monkeys put a modern spin on their music, and it's different and refreshing. The vocals, I fear, are drowned out and the album suffers from it--and my enjoyment, too.
I have become glaringly aware of the fact that this project is chock full of average britpop/90s alt brit stuff. I would argue that this is the first decent inclusion I've seen on that front in a while. Moving out of the 90s and into the 2000s, the Arctic Monkeys were at the forefront of this particular alt rock movement; America was very into "emo" type alt at the time, so the Brits were definitely holding down this particular style of alt rock, carrying the spirit of bands like The Strokes into the 2000s. I don't think American bands ever circled back around to producing this particular sound in earnest, but the lasting legacy of the Arctic Monkeys has shown that there is still an appetite for this sound. While I do think this album is a strong debut for the Arctic Monkeys, I don't believe this is the best album they have to offer, and it would not be my pick for a "must listen" from them. But once again, as I have become more and more aware of the fact that the author of this project has tried to balance music history and music significance, I guess I understand why this album would be chosen above others to represent this band.
Not as good as I remember
Probably one of the best debut albums I've ever heard. Starts and ends incredibly strong, with some unfortunately weaker filler in the middle. The drumming in particular on the album is phenomenal, and really aides in keeping every song engaging and easy to dance to. Top tracks: The View From The Afternoon, Mardy Bum, When The Sun Goes Down, A Certain Romance
Good energy. Punk ish. Not great but ok. I’d prefer to just listen to the clash when I’m want this level on manic energy. More art from the clash.
I didn't love it
Interesting, different.
British aught rock! There's definitely some catchy tunes on here, and it's kinda teetering on three stars for me. Honestly I'm just pretty sure I would never choose this on the jukebox, unless it was a really shitty jukebox.
Ok. Kinda like Radiohead but more boring and the singer is meh
Rollicking album Explores many punk genres Tackles each deftly
Belter.
Pleasantly energetic
it's okay. it just sounds like the arctic monkeys really. unexceptional but alright.
I remember the hype around this was before anyone had heard a single note. I don't like being told what to like so I never bought it. Despite these heroics the songs were forced down my earphones via the Inbetweeners, Gavin & Stacey and so on. It's a slightly better than average indie album and sounds like everything else released that decade.
Like some of it. Good lyrics.
I was a big fan of this album. Really liked the lyrics and they sound so british here
This was a good indie rock album - two fine guitars, bass, drums, and vocals clear and well up in the mix. Catchy tunes and certainly sounds northern English. Great debut, some bangers and some good quality filler.
The Adam Sandler smoking a cig but not actually Adam Sandler album cover
OMG - I guess I missed the email in 2006 that said \"if you want to be in the Cool Club, you have to kitten to Arctic Monkeys\". Damn! well,I never heard of them, nor heard of any of these songs. Didn't miss much - not one stands out worth re-liteing to. I see the band has above average ratings this site, but, you got me~
I wanted to like this more than I did. I know a couple songs from these guys and enjoyed what I knew of them. I just couldn't get on board for on this. It's not bad, but it's just not good.
Noteworthy songs - 808080808 Magical Dream - Kinda catchy synth, but the rest is bland. Ancodia - Good background noise. Cobra Bora - Actually kind of cool, reminds me of Bomberman Hero. Pacific 202 - N64 vibes, but melody isn't great. Donkey Doctor - Nothing too special, weird ending. 808080808 - Really cool beginning. A little slow in the middle but stays interesting enough. Sunrise - Nothing remarkable. The Fat Shadow - Eerie. Very short.
C'est la première fois que j'écoute Artic Monkeys,, même si j'ai souvent entendu parler d'eux. J'aime beaucoup la basse+batterie, la guitare en son clair et saturé, le dynamisme des morceaux, et même le chant. Presque parfait (je vais me le procurer, et écouter d'autres albums de ce groupe), mais les quelques morceaux un peu plus faibles (par exemple Riot Van) lui font rater la note maximale. => 4.5/5
Brilliant! Best tracks are Fake Tales Of San Francisco, The View From The Afternoon, Dancing Shoes and When The Sun Goes Down, but the rest of the album is great too 4/5
Love artic monkeys!
Helt ait
i really appreciate this era of rock music because it feels very transitional and almost like some of the last of its kind. Not every song is a banger and the slower cuts are better than the garage band sessions, but very enjoyable. 1.) Riot Van 2.) Mardy Bum 3.) Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured
Yeah, nah.
talented
Am is better....but ok
4 stars. Really good.
Spunky very fun full of attitude, probably one of the last good unique rock albums that had some wider appeal. I will be going back to this!
every song on this album is extremely well-written with great instrumentals
I always liked these guys. This was their best album I thought.
Not a bad album, a lot of it sounded the same to me though. 3/5
The Adam Sandler cigarette album
The Adam Sandler cigarette album
It has Mardy Bum on it, so already I’m a fan. Didn’t quite hit the highs I was hoping for, but still a fun listen.
i enjoy it, i don’t normally listen to arctic monkeys but i do like this album
A classic Arctic Monkeys album, one of my all time bands here. This album itself has no misses. The stronger of the songs defined this generation of alt rock here and changed it going forward. Great album.
Despite the fact that I took against this band at the time because of their stupid name (sorry, judge away), I'm listening to this for the first time now with a bit of nostalgia because they sound so much like those landfill indie days. That's not to say THEY are landfill, but a lot of people sounded like them. I can hear the influence initially of The Smiths, then The Strokes come out really strongly. The rest reminds me of peers like Franz Ferdinand, White Stripes, etc. It's weird to look back and hear how the early 2000s have crystallised over time into such a clear assortment of beats and guitar styles. The originality is in the lyrics and delivery, though it's not enough to make me return to listen again.
There's a very specific couple of years where this music was everywhere. This sort of "Do-it-yourself" garage type music. It has its place I think. It's sort of raw. It's not a bad album.
Extra star for nostalgia
3.5
i used to be super into arctic monkeys and i loved this album very much.
there were some decent songs on it but wont ever be sold by AM
Yes
Really liked this. Loved the high energy and pace. Guitar sounded so good all the time. Wouldn't listen to every song again but none of them were weak and it was still enjoyable throughout, the highlights definitely make up for it. Really solid. Highlights: The View From The Afternoon You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me Mardy Bum Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..
The quintessential Mad Lad™️album. Despite being obsessed with this as a teen when it first came out, though, I have to say, I was a bit concerned that transitioning and aging would make me side-eye this album today. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about! And maybe that’s because I’m still just a Hipster Party Girl™️ deep down and this is a true Indie Party Masterpiece™️, but I also think this record is just a masterpiece, flat-out. The lyrics are insightful but also witty and perfectly encapsulate the emotions of being in your late teens. The rhythm section is *so* tight and to this day still inspires a hip shimmy and hands in the air moment from me. And the guitar work is goddamn brilliant, as well as the jittery, stop-start, dynamic-centric songwriting. They’re pulling from a lot of important bands who came before – Pixies, Supergrass, Blur, The Kinks, The White Stripes – but it’s all put into a blender. So while you can taste the flavor of this or that, the end result only enhances the other elements, and the whole thing comes out tasting like nothing else that you’ve ever tasted. And while I think Whatever People Say I Am comes dangerously close to overstaying its welcome (and the band’s sound did get stale for a couple albums after this, at least until AM), this album overall explores enough of a variety of tones, dynamics, and degrees of the band’s sound that, as a self-contained package, it stays enjoyable throughout and never gets boring. If the best thing that ever came out of Britpop was Whatever People Say I Am, then shout out to Britpop. Glad to know this record still bangs.
Brilliant
Hard to digest... You keep waiting for a climax that never cames. The songs are all the same: extremely boring.
Decent. I remember this album getting a lot of attention back when it was released, but it didn’t gel with me then and it still doesn't gel with me now. It makes me think of another vaguely adjacent UK rock band from around the same time (Clinic and their great album Internal Wrangler) and how I think now (and possibly thought back then) “how did artic monkeys get so big and clinic not so big?”
I remember being really into this when it first came out. For nostalgic reasons I still enjoy it, and the songs are definitely catchy and well-written. Probably won’t revisit any time soon but a fun one.
I had never given this band a chance, which is a shame, because I quite liked this.
Cuando fue lanzado en 2006 este disco se conviritió en todo un fenómeno mundial precedido por su éxito en internet mediante maquetas distribuidas por la red en formato mp3. Fue sobre todo una revolución dentro de la industria y sus técnicas comerciales, pero musicalmente también ofrecieron frescura y una vuelta al rock guitarrero inspirado en los Strokes, añadiendo algo de neo-punk y una pizca del dance-punk exitoso de los Franz Ferdinand. No volvieron a tener un éxito igual, pero han dejado para la historia canciones como "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor", "Murdy Bum" o "When the Sun Goes Down" (la que más me gusta) repletas de guitarras estridentes, coros de llamada y respuesta del grupo y letras sobre sus vidas, ligues en la pista de baile, consumo de alcohol siendo menores y, ocasionalmente, trágicas historias inventadas sobre prostitución e industria musical.
4 This aged really well!
Hadn't listened to this in ages. Oh boy, what a reminder of the great storytelling and incredible musical assuredness it was to revisit this album 18 years later.
Pure rock genius.
This is good! Pretty classic rock and roll.
Arctic Monkeys have always been kind of two bands for me. When I first heard them, I didn't really like them. I knew "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and (from later albums) "Brianstorm" and "Crying Lightning" which all have a kind of dark/minor thing going on. Maybe that's the punky side of AM. It wasn't until I heard "Cornerstone" from their third album Humbug that I started listening to them more and came to appreciate some of those older songs I didn't like. But! Even Suck It And See, my favorite Arctic Monkeys album and their fourth studio release, has an almost even split between jangly indie rock and harder punky songs. Though Whatever People I Say I Am has more of the former, there are a few others (my favorite songs of the album) that are more my style: "Mardy Bum", "Riot Van", and "A Certain Romance." What ties the album together more than its musical style though is Alex Turner's songwriting style, featuring a ton of deadpan humor and vivid reference to working class, struggling musician types in Northern England. 4.49.
Arctic monkeys always just scratch the sleazeball music itch. This album is fantastic
00s indie rock classic
Really nice album loved the mixing and instruments.
Amazing. Favourite Worst Nightmare & Tranquility Base >>>
Kind of fun, but nothing stood out.
Monkeys in the Arctic are as rare as British bands that actually sound British when they sing. This album is great.
Longtime favorite.
pretty good
Not my genre so I say 😕
Loved this! I knew the hits, but kinda stayed away from diving deep with Arctic Monkeys at the time, partly because they weee SO hyped right out the gate. My loss; this was excellent start to finish. Amazing album cohesion from a group of high schoolers. And they’ve held up over time; much respect. Lead singer has amazing charisma and the songwriting is top notch. Maybe a little long but really, not many songs I’d cut.
Don't really think I need to explain why this is good
Wall to wall bangers but not particularly deep.
Really enjoyed the instrumental portion of their songs. The lyrics were hit and miss for me. Better than I thought it would be.
alt-punk-indie-metal-rock?? I'll take it :-) Favorite track: From Ritz to Rubble other picks: Fake tales of San Francisco, when the sun goes down, perhaps vampires are a bit strong
I have to give this 5 stars. It’s brilliant. As a woman, I find the lyrics pretty difficult to tolerate but I appreciate they were teenage boys when they were written.
My number 1 draft pick for albums to drink 1000 beers to. Alex Turner is overqualified to write songs about going out, getting drunk, and picking up girls but it’s really his lyrics that make the album special. Turner manages to capture the drunken excitement, anxiety, regret, and more than anything the absurdity of it all on songs that would’ve rocked even with the dumbest lyrics possible.
4.1
He tastes like cigarettes
I'll be listening to this again!
Reason why I stayed away from this when I was 19 - pretty basic indie/garage/pop-punk. Tries to be cool and catchy and fails at both. What's with the simpering titles? You couldn't see for lights but staring at me (or whatever)? Vampires is a bit strong but...? Easy 2.
I went out and bought this the day it came out when I was 17. I loved the singles but remember thinking the album didn’t offer much more. It was like they’d played all their cards. It’s hard not to cringe at lyrics like “banging tunes and dj sets” now, I don’t think the album has aged well. Having said that I still enjoyed the singles, I feel like AM are my generations oasis. It was a nice trip down memory lane.
amazing
Classic
This is probably the best album of the 2000s. The songs on this album still sound fresh even 18 years later. If I want to show someone older what it means to be young in my generation, I'll show them this album. Plus: A Certain Romance is one of the best songs I've ever heard in my life. The feeling of being inside an old 69 Mustang at 100 miles per hour that this song gives me at its climax is still an indescribable emotion for me.
Decent album
Fun, and nostalgic to when I realized how much music was out there to discover
Indie rock with some punk influences that's overall very mediocre. There's some good parts but I rather listen to something else. I've actually listened to most of Arctic Monkeys albums and their early stuff, like this album, is at least better than their later works.
Fun album. Had only heard ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor’ before. I like the Arctic Monkeys!
Y'know, I've never really understood the hype for The Strokes. I've always felt it must be a "you had to be there" sort of thing, and I just wasn't. I was, however, there when the Arctic Monkeys released this album, and I remember really fucking loving it. I hadn't listened in a minute, and I've received one or two albums on this list that haven't held up (Franz Ferdinand's debut, for one), but this one held up. I think it's just what everyone thinks the Strokes are, but is. It's snotty, raw, garage-smash-and-bang. It has some British attitude. All of the songs feel like they could easily just bang the same chords out, but a lot of them transform throughout the song and make for some seriously enjoyable listening. Never really got into many Arctic Monkeys records after this, but this one is solid enough to sustain em. Favorite tracks: "From The Ritz To The Rubble", "You Probably Couldn't See For the Light...", "I Bet You Look Good On the Dancefloor"
Good album, probably the one by arctic monkeys I've listened to the least. Might have a couple songs on here in rotation, but nothing particularly stands out to me. Interesting how much they kept that general sound.
Given the hype around them, it's difficult to see how the Arctic Monkeys ended up living up to this hype. But they did. They have shown themselves to have some more depth with Suck It and See and their last two album releases which play like lounge tunes. But this album is like a punch to the gut. It's frantic mayhem at times and Alex Turner's lyrics are clever as well. This is the sound of hitting up clubs in your early 20's with no idea what you are doing or what you want to be doing. The lyrics don't read as immature though, which is a strength of the album. What I think separates this album from others is the way the songs are constructed. Clearly, they can just thrash and play a 2:30 minute rock song, but they have songs where they change tempos. That's what makes this album so good is they could have taken the easy way out and just played loud rock songs but chose to write Mardy Bum and A Certain Romance, which changes tempo about 3-4 times. I prefer the back half of the album because I find the structure/sound of the songs to be very interesting. It's a confident album from a confident band.
Album 435 of 1001 Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Rating : 5 / 5 I liked this. A really good debut album. Some good tunes. They were pretty hyped up at the time. Comparisons to The Beatles and Oasis. Don't know that I would go that far. Though this album is one you'd likely want to put on again.
Pretty rocking