Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

TVFTA - 4.5/5 IBYLGOTD - 4.5/5 FTOSF - 4/5 Dancing Shoes 4/5 YPCSFTLBYW... - 3/5 STILL TAKE YOU HOME 4/5 RIOT VAN 5/5 RLIDAS 4.5/5 mardy bum 4/5 PVIABS 3.5/5 wtsgd 4.5/5 ftrttr 5/5 a certain romance 4/5 84% very much liked

I thought this was alright when it first came out, and still find it pretty enjoyable. A bit scuzzy, a bit garage, and it's refreshing to hear a singer keep their regional accent. You can also detect they have a lounge album brewing, if you listen closely! 😆 Fave track - "From The Ritz To The Rubble" caught my attention this time through!

Gratamente sorprendido. Buenas melodías y voces. En su punto de rock suave

Lovely and jangly in all the best ways. And witty! I didn’t realise the lyrics were so cunning.

Goodness me this was good. Not heard anything by the band before other than the hype, which on this evidence is more than justified. The energy, the urgency, the songs, the drumming, the riffs, the baselines and lyrics make for a very large sum of the parts.

The view from the afternoon is the strongest of starts for any album! So nostalgic.

Ik zit heel erg in twijfel over deze artiest. Sommige stukken die richting punkrock gaan zijn heel erg leuk. Lekker snel, lekker melodieus. Maar andere stukken lijken wel metal, ska of hebben "progressief" overgangen. Dat is dan weer niet zo mijn ding. ****

very creative utilization of the instrumental. vocals sound a bit muddy. some tracks feel like they end too soon, and i feel like more should be added to those. fav track: when the sun goes down

monky

Good album, good mix, fun with fx on vocals

When indie goes mainstream. Wonderful start to finish.

Pretty good!

Unexpected gem from 2006. Having never heard of this band at all, it is rather surprising how meteoric their rise was following their debut. "A Certain Romance" bringing back playful memories of ska with its rhythm, the final song is a fitting finish to what has been a trip down memory lane, tracking influences and appreciating their interpretation of their predecessors. "Mardy Bum" in a weird way, the pop-sound provoked a super odd memory of Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do" in its seemingly care-less delivery. Do with that, as you will. Overall, Arctic Monkeys did well to be their own sound yet offer up significant homage to their upbringing and influences. A fine example of how music evolves with joys of the new, and cherishing past and present.

It is a bit of a classic isn't it? There are some really great tunes on here and lyrically it's like Rock and Roll Alan Bennett

I dig it a lot

Great album, but it's Turner's voice that takes this from 3 to 4.

Gutes Album!

cool, 4/5

Surprisingly better than I expected. I have somehow grew to hate artic monkeys cause their latest albums suck IMO, but I remembered the old times where they were good...

This was surprisingly strong, sexy, and fun. I would say that overall it lacked a "need" to come back for me, but I happily would.

One of my favorites

Classic album, I love listening to it and would put it on loop. Favorite song was Riot Van.

Solid, hard-rocking debut album. The guitars are great, Alex Turner's voice is fitting for the British punk revival the album is going for. Fav songs: I bet you look good on the dance floor, dancing shoes

Exciting debut album from the Monkeys, but it does have a problem of songs sounding very same-y throughout the entire album which holds it back a little bit.

1. Loud. Reminds me of Fall Out Boy somewhat maybe but different instrumentals. 2. What this is so good. I love the guitar and energy. 3. This sounds different. Lol the rockstars practicing their lines lyrics. Proof that love’s not only blind but deaf lyric is hilarious. LOUD. I like the outro. 4. God So Loud 5. Love the intro. Why so loud?? 6. Yay LOUD casual misogyny 7. Interesting. Less loud 8. Oh loudness is back. I like when they sort of shout in unison. It’s sounds cool. 9. I really like the intro. I think this would grow on me a lot. It has more melody than a lot of the other songs. 10. I like this a lot. It’s just so loud. I don’t think this album was made to listen to on AirPods (obviously) and as such it could probably do with some remastering. It might sound a lot better on a god stereo system not on earbuds. The outro is a bit long. I think I’m just getting loudness fatigue. 11. I like this. Story telling is good. I’m really fatigued by the instrumentals on this album. But I like when they soften up the background instrumentals. 12. Saturday night/Sunday differences, I like this. The instrumentals aren’t as ear jarring either. I really like the delivery of the lyrics too. It reminds me of something. 13. Drums in intro are cool. I’m getting electric guitar fatigue though. Intro in general is cool. I wish the whole album had striven for closer to this level of loudness. What I like about this album is the way the vocalist delivers his lyrics. What I don’t like is it also just felt like a lot of the instrumentals were unnecessary background noise that didn’t really add anything melodic. And made me get album fatigue much earlier than normal. The album has good energy, interesting lyrics, great delivery, but I don’t get why make it so loud and noisy. What’s the point? I swear my ears hurt now. Favorite Song: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor 2nd listen: (after listening to most recent LP and highlights from all other albums) 1. This is catchy af 2.Still super into this. Love the montague/capulet reference too 3. I like this but I still think the instrumentals are too loud for the vocals 4. This is just slightly too rock for me 5. Big fan of this intro. The song ends too abruptly though. 6. Slightly too rock for me again but I like the instrumental guitar plucky breakdown/bridge a lot. Last verse is so clever. 7. I really like this sound and I can see the early traces of the future sound of the band in this. The proper crooks line is clever. The instrumentals in the bridge are super pretty. I wouldn’t mind a whole album closer to this sound. 8. I like this a lot but the but the bpm throughout this album gets monotonous to me. It loses its impact at some point. 9. love this intro. This sounds like something else I’ve heard but I can’t decide what. The melody of this is good. I really like instrumental breakdown at the bridge part. 10. Early indication of his thematic interests. I really like the chorus but the verses kinda run together. The drums in the bridge are cool. 11. Roxanne line is clever. I really like sound/vibe of this song. 12. This is just a great song. If this was my genre (it’s not) it’d be a fave. 13. Great intro. Great song. More chill and I appreciate that. I love the instrumental breakdown. I think this is my favorite song on the album. It definitely feels like a closing track as well Favorite Songs: 1. A Certain Romance 2. From the Ritz to the Rubble 3. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor 4. Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But 5. When The Sun Goes Down Overall this album is a bit too much for me. I get listening fatigue because it’s so high energy with not enough breaks. I can’t see myself returning to it but I can recognize that it’s objectively a great record. It made me want to check out the rest of their discography and I like their evolution.

It slaps

Interesting pacing. Very insightful lyrics. favorite song Mady bum

Great album IMO. Saved!

(Before I start, I want to note that I'm a youngster yet I have never heard or listened to Arctic Monkeys before, so I come in with no expectations.) One of the many bands that follow The Strokes' indie rock revival derivative of punk and garage rock. And in this album, the sources are much clearer, with direct, confrontational, and angry lyrics. The instrumentation is, however, much more complex deriving from alt rock of the prior 20 years (I'm getting big Britpop vibes), but incorporating both the spirit of punk and several techniques (most notably the use of breaks to give up and start all over again). This comes in an age where punk bands knew their target audience and appealed to exactly that... But it helps that the band started when they were also teenagers. That is, there is a great level of teenage angst covering themes of nightclub culture. The tracks are solid, with each retaining the high energy and angst to remind me of its punk origins, yet also rotating with softer lyrics that display a plethora of adolescent emotions. As a punk fan, this is an album that gets better with each listen, and after getting used to it, I'd love to explore the rest of the discography.

Much more enjoyable than i expected.

Original rock, good album to keep you moving on a slow day.

I like the distorted sound. The distortion reminds me a bit of The White Stripes. I can definitely hear the punk influences throughout. It’s enough punk mixed in with rock to pique my interest. I really enjoy debut albums, as this is, because it gives me a sense of the foundation of a band’s sound. Often they are the culmination of years of a group scratching and clawing to get an album made. A lot of times debut albums are self produced or at least not overly produced by the big guns because the studio won’t invest the money yet. This all gives great insight into how a band thinks they want to, or should, sound. When bands are successful and then more people get involved in the making of an album. Some times that results in a band’s sound evolving in a positive way from exposure to beneficial influences that keep the sound fresh and/or polish the rough edges in a professional way. Other times it can lead to a band’s foundational sound getting distorted, buffed out, and lost, which is a shame. I am intrigued enough and am ready to listen to this album more and more Arctic Monkeys. I hope the future albums retain this raw, distorted, punk influenced, rock sound I’m enjoying.

Lyrically superb and has aged surprisingly well. Liked it more than when it came out.

Always loved this album--bunch of great standout tracks.

Dope classic

I don’t get what’s so revolutionary about this album. It’s good but great? I don’t think so.

Great album. Lyrics go a bit deeper and resonate more as a younger adult. Music is catchy and easy to flow with. 8.2/10

Classic noughties bangers

A very decent upbeat punk album. 8.0/10

Still holds up.

the view from the afternoon- more like come on eileen pero mas edgy :p 2.5/5 i bet you look good on the dance floor- una de mis favs en 2016. me dieron ganas de bailar en la discooooo, 5/5 fake tales of san francisco- buena riot haría con esta canción de fondo. 3/5 dancing shoes- q manijeraaaaaaaaaa 5/5 you probably couldnt see (...)-"im so tense and never tenser".... exclamó martina entrando al liceo. 2,5/5 still take you home-mmmm 2/5 riot van- hermosa hermosa 5/5 "they ask why they dont catch proper crooks, they got their names and their adress took, but they couldnt care less" red lights indicates doors are secured-como vas a tomar smirnoff ice marica 2/5 solo por eso!! MARDY BUM MI CANCION FAVORITA DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS 10!0000000/10 <3<3<3<3 perhaps vampires (...)-2/5 no mi tipo de cancion sorry when the sun goes down- 5/5 una de mis favs from the ritz to the rubble- "well, im so glad they turned us all away, we'll put it down to fate" literalmente yo. esta cancion: yo--- a certain romance-amo, otra de mis favs 5/5

Arctic Monkeys are in the top 10 of the wildest concerts I have experienced. I had the pleasure of seeing them perform in Leeds (almost in their home town Sheffield) and I can tell you, people went insane and it felt like standing in the middle of a British football match with the cheering fans and the roman candles and all. This album reminds me of the last half of my teenage years and even now I can appreciate this album and how well it is put together. I will recommend it to anyone who feels a bit of teenage angst or need to reminisce about a simpler time and listen to some good indie rock.

Ну объективно не так плохо и продажно, как их последующее творчество. Плюс, конечно, умом понимаю, что не для меня сделано и не для таких как я. Посему существовать разрешаю, и в целом оцениваю скорее положительно. Энергетика прет, пусть меня и раздражает такое порой. Видно, шо как раз от Элвиса Костелло кусок щапинули, такой же бесперебойный поток подростковых мыслей. Зато хуки неплохие порой завозят, да и в целом музыкальная часть сойдёт. Кроме более медленных номеров ближе к концу — че-то как-то глаза закатывались от них. Хочется тройбан ебануть, но совесть немного гложет, все-таки вполне крепко сбитое и веселое музло для тинейджеров, хуй бы с ним, слушается и слушается. Посему опять 7/10

Mardy Bum по кайфу вроде пришлась. Да и Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But… Да и When The Sun Goes Down. Да и From The Ritz To The Rubble. Да и A Certain Romance. Может, я просто въезжать стал к концу? Не, хуйня, переслушиваю по второму кругу и снова этот фрагмент более раскачивает. Ну типа бля, я понимаю, что там вроде какие-то щенки, которые похайпили на инди-сцене и забылись порядочными людьми. Ничего уважительного особо не слышал. Но как бы йоу, неплохие треки то, прям вот настрой будто подняли. Что после предшествующих напрягающих альбомов просто роса божья. Проносится довольно быстро, наконец завозя фан вместо духоты. Вроде бы композиционно тоже не примитив, интересненькие решения мелькают. Ну на облоге кун с сигой как быдлан, не одобряем, да. Но альбом неплох.

So alt, so gut!

Classic 1st album, although a little thin sounding these day

Very much enjoyed this. Has taken me years to appreciate it. Listening to their latest album and enjoying that helped.

Freaking fantastic.

If Arctic Monkeys came along 10 years earlier I think I'd have been a huge fan purely because of the kind of music I was listening to at that time. Really like this album though. Highly influential too. 8/10 ⚽ Euro player: Gordon Banks. Sheffield born. Internationally famous. Might have been more apt if it was a Pulp album seeing as his nephew is the drummer.

A second day in a row of actually enjoying the album I'm listening to...yay! A nice trip down memory lane. I bet Peter Schmeicel looks good on the dancefloor so let's go with him.

it was okay I actually enjoyed it alot. reminded me of the good days

Soooo many UK references, be interesting to hear other countries opinions of these

Debutar con un disco así tiene que ser impresionante. Lo mejor de ellos es que han seguido creciendo. Canciones como: The view from aftyernoon, I bet you look good on the danceflorr, Riot van, ... y terminar con A certain romance. Muy cerca de las 5 estrellas.

Listening to this in 2021 seems derivative, but there were a lot of standouts in this album the songs have a very clean structure, and good variation. They never dwell too long on any given theme or melody which keeps you engaged. will probably need a few more listens to form a full opinion

It's just a fun, rambunctions rock record. The songs are pretty catchy, lyrics fun, energetic, with a few minor tempo changes. Very good.

Great album! Never really gave the Arctic Monkeys a chance so plan on seeing what else they have to offer.

Great production, some really nice riffs and vocally very well performed. Lyrics left a bit to be desired.

Lo más reciente de los Arctic no me gusta nada nadita y cuando tuve oportunidad de verlos en vivo (2016 o 2017) me parecieron aburridos y demasiado centrados en un Alex Turner ególatra y con aires de seductor. Dicho lo anterior, este disco me parece una joya (aunque en su momento la presna lo exageró un poco), especialmente con sus cambios de ritmo en baterías y guitarras y el montonal de energía en casi todas las canciones.

'I bet that you look good on the dancefloor' and 'dancing shoes' are classics. 'red light indicates....' is cool. Very nice for pop-rock. 4stars

Good rock album.

It good

A really fun post-punk album. I find it a bit strange that this album is on the list, but not the superior AM. Best track: When The Sun Goes Down

6/30 3.5/5. I like their newer work more than their straight punk stuff, but they've clearly always been a talented group with great songwriting and a fresh sound. Standout Tracks: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Riot Van, Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..., From the Ritz to the Rubble

Sounds like a classic, but it doesn’t behave like one. Great production but it lacks a cohesive team, however the performances feel present and vivid.

spirited

It was alright. Each song sounded too similar to the next.

I guess this is not too bad, quite enjoyable however to me it's also quite samesy. Don't see a very high value in this and still don't get why is it so popular, so probably around 3 stars for me.

Not bad.

I must admit, when this came out, I was cynical about the "first internet breakthrough stars" narrative. I was absolutely certain that record company money had been used to manipulate the story. Arctic Monkeys sounded like a slightly more talented than usual indie landfill band to me. Listening today, I still think that. Typical of a lot of British all-boy guitar bands of the time, they used all the musical and lyrical cliches that were rife. Steve Lamacq played twenty bands that sounded exactly like this on every single one of his teatime radio shows. I mean, it's okay, but their extreme popularity is a mystery to me. If they were The Cribs or Idlewild levels of popular, I could understand that. But a stadium rock band? Nah!

FARTIC MONKEYS a certain romance raises it by 3

Never really listen to this band, but this is a good album

This is a very cool album. I only associate Arctic Monkeys with the infamous guitar riff from Do I Wann Know?, so I was very surprised by the sound coming from this album. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was the debut album from the Arctic Monkeys which garnered critical acclaim from the UK, winning Best British Album at the Brit Awards and being nominated for a Grammy for Best Alternative Album. This group had several albums before this one, however they were copied and given away at the band's concerts on CD. They were big in the British youth scene and this album reflects that. Musically, this album is a melding of indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival, punk rock, and alternative rock. It is emblematic of the British nightlife, including lyricism surrounding clubbing and pub culture, and romance from the perspective of young Northerners. This has never been my style of music, but nonetheless, there are some really solid tunes in here. The most popular of which were "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and "When the Sun Goes Down." My personal favorites were "Mardy Bum" and "A Certain Romance."

I nominate Arctic Monkeys for the Hall Of Mediocrity. They're certainly enjoyable at times, and have some great songs, but a vast majority of their music is just okay. Favorite Track: "The View From The Afternoon".

ok! finally listened to an arctic monkeys album. this is what the cool older kids listened to. dirty sleazy, fun, poppy. this brit indie moment is so embolic of the time, sooo iconic it makes me want to break out the skinny jeans and converse. Doesn’t connect with me, cynical straight white dude music who cares about pulling women who he doesn’t actually like. catchy riffs and hooks for sure. i actually find this kind of lyricism about women and desire way more grating than how i feel about misogyny in rap. Lol

Bien

전체적으로 평범한 느낌의 앨범이었다. Overall, it was an album that felt ordinary.

I thought it was a pretty good, but again I don’t know why it’s on the list, it’s not really genre defining and blends into the rock of the time

A solid album, though nothing particularly amazing.

Okay

10 seconds into the first song I got the gist of this album. It's not bad, a fun mix of musical styles from indie to grunge to brit pop, but there are bands who do all of those things better. I wasn't super well aquainted with Arctic Monkeys so I'm happy I heard this.

Its ok, somrthing il give another change or 2. Had some highligjts but felt like the beginning was thr hardest part to get through. Then it grew

I had a little bit more expectations for that album for some reason, still it is ok

Not bad, but not great either. It's a solid album for a casual rock listener, and I found myself nodding my head along frequently. The songs are catchy, energetic, and easy to enjoy. But beyond that, I never felt particularly invested in what the album was doing. Maybe if someone had shared this with me on MySpace in 2006, I would have become an Arctic Monkeys lifer. Part of the album's appeal seems tied to the era it came from and how fresh it sounded at the time. Listening in 2026, I can appreciate why it was successful, but I don't hear something I'd consider essential listening before I die.

I have heard of Artic monkeys before but had never actually listened to them until this album. The guitars were catchy and interesting. The vocals were ok, but not my favorite. I will definitely try and listen to more of their catalog.

Very good. Liked AM more but this still got repeat playings

The arctic monkeys are majorly overrated This album, similar to their other ones, was good but not great and all the songs sound the same 3/5 Favorites: I bet you look good on the dance floor, perhaps vampire is a bit strong but

Need to listen

First off - smoking’s bad mmmkay. I mean it’s fine if a certain cool person does it like Cyril Sneer or Donald Fagen on The Nightfly sleeve but not if it’s the goblin nephew of Shaun Ryder from the Happy Mondays. Second - I don’t like monkeys. I like badgers, otters, beavers, squirrels and even gorillas if they play drums and eat cadburys but I really hate monkeys. Wish they all the had Indiana Jones Temple Of Doom dinner table treatment. And thirdly - this is begrudgingly a pretty good album… the fastest selling UK debut even above the likes of Definitely Maybe and K by Kula Shaker (and from humble MySpace beginnings too). The music is such a vivid timestamp of the mid 00s NME indie scene and kind of an enduring classic as well with teeny distillations of The Jam, Oasis, Joy Division and witheringness and sarcasm of John Lennon. There are four or so truly firecracker anthems where the angular riffs and the sneery misfit lyrics really blaze. A lot of songs also which are merely OK. Even though frontman Alex Turner is on top form here and was pretty much NME-appointed poet laureate when this came out there is something about him I don’t really warm too. Something a bit screechy, stroppy, rough and uncouth like a zitty, scowly rebel George Formby who doesn’t tidy his room and smokes cigarettes you can legally buy. Overall though definitely their best, most popular and important album. 3.5 stars.

Enjoyed this. Minimal production and straight to the point garage rock. 3.5/5 Might listen again

I didn’t love arctic monkeys back in the day but I’m giving it a three purely for the nostalgia

I kind of dunked on this band in a recent review. By "dunked on" I kind of mean one of those dumbass old Blake Griffin dunks that people were excited about in like 2012. You know where he gets nowhere near the rim and throws it and people pretend that it was cool and "tuff." Now I've broken a few backboards on here, but most of my insults come off like a Yao Ming game. Decent, but nowhere near as impressive as they should be. Sorry Yao, you caught a stray there. All this to say that this album is actually quite good. This is a band that is pioneering a sound that would be copied and parodied to the nth degree for millennial men to worship. The Arctic Monkeys were clearly a hungry band that had a unique sound and produced an enjoyable record for the debut. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be watching Will "The Thrill" Barton and Kenneth Faried ("The Manimal") highlights for the rest of the day, punching the air and crying. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Chase(down) the Ace

Enjoyed

Meh, não é nada de especial

3/5

Pretty solid / overall decent but didn’t really stand out to me. 3

Mid lowkey, I just didn't feel very much while listening to it it just felt like music. Music is all about how it makes you feel and I just didn't feel anything strongly. I love A Certain Romance though. I also don't like the heavy drums and guitar on the album, the soundscape just isn't my favorite.

They have better album

Fake Tales Of San Francisco

Not bad, but like not really great alternative. At least it's not noise.

I never really cared for the Arctic Monkeys prior to listening to this. I'd heard some of their songs from time to time and they were actually alright, but for some reason I was never enticed enough to listen to some of their other songs - like these ones. Upon listening to this album, I can see why the songs of theirs that I have heard are more popular. This album was totally fine, there was nothing wrong with it. The songs just weren't as good as some of their other ones.

Yeah, sure. Why not? The band's debut album is a solid, down the middle 3. One could argue in equal measure that no tracks need to be skipped and that none need to be left on. I suppose it has to do with your mileage on how much you want to hear a hooligan sing about trying to get laid after going to the club. Lyrically, Alex Turner straddles the line between clever and sophomoric but since he was 19 upon the album's release it's fair to give him the benefit of the doubt. Witty turns of phrase counter-balance generic punk riffs. The strangest track is the seemingly earnest quasi-balld "Riot Van" about getting arrested for under-aged drinking and then being a dick to the cops. Yeah, sure. Why not?

7/10

Es el único disco de Arctic Monkeys cuya escucha repetiría. Vaya debut tuvieron los chavales, así no me extraña que acabe dentro de esta selección inmortal. Con el resto de su discografía no conecto de la misma manera ni por asomo, ni siquiera con el A.M. Aquí les noto más desenfadados, más 'garageros' si me apuras. Libres del mensaje que escondían con ese sarcasmo e ironía fina inglesa entre sus letras y que, lamentablemente, ahora también les interpela a ellos. Ya son esas mismas estrellas de las que se reían en su distancia y juventud, y los dólares que llueven son los de los altísimos cachés de los festivales que los contratan para tocar los clásicos. Canciones favoritas: 'Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But…', 'When The Sun Goes Down'

I liked this well enough when it came out, and still do. But all of their songs kind of sound the same to me.

This feels like a random opening band for the band I came to see, but I'm not unhappy about it. It didn't take long for each song to feel repetitive, but it wasn't bad!

With that album picture they should have done "The Chanukah Song". Great bar-band sound. Fast songs reminded me of Green Day but with a British twist. Fun album!

Makes me want to have a good beer from a small glass.

It has moments that are quite good, but overall it's just ok.

Reminds me of the Hives.

This band manages to be simultaneously good and overrated. There’s nothing memorable here.

Day939 - the more i listened the more i liked it

Good brit rick album, but nothing stood out to me as outstanding.

I’ve never been all that into Arctic Monkeys for some reason. It’s fine. 3/5

So many bangers. Can’t believe they were teenagers when they started this band. “Dancefloor” absolutely holds up, especially for having been written by someone so young.

I love this era of british rock. Like a lot of albums like it, it gets kind of samey. Starts strong and becomes unassuming after "Still Take You Home", but "From The Ritz To The Rubble" is pretty great.

A very polished and consistent sound but wish there had been more playfulness in the arrangements. British accents really annoy me.

Not bad, but they can do better (and they did).

Good, liked the sound as a whole, but no stand out bangers. Interesting to hear their earlier stuff. 3/5

needs more variety but not a bad listen

This is one of those “this really hit in high school” albums. A lot of their stuff ends up sounding the same tho.

Good debut

Pretty decent record but it's a bit samey right? Has some slow tracks but every song is about a night out in Sheffield

I feel soo british

Meh

Pretty good

meh. i dont like arctic monkeys

I generally listen to music to relax but I didn't find this to be that. Still, it was OK.

Mediocre 2000s rock

Overrated. The band improved from here imo, as the songs on their later records are better in sound and have more memorable hooks than the supposed "big hits" here. Lyrics are not great, either. "Sexy little swine"?!

This was okay but fairly average, good debut and they got better later on. 3/5

3

I like the songs starting from Mardy Bum. Can hear the inspirations that guy gets from this album. Will listen a second time when I get the chance. 6/10

It was fun!

Yes, british men, scream at me. This album wasn't sonically diverse, but I like the bangers I've already listened to.

Very British Sexy swine is some lyrics

Some really great songs and some that I did not like, so overall a 3 star from me. I rate always on how much I like the music and not if the music is of high quality.

It's not bad, just a bit basic. If I were to put an album by them on this list, it would have been Favourite Worst Nightmare, but that's just a personal matter. Probably people would say that AM deserves a spot the most. I would agree in that case as well, I'm just not a very hige fan of them. But this record sounds ok.

Four teenagers from Sheffield gave away free demo CDs at their own gigs, uploaded their music to MySpace, and accidentally revolutionized how bands find audiences, all before anyone had heard of them. The music industry spent 2005 watching this happen and taking absolutely no notes. This is arguably more interesting than anything on the actual album. It is a perfectly good album that I will not be returning to. It did exactly what it promised, delivered it competently, and then became background noise, which is a fine way to exist in the world and also an accurate description of most of my afternoons. 3 out of 5. Competent, confident, and entirely content to sound like itself for forty minutes without apology. Three stars awarded with genuine respect and zero urgency.

I like arctic monkeys but this album just aint hittinh that much

Não é o melhor do AM, mas não é ruim

great sound mixing, but a quite good album, not a bad start for Arctic Monkeys.

Gave this one another crack. Back on release it was hard to hear it properly through the breathless NME "best debut album of all time" BS. It's good, it has the Supergrass snotty delivery and tight playing thing going on, and timeline wise I see it as a bit of a "we're British and we'll take it from here" response to the American "rock is back" thing a few years earlier. They've gone on to be one of the biggest bands in the world and I guess the fact that they are good is kind of undeniable. I just don't rate them as highly as others, even discounting the initial hype.

++: Fake Tales of San Francisco, You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me, Still Take You Home, Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured, Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..., From the Ritz to the Rubble +: I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Dancing Shoes, Riot Van, A Certain Romance +-: The View from the Afternoon, Mardy Bum, When the Sun Goes Down 7,3/10

Fun

Wow Im just now finding out that Artic Monkeys is pretty good. I didnt add most of these songs or will go back to listen to them, but if someone played this on aux in the car, I wouldn't be mad at all

Still not my genre, but it’s quite recent so I appreciate a bit more the sound

как-то я ожидала большего… понравилась одна песня

Bueno

If I was 10 years younger I’d probably be giving this 5/5 - a teenage me would have been all over it as folk round our way went wild for it back in the day - “Red Lights…” was everyone’s night out in Sheffield. Smart lyrics and infectious tunes mean it stands up a lot better 20 years on than a lot of its contemporaries but there was better to come.

Didn’t age well

This album was part of a new crop of bands that brought the fun back to rock music in the mid-00s. It came out a little later than some of their peers however... Franz Ferdinand was already on album number two by the time this came out in early 2006. Arctic Monkeys may have been late to the party, but they certainly didn't miss it -- selling albums at record pace. For me, it was a little too late. I remember "...Dancefloor" coming out and thinking it sounded like a second-rate Franz Ferdinand, and I'd already moved on to other more-interesting music. Finally listening to the entire thing more than 20 years later, I don't feel like I missed much. It's loud in the same compressed way that Oasis popularized 10 years earlier, but the band doesn't vary their sound nearly as much. In fact, when I think of albums I actually liked from around that time by bands like Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, The Bravery, Bloc Party, She Wants Revenge, etc... this isn't close to as interesting as any of them. On the plus side, there's nothing here that's outright unpleasant and the short run times on most of the songs make this feel like a pretty brisk listen. It just doesn't leave much of an impression at all.

It’s fine for high school

At first, I kinda found it regular old Arctic Monkeys sounding like Arctic Monkeys, but this has a lot more raw energy than some of the later, bigger stuff. Honestly, either way I'm here for it. It's not the Strokes, but it's a sound I'll always enjoy.

Cool

Used to be a lot more obsessed with stuff like this, what I can only call "indie rock for the lads", back when I was coming off an Oasis/broader britpop obsession in high school. Nowhere near as passionate about it now but albums like this are still enjoyable, although this one kind of just kind of passes by without anything in particular standing out. Maybe I'm just not paying enough attention to the non-stop barrage of every hook and riff the band seem to have available to them when they recorded this. 7.5/10.

Хорошенький, но прям конкретно ничего не зацепило

2,5

I enjoyed most of this - high energy, fast-paced with some good guitar work.

Mér finnst þessir vera bara nokkuð hressir án þess að vera frábærir. Myndi hlusta aftur en mun líklegast gleyma plötunni

Good album, Nice pop-punk vibe and I like the singer a lot. Not my favorite Arctic Monkeys record but still very solid

This album captures the excitement and energy of a band ascendant. I can picture them playing in small clubs and bars and tearing the place down. It’s not as catchy or polished as some of their later releases, but those rough edges are charmful. My favorite track remains “Mardy Bum.”

I know of this album but, I’m not really a fan of AM so I’m not that excited for this. Not a fan of this album really. The main part that was really annoying is that they just didn’t stop singing, it was just constant lyrics but, I really enjoyed Mardy Bum and the songs like that. It would be a 2 but because of Mardy Bum etc it’s just about a 3 I’d recommend The view from the afternoon, Dancing shoes, Riot van, Mardy bum and When the Sun goes down.

feels very old school rock. dont love but i can see why it 'd be a vibe. 4/10. lowkey harvey specter vibe? old man vibes. but cool old man vibes.

Дебютный. Как и большинство дебютных не хватает звёзд с неба, но чувствуется задел на будущее

no es de mis generos favoritos, pero me gustaron algunos temas como mardy bum y when the sun goes down. me gustan mucho más cuando tocan temas más melódicos y no tan pesados. buena tapa igual

its smooth actually, following the band

Catchy, not my favorite but didn’t feel like wasted time

Good album, kinda reminds me of the clash. No skips but each was pretty similar sounding

why is he yelling stop

Super nostalgic. Doesn't hit the same as it did while walking the mile in middle school

gg

Esta bueno.No soy muy de la onda igual

Decent English garage rock.

Ok

Transported back to my teens with this one. How is this not older? Was never that into them during their peak, looking back now there are some great songs on here but there are a fair number of stinkers balancing it out.

First time with this album and enjoyed it, even without a single song standing out over the rest. It was just what you expect from Arctic Monkeys, so I guess you could criticize it for lack of doing something new. 3.5 rounded down because although I couldn't really think of a criticism, I also couldn't think of a highlight.

Good rock, good guitar music....but I am pretty ambivalent about listening to people sing rock and roll music in what sound like cockney accents, this was always the mental block for me getting into Blur as well. Its middle of the road millennial rock but some of the vocals distract me for that reason. There are some subtle Smiths influences that I appreciate, but I kind of can't take the accent...sorry of that sounds wrong to write but its true.

It was alright. Lyrics though were for schoolkids, angsty boys who want to rebel but dont know what against.

I was of age that when it came out it should have gripped me and it didn't and it still doesn't. Good music though, not boring but just not working out for me.

Solid listen

Great debut. Urgent and polished, which is no easy feat. Not my favorite band but appreciate the impact and talent required to execute such a tight piece of work.

A good album.

Meh

Iets te chaos. Niet opgeslagen ook niet afgezet

This isn't my favourite album from them

cool

Pretty good rock and roll, but not standout

hard not to get a bit misty about this record for many of the same reasons it's hard for me to fully love it these days: the reason being, man, we were Young! i was young, and the Arctic Monkeys were young, and they were just out of reach, a few years and an ocean away, and they just fucking Got It. they were so good at being snotty, pretentious upstarts with just enough rakish charm, at being crass but clearly incredibly intelligent, at sounding just new enough to convince the nme readers they were hearing something they hadn't heard before. and, like, yeah, they were! they were hearing a band that's incredibly sui generis, wonderful songs, so much energy. i loved these songs because it felt like i was hearing something new too, what people told me punk rock sounded like instead of what it actually was, smart and fast and hard. i don't want to be cynical about this precociously talented group of guys who i once loved, but i think it's easier now for me to see the difference this band very successfully split, the elements of their sound and lyricism that got them so quickly in with the old guard and beloved by cool young dads everywhere. it's easier too to feel that the lyrics can be too precious, the songs overcranked, it all feeling a bit eager to please - a thing that, whatever else you might be able to say, you cannot say about the current incarnation of the band. they sound, in other words, young, and that's not a quality i love in music these days. but when they pull it off, on ...Dancefloor and several others here, you gotta think that god, they were young, but they were just so goddamn good at it

3 star jail

I don't hate the Arctic Monkeys, I guess. But I don't really enjoy them either. This record screams mid-aughts; every song on this record feels like it should be (or probably was, for all I know) on a FIFA game soundtrack. I don't know what it is about this particular era/genre of music that drives me a little nuts, but it does. 6/10

No great surprises in revisiting this one that I bought at release, it is all of this particular sound that they did better than the many also-rans (who also seem to be on this list 🤷) but I’ve never totally gotten on with Turner’s vocals and it feels like they waste a lot of time on simple garage rock stuff for the footie stands before occasionally showing the band are talented in little spurts and then going back to the grindstone. Viva la indie or w/e.

Saw them open for the Black Keys in 2013. It was...loud.

Solid 2000s rock record. This group had a lot of popularity during their day, and I understand it. It's gritty, edgy and acoustically pleasing for the most part. I dig it.

This is one of those albums that changed my taste in music. Top to bottom it’s great. Fast paced, thoughtful and lovely. 3.5

Er litt samme som Linkin P. De traff en nerve i tiden uten at det noen gang traff meg. Ble det kanskje litt mye britisk, dansbar indie i denne perioden? Kunne vurdert en firer her, men vet også at jeg aldri kommer til å sette på dette hjemme.

Har aldri hørt skikkelig på AM, og kommer ikke til å gjøre det i fremtiden heller. Helt rett-frem-rock der låtene høres helt like ut. Og vokalisten er slitsom å høre på.

Great nightclub music, too busy for me.

I like the Artic Monkeys but I am not sure I am a like a whole album Artic Monkeys fan. They are a bit redundant at some point. It's fine if we are judging by 2000s rock standards.

Nostalgic.

So here is the deal - I'll give you 3 and please fuck off

It's a solid album, but it's an absolute crime that AM isn't on here instead.

this is the platonic ideal of a three

Vert underground band

This was slightly better than I expected. While I enjoyed it, I'm not sure I'd ever actively want to go back and listen to it again though. 3.5 stars, rounded down.

Halfway through and it's solid fun listen so far - nothing that blew my socks off, but still very enjoyable Ah hang on I just got to Riot Van and the juxtaposition of music and text is just outstanding

I bet you look good on the dance floor is 5/5

Lowkey good, nice guitar, tvfta isn't the best but it's nice

Too intense all the time

arctic monkeys classic, 7/10

fine

I don't like this album, it had its moments but it's not for me. I can see some people enjoying this but it's not for me. I can give this a solid 7/10 or 3/5. I'll give another shot sometime later and update this

ouvia muito quando tinha 15 anos, favorita: mardy bum

I always wanted to stay away from Arctic Monkeys out of I don't know what. It's fine. A pretty decent album.

Я думал, что мне совсем не понравится, но было довольно неплохо. Местами даже блюзово.

Good opening, average Arctic Monkeys.

It has all the ingredients of good Arctic Monkeys album (like Favourite Worst Nightmare) but they just don't fall into place for me

Liked the little I heard at the time, but never investigated furher. Youthful indie rock, but rarely takes off in an interesting way. Of course at the time, was great to have a massive guitar band around. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No: 68/275 (24%) Will I get: No

Bastante bien el disco de los monos del ártico. Nunca había escuchado uno completo, tampoco una canción de este disco.

Cool.

There was a period when my child was small that I was kind of disconnected from most of the music scene and what was considered "hip" or "popular." This was during that period. I have a big blind spot for a lot of mid-2000s debuts. It may be unfair to blame my kid for it - I was listening to music then, just not NEW music - but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Anyway, all that is to say that I know the name Arctic Monkeys but had never sat and intentionally listened to them. This is decent. I probably would have been a fan back in the day. But again, you know... the kid. (lol)

Hallo Herr Monkeys, dörfi Arctic sege? Es isch sehr schön das du wiedermal bi mir verbigluegt hesch. Ich gspühr aber, dass mir eus ide letzte Jahre ohni Kontakt recht usenandglebt hend und ich glaube ned ganz drah, das mir eus in nöcher Zukunft au wider finde werdet. Darum würdis gern bi dem eimalige treffe belah. Natürli sind da au wider nostalgischi gfühl ufcho, aber mengisch muss mer eifach chöne Abschlüsse und weitermache. 3 maligs froh sii dass die Ziit chli ume isch

Hmmm nöd mis. Gibe knappi 3 blauarsch paviane in Norde

These guys are something of a blind spot in British indie music for me, as they hit it big not long after I left Britain for the States. They are one of those bands who I knew intellectually were a big deal within the scene they were in but never got around to listening to. Now that I have, I'd describe them as being the Sheffield Strokes. This is especially noticeable because Alex Turner's accent is very prominent throughout.The songs on the album are a bit samey, and occasionally veer into less-belligerent Oasis territory but the album's overall a fun listen even if I wouldn't seek it out.

Strong second half in my opinion. Mardy Bum best song on album

It's ... fine. I've listened to other Arctic Monkeys albums and to be honest they all sound the same to me. That being said — "When the Sun Goes Down" always slaps.

Great album

I get why people would like this but it just isn't for me. This evokes no emotional response out of me other than distaste for the lead singers voice. I cant 2.5 this (why wouldnt there be half stars?) so 3 it is.

very classic mid-aughts garage rock

I feel like maybe you had to be there? This was a 2 for my own enjoyment, but I feel like album wise it’s a 3.

that's a good album, very British, catchy punkish garage songs, it's raw, it's energetic, but not mine, i prefer other music

Great

A touch samey but there are some real bangers on here. Some I didnt realise I knew already!! And some unexpected musical creativity hahaha. However, yet another solid 3.5 star album. Gonna round down to a 3 in comparison to my other 4 stars, which I overall find less samey

FAVOURITE SONGS: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Fake Tales of San Francisco, When The Sun Goes Down 6/10

It's safe to say that I am quite familiar with Arctic Monkeys, however this is one of the albums I've actually never given it a full thorough listen to. Some songs that I have in my liked playlist before the full listen: I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor Mardy Bum When the Sun Comes Down Songs that stood out after the listen: Mardy Bum Currently, I'm into very melodic songs with a catchy chord progression and lighter instrumentals. Tomorrow even, I could be in a mood where I want to hear heavier guitars, so any other song from this album would seem more appealing.

Mardy Bum me recordó mi adolescencia, porque es la más tranqui del album, fan de la guitarra en casi todas las canciones; when the sun goes down buena igual al igual que certain romance. para ser el primer album, creo que no me aburrí

Just not moving the needle

Hasn't aged well. View from the Afternoon is still incredible

idk why its on this list

The past 3 albums before this one I rated at a 2 or below so this one, with it's raring guitars and unique singer voice, was breath of fresh air.

- Like the UK street vibes - Not necessarily my favorite - Enjoyed 'A Certain Romance' as a closer, also liked "Riot Van" - Some pretty good allusions

The first song does not remember me of Artic Monkeys at all, but the guitar is very good(also in the second song) All the three first songs remind me of "ain´t no rest for the wicked" band San Francisco got me on the choir part Fouth song made me realise that is the singer that is giving Lucifer vibes Is weird to think that i didnt knew this album until now YOU PROBABLY is probably visionary Jesus still taking us home even if we know nothing I think i already heard something similar to RIOT VAN(but i liked the story) Red light is interesting Nice story and a different sound from the others on Mardy Bum When the sun goes down is my favorite, but swear Love it from the ritz to the rubber, i think is generic(but not in 2006) and nice at the same time Time at the beach with a certain romance and very good|nostalgic finals riffs "i love you like an alcholic" type of lyrics

Nice pop.

Really liked this album back in the day. The filler is filler, though. 3.5/5

mmm, in my opinion is a little bit bored, but the people love their songs

Solid album, although some of the songs sound incomplete. Crazy this came out 20 years ago, I remember at the time thinking rock was making a comeback.

Mardy Bum is the best song on this album and its not even close. the rest of the songs blend together for me, but this song was the standout. added it to my beach/boat playlist. good guitar and percussion, dont care too much for the vocals but this was fine. 6/10

6/10

3 or 4 good songs but the rest is very samey.

My goodness, the vocialist is so British. The sound is so fresh and raw, and I'm really glad it is on the list. Although the sound isn't really my style of rock, I can appreciate it massively. ALSO, THE POLICE MENTIONED!!!

buen álbum, pero nada del otro mundo un rock normal sin nada q destaque o lo haga especial, siento q al ser su primer álbum todavía les faltaba una identidad, gran voz la del cantante

Zone out a bit. It's aight

Enjoyed it, but no individual songs really stood out. Kind of surprised this album made the list

Standouts Fake Tales of San Francisco

very punk era!

Didn't stand out much for me Nothing inreresting or unique going on I'd probably listen to it while studying.

I never liked this band that much. Album is all right. What more is there to say about those Arctic Monkeys?

Ta bien, sin mas

get on your dancing shoes you sexy little swine

Nothing special, but I liked it fine

I remember this album getting a lot of good press when it was released. It’s catchy guitar-based indie rock, full of hooks and energy, and sharp lyrically. My recollection was that the critics tended to think that it felt fresh when so much of rock music, at least the stuff in the mainstream, at the time sounded turgid. Twenty years later, it still sounds okay, but I assume that this was added to this list soon after its release, because I don’t sense this album had much of a lasting impact. There are plenty of other things from around that time that sounded somewhat similar (the first thing that comes to mind for me is Ted Leo and the Pharmacist’s The Tyranny of Distance) that I think are far better. But that’s always the problem with basing these lists on the opinions of music critics.

The record is ok, I have listened to it once in a while over the last decade, but somehow I never return to it. I think the songs are just not enough my thing.

Has really great hits, then the rest is just English slop.

I mean it's quality stuff. It's just not really my thing

Ehhhh... I dunno. I wouldn't ever choose to listen to this sort of thing, but it wasn't bad. Pretty meh for me.

FK

Je suis pas fan du rock je crois, en tout cas pas en ce moment ou je suis dans ma phase Sade ( donc rien à voir). Cependant je me suis laissé surprendre par les ballades ( du moins les chansons plus chill de l'album ) qui était vraiment bien. Je mets la note de 3/5

Oh he be noticing things

Decent debut album. Repetitive after a while which doesn’t help with picking any standouts from this album.

seems cool but i dont love their accents

Not for me. It’s not bad

It sounds like what it is- a, admittedly tight, young band who are just getting started - it certainly has energy but it is rough around the edges and lacks a bit of subtlety. A couple of songs stand out melodically but, barring their age, I’m still not quite sure what all the fuss was about.

I’m scoring this generously as I do struggle to like much of the album but hard to articulate exactly why. I remember when these blew up as it was one of the first experiences I had of a band emerging from the blogosphere that I didn’t get the hype around. I find it kind of sits somewhere between some of the angsty raucousness of a band like Yeah Yeah Yeahs but without the energy, and safer radio friendly art rock of Franz Ferdinand without the hooks and doesn’t really commit to a lane enough. Never particularly enjoyed Alex Turners delivery, particularly when he does that staccato thing that has become something of a hallmark of their sound. Overall, it’s surprisingly bland.

A bit boring but not a terrible album. Unmistakeably the Arctic Monkeys. 2.9/5

I think I'm biased against them because I never liked them growing up, so it was hard to give them a chance. Some really catchy songs

I actually liked this album better than I thought I would. Prior to this I was not a big fan of the Arctic Monkeys. However, I enjoyed this album.

Brings me back to my karaoke days…

If Jack White was British

i can appreciate this musically but i have just always disliked alex turner’s voice and lyrics

Some fun tracks. Probably won’t listen to the whole album again.

This is a good album. I'm glad I listened becuase it really has more range than I expected.

Not my cuppa, but a competent debut

It's okay, I guess.

I am a true slut for 2000s indie rock, and even then I have never been able to get into the Arctic Monkeys

97. arctic monkeys debut

I like the instrumentation. Lyrics need getting used to not really my style

All the songs themselves are fine and even interesting at times. Unfortunately they do not compose a solid thoughtful whole. Tracks like "Riot" and "Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..." or "When The Sun Goes Down" are great standouts that feel bogged down in a swamp of similarity. An album full of great ideas lacking in interesting production, depth, and comprehensive vision to take it to the next level. Moments of greatness shadowed by my feeling of boredom during the listening experience.

It's alright. A bit too British for me

7/10 i ain’t into this kinda stuff but solid album

Classic Arctic Monkeys album.

J’ai pas trop la voix radio, sensation trop lisse

Favourite Songs: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor Still Take You Home

6/7

Definitely a band that chases genres, but that dance for song is catchy as hell it’s been in my brain overall I’ll take that the rest of the songs are solid, but don’t really need them. Just give me a dance floor thank you, sir.

I listened to this once before on a bus from edinburgh to dundee. The worst person you know loves this album. Great if you want to listen to a 19 year old with way too much ego ramble about clubbing, fighting and pulling girls. Cant deny it does sound class though

It’s alright. Bet you look good on the dance floor stands out above the rest. Not sure it deserves a spot on the list though.

ana noted to me that because it's sung in her accent, i might be one of the few US listeners who can actually understand what the lead singer is saying, and you know what? i could! completely intelligible to me lol. did i like the music though? now that's a whole other question. it's completely fine. to me every song sounds the same. it's a fine sound with a good aggressive energy, but it's the same sound for forty minutes, and that's about it. toe tapping at points but not something i'm liable to seek out because it all blurred together.

Jaaha

Ihan sujuvaa menoa yhdeltä indie rockin the bandeista.

Estoy familiarizada con toda la discografía de los Arctic Monkeys, por lo que ya conocía este álbum, y es por eso que me sorprende que esté este en la lista cuando –en mi opinión– la banda tiene mejor material (Favourite Worst Nightmare, Humbug, AM). Entiendo que su lugar en esta lista corresponde por el éxito rotundo que fue en su momento –tomando además en consideración que el álbum fue lanzado por medio de un sello independiente– más que por su calidad musical. Es un sólido debut, pero nada que considere increíble. ↑: Riot Van, Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... ↓: Dancing Shoes, A Certain Romance

-I really did not understand the hype around this band when this album first came out. Maybe if I was 5 years younger, this album would've excited me, but this sounded like played out, watered down post punk wannabe music to me at the time. It kinda checks the boxes of angular guitars and disco drum beats, but sands down the edges of everything that made bands like The Fall, Gang of Four, PIL, etc exciting and daring. -That being said, they almost won me over by the end of the album upon relisten. I get why this music has *energy* behind it and they were probably a good live band. -The instrumentalists are all mediocre EXCEPT the drummer, who is shockingly good. -Overall, this is fine. I really don't love it or hate it.