Reviews (page 5 of 15)
I'd heard this one before and its alright. Not a favorite of mine but its fine, I'm not a massive arctic monkeys fan really
Such a fun and energetic album! One of their best.
Happy memories
it was fine, not really for me. none of the songs really stuck but if someone put it on i wouldn't complain. just one ear out the other.
Almost too rock and roll for me buttttt I found like 5 I enjoyed
meh
Artic Monkeys är ett riktigt bra band. Jag gillar deras senare album också men är lite partisk till detta album, då jag gillar det råa ljudet och produktionen. Jag gillar också den här typen av tidig indie, typ som Kaiser Chiefs Franz Ferdinand och Titlarna på låtarna är också något som sticker, påminner mig om tidiga Fall Out Boy. Jag gillar också att sångaren låter sin dialekt framträda tydligt. Favoritlåtar: I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, Fake Tales Of San Francisco, When The Sun Goes Down, Mardy Bum. Minst favorit låtar: Riot Van
..
Simply put one of the best debut records of all time. They haven't made anything even half as good since. Like yeah they are obviously trying to be The Strokes but it has enough charm that they stand apart from everyone else trying to do the same thing. Dancing shoes/5
awesome choice! added to my fav ones!
Compared to all the other pieces of s I was getting for the past weeks, this is finally some good music. Not my favourite Arctic Monkeys records but still. On the other hand the bar is set so extremely low, that even music heard in a middle scholl band recital was better than some of those "MUST LISTEN TO11!1!one" disasterclasses
I never spent much time paying attention to this band and this record didn’t do much for me now. I wouldn’t completely rule out the possibility of it growing on me a little in the future, but on first listen I found it bashy & frenetic and the songs didn’t hook me at all.
What if Franz Ferdinand, an echo of Gang of Four, and Oasis had a night on the piss?
I’ve already heard this one! I like it a lot. Some of the best PPR passages of that movement, standout songs (most notably I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor and A Certain Romance, in which the latter is one of the better closers of all time), and a very cohesive style that makes it a great experience all around. Great album. 8.9/10
It's so fun when I get an album that not only do I already know but that I absolutely LOVE! What an amazing debut!! So much energy and fun lyrics. It's hard to pick a favorite, but my standouts are The View from the Afternoon, Mardy Bum, When the Sun Goes Down, and A Certain Romance.
Once you’ve heard one song by them you’ve heard them all and I got sick of them fast
I was so excited to hear this album I've heard a few songs over the years. By half way through the album, I had heard enough. They all sounded so similar. If you like their one sound, this is a great album.
One of the most iconic indie debut albums. Love the raw guitar sounds/parts. Alex’s lyrics are complex, impressive how he sings and plays guitar parts at the same time. Due to the high word density the subject matter is often lost while listening to the song. Requires multiple listens. Favorite song: From the Ritz to the Rubble Least favorite song: Mardy Bum Rating: 9/10
I have never listened to the whole album before. Enjoyed it a lot. Mardy Bum and You Look Good on the Dance floor are absolute bangers with great indie energy and bounce. Rest of album is pretty good and I like the slightly sneery vocal delivery. My only complaint would be at times there are a few too many words - I like my indie rock a little bit dumber.
I buck the popular trend - I just don't like the Arctic Monkeys. I get they're popular, but they just come across as cocky smart-arses and are generally annoying.
OUI MONSIEUR, ÇA JE VEUX TOUJOURS TOUS MES JOURS
Świetne, po prostu świetne. Energiczne, aż chce się śpiewać i tańczyć. Wpada w ucho i ma ciekawe teksty. 5/5
Was never familiar with Arctic Monkey fully (because I don't like their music). First Listen, Amazing start to this 1001 Albums list project. This album would've been an album I would have NEVER TOUCHED if I hadn't started this project. That's a scary thought. Because this album has the exact energy I look for music (punk rock and british rock I think?). Sure, not every track has something I care for but this album has provided tracks that are MUST HAVE SONGS for personal playlists. The drums and guitar riffs are fucking amazing and addicting. There are tracks that I listen to almost everyday! Highlight of the album, Still Take Your Home. Represents the exact energy I love about this album. When The Sun Goes Down is a very close second; represents that addicting nature to the album that made me love it so much. I'll be continuing to listen to this album for years and years without getting sick of it...unlike the albums that followed. There will never be another Arctic Monkeys album like this again. :( Overall, Arctic Monkeys were born here and died here. T3: Still Take Your Home, When The Sun Goes Down, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Enjoyed the listen 7/10 for me
They speak sing. I don't like speak singing
Already introduced. Went back to my teenage years. Indie pop rock done right. Nothing more to say.
Remarkably solid and self-assured debut. Turns out that tales of Sheffield teenage nightlife are way more universal than you'd think.
I must admit that I’ve often overlooked the Arctic Monkeys. But hearing this debut, it’s clear what their instant appeal was. This is post-punk guitar rock paired with some real songwriting. It feels gritty and honest. The album cover reminds me of the photo on the front of the book “Among the Thugs”—it creates a filter that you hear the whole album through.
I’m not a fan of this kind of music but I do appreciate that they are not a one-dimensional band. While most of the songs have a punk-rock feel, I really enjoy when a band can show more musicality in a studio. Since the first song was very heavy, I thought the whole album would be like that. I was pleasantly surprised to find they multiple sides to their sound.
I've genuinely tried very hard, but I really don't enjoy anything from Artic Monkeys..... can't help it. It's visceral. The only exception is Mardy Bum, hence 2*.
1st song wow didn't know what i was expecting that first song is sum the chorus and bridge are so killer what a way to set a tone 2nd song feels and gives the vibe of dancing in a pub lol rn not feeling it but if i was drunk with a hot girl it would be life changing lol 3rd track just makes me wanna drive a convertible driving down California 4th song is a vibe but its starting to feel repetitive now same BPM and instruments and song premise 5th song was nice but im to adhd for this repetitiveness BPM instruments and song premise are all the same 6th i really dont think these are bad individual songs i honestly enjoy this bridge alot one of my favorites so far but the short guitar licks and stums are to much for me 7th HOLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY THIS IS WHAT I LOVEEEEEEEE a real slice of life in a song that just goes down like butter the intimate emotional delivery with a smooth baseline and beautiful chords 8th sounds so familiar idk if i heard it before but i love the guitar line du du du du do da love the lyrics so real but just a lil to distorted for me 9th most uniqe of the album so far and i love it its a mix of 5 and 7 I love the digestable rawness and how real and relatable it really is and just simply beautiful 10th I like when the songs are a bit slower like I'm honestly loving these song except for the repetitive distorted guitar just hitting my left ear ugh 11th oh yes this is how you build up and what i was waiting for love the pump fake love the bass line love the story easily top 3 on this project so far 12th the guitar line after the build up ooo the intro I'm going backwards but its really all just rushing oooo this one of the ones ik i just said top 3 but this one genuinely is giving me that swing type bounce the vibe is really catching me the most out of all the higher BPM songs 13th no. the intro i was not feeling at all like we already did this 10 times but now when we get into the first verse it just sets it all clicks and is super real the chorus is so sweet the delivery is amazing overall : I honestly am in love with certain songs like Riot Van Mardy Bum When the sun goes down A certain romance all those songs felt super relatable in a sense they are all unique to themselves unlike some other songs on this album but the second half really put a ease to my soul
I thought it was okay I only ended up adding one song to my playlist. I've heard of this artist before but I've never really listened to much of their music.
Very very good. A lot of fun
Nothing but belters
Contender for best album ever.
I love this band and I love this album, can’t believe it’s been 20 years
Frenetic energy from the first note and it never lets up
fun listen
i don’t like i bet that you look good on the dance floor as much as i remember
Now to the subject matter, the album starts with a simple two note riff that immediately grabs your attention. This captures Arctic Monkeys perfectly: Clever, attention grabbing music, without too much fanciness. The album has some killer songs, and the performance on all instruments are top notch. This is a hesitant 5 since not everything is in the same calibre: it's not an album I'm satisfied with from start to finish, but rather, one where I'm waiting for the gems. Typically this means a 4, but the gems are so strong and the musicianship is clearly there that it feels wrong to punish them for a few meh songs.
Very fun listen, lots of energy and heart. Structured very creatively and well though out. Slows down when it needs too but mainly stays at the top.
This album did not make an impression on me. I don't have anything critical to say.
A good punk album, mixes really good grooves from the bass with simple melodic strums from the guitar, adding in a rough and gritty singing voice for an overall good album, if a bit one note. Favorite song: Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...
It's a nostalgic noise box, where I'm sad that Alex has forgotten he's not from New York city he's from Sheffield.
Top flight. Can’t believe it is a debut.
I listened to this so many times in high school. Now the songs pop up individually when I put my liked songs on shuffle, but this was my first time listening to the whole thing through in over a decade. It holds up. A danceable alt rock album with consistently solid songs. AM got much more hype but I will stand by the fact that this is the superior arctic monkeys album
Really great album - sort of a mashup of grunge, Alt rock, punk, garage rock.
No thank you.
Super repetitive ngl
Great vocals and grooves, smooth jumping sound. Something to look cool or feel cool to while you listen. Grew on me as the album progressed. Not the biggest fan of this style of rock, but I appreciate the rhythm and passion/clarity. Def some humor and wit in the lines as well. Some tracks def hit for me, 'from the ritz to the rubble' gave me this feeling. Can understand the hype/love!
This album has such a particular sound. Everything from the songwriting to the production, so props to the whole process. The vocal performance sits in perfectly with the instrumental vibe, and the whole thing really shines. It really engages my mind and is easy to listen to, and the performances are really well done. They definitely lean into a handful of sounds that they are really good at, and this does make it extremely consistent almost to a fault, which could be a negative, but that bank of tones is a really good so that doesn't bring it down much at all. A Certain Romance is just an unbelievable closer. Great album. 4.7/5
Excellent album avec que des bangers
Trop facile à noter Ça me rappelle le lycée J’adore ! Ça m’a fait du bien de le réécouter, je les aime
Ok mais c'est pas trop ma came
🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
Im not really into punk rock
timeless classic, takes me back to school days
solid indie pop, some herky-jerkiness, some splendid tunes, some melancholy and plenty of wry northern-ness
Eeeeewwwwww. Noooooooo. Ok, now that I’ve gotten my initial impression out of the way (never heard an AM single on the radio that I enjoyed) I have to say I liked the album much more than expected. The non-single tracks hold up. I wouldn’t have thought so until I was “forced” to listen to an entire album. Still not a fan, but their esteem has risen. 3.5/5
had more fun with this than i expected to
Welcome to the party Indie Rock.
A bit too poppy for my taste, but the talent and appeal is apparent.
It was ok, I actually like a lot of their songs but the album wasn't a standout for me.
50% bangerz 50% your mate's band playing a weeknight at the local
Perdón Mariana pequeña por haberme skipeado este álbum
Yeah they have a few good songs
Classic! 8/10
Was good but this kind of harder, faster-paced rock isn't my favorite genre.
Definitely energetic! Fun. Also a bit busy, but not extremely so
A fun vibe and good energy. But... kinda got a bit tired after awhile into the album. So, middle of the road for me.
Fairly boring rock music.
Started out really strong but got kinda old by the end of the album. He does some really cool things vocally but gets kinda loud by the end of the album. So close to being a 4 but not quite there for me
Meh.
this album sounded like one long song, but it was okay i guess
Didn't mind it, quite punky but with more complex melodies, can see why they were so popular
Pretty good great drumming the guitar work is good too vocals are well fitting overall very light and fun listen 8.5-10
noisy up until the riot song!! but then after i liked mardy bum and the song after..overall not my kind of music because it felt loud in a way i don't like even with the lowest volume. also i feel like this would have been sung by a white guy in a dirty blond shaggy imullet and a leather jacket in the 80s. not that i know much about 80s music.
Another mediocre record on this list. Did it get there owing to it's smart title, I wonder.
Solid entry into the dad rock canon. I wanted to get into it more but I can't justify giving this four stars. A good debut album but it will never be my go to. 3/5 stars.
😐
Banger
Good album. More of a quicker rock that I am not used too. I liked the song, "When the Sun Goes Down."
Haven’t revisited this one in a long time. I wanted to say “it hasn’t held up” or “they were never good”. I can’t say either of those things. Although they would go on to show us how it feels to drive a Ford F-150, this album is still really great and absolutely holds up. “British”, but good.
Solid listen. Not something I would normally put on, but also wouldn't turn it off.
Didnt like this, I don't know why but I couldn't care less for arctic monkeys, this is the second album I have heard from them and it didn't do anything. I am not saying it's bad I just can't get into it.
Ok we a bit back, could be working on a 4+ here if this stays this fun. So many songs on this one that I very much love. So much more ruckus than I remember lol hell yeah.. Fuck it, 5. This shit so awesome and some of my favorites.
Similar to the strokes, better arctic monkeys songs out thetr
Enjoyable, won’t add it to my collection, but decent I’m sure I would love if I was 10 years younger
Despite them being from my home town of Sheffield, I've never really paid that much attention to Arctic Monkeys. If this album is anything to go by, maybe I should start. It's got a bit of a post-punk, grungy, indie rock vibe going on that I can really get behind, and the songs themselves are gritty observations of what youth culture was like back when the album first hit the charts. Yeah, I definitely came to this party late, but now I'm here I think I may hang around for a while. A full-bore five out of five.
01) The View from the Afternoon - 9,0 02) I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor - 10,0 03) Fake Tales of San Francisco - 9,0 04) Dancing Shoes - 9,0 05) You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me - 8,5 06) Still Take You Home - 8,5 07) Riot Van - 9,5 08) Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured - 9,0 09) Mardy Bum - 9,0 10) Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But... - 8,5 11) When the Sun Goes Down - 10,0 12) From the Ritz to the Rubble - 9,5 13) A Certain Romance - 9,5 TOTAL: 9,15 (92/100) Current ranking: 48/803
Liked 6 songs out of 14 and it was pretty ok.
Better than expected
NOSTALGIA! Me and my middle school friends started our first band to play these songs, so I can't even pretend to be even a little bit objective. I still think this is a banging, no-skip album<3
I feel like this album is the type of music I think of when I think of early 2000s music. This one is a much different sounding album than their 2013 one that I’ve heard and is really popular, which surprised me but I liked!
1/23/26. It's okay. I prefer Suck it and See. 5/10
THIS is what Arctic Monkeys sound like? this whole time??
Ugh, this album was a boring melange of bland rock sameness. It's fine, I guess, but I never got into this band and this album did not convince me to go any farther into their catalog.
There's an energy to this but I'm so far left unmoved. I don't love the singer. The playing is certainly adequate, but there's not really a lot of hooks that grab me. Honestly, I know they have bigger hits but based on this I'm not sure how they got so popular. Were we this starved for vaguely garage-influenced post-punk or whatever in the 2000s? I like Riot Van more - it's slower and atmospheric, and Mardy Bum has an actual catchy riff. Meh.
Really innovative style for the time and now genre defining but same after repeating
Loud, catchy, hooky, riff-filled, pop rock, it is a head-bopping good time. The lyrics are about British youth culture, but have a vapidity that's universal, scarcely venturing outside the night club. But since when do I care about lyrics? This album is a lot of fun to listen to and the nitpicking only starts when trying to distinguish between thoroughly enjoyable and something special, but that something is missing. It's a good time, but perhaps one that feels a little too safe and calculated.
Don’t know how to explain it but it sounds cleaner and less like “noise” than some of the other albums. More refined and newer than 90’s music, but not as nostalgic as 80’s
I hadn’t heard this arctic monkeys album before and I liked it! Still like AM better tho
I thought this was ok. His vocals started to be irritating. But not a bad album
I’m not sure Alex Turner’s voice is for me, mans is just so fookin british
Pretty good
I imagine this is what people listen to when they're too big of virgins to even try Weezer
Listened Before: No My sister was obsessed with AM when it came out in 2013 (and I think it might still be her favorite album OAT). I went into this expecting to not really like it but I couldn't help but be charmed by these guys. The Adam Sandler cigarette album gets a 4/5 Playlist add: Mardy Bum
very solid. I like the guitar parts and his British voice. first four songs were prob my faves. 7.3/10
Simply great.
Solid album, love the Arctic Monkeys, hadnt listened to the whole album so glad I did
Talk about not my generation
This is a cool album but I can not fathom why they're so huge.
Enjoyed, latter end tails off slightly but still quite strong energy, if a bit raw. Much better than latter stuff.
A rather pleasant surprise. I used to dismiss these, but really enjoyed this album. Tales of Northern youngster life in the Noughties...including the occasional northern turn of phrase. Love it.
This album stands the test of time. Nights at San Fran dancing to this. Still good.
Memories of 6th form
Loved it at the time, probably prefer most of their other albums now but this still holds up
Every song has a core memory attached to it from my late teens. I said it's Brookvale mate via Laurel Drive please
Best British debut album of all time. Memories of hearing Fake Tales in the Rescue Rooms in Nottingham with my sister and brother in law, thinking they were a bit old (they were 33 😭). Still Take You Home, Riot Van, and A Certain Romance all perfect. Suck it Gary.
Banger after banger
banger after banger
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE
Everything about this reminds if the Strokes.(their first album) So British Strokes?! They have a nice punk sound, but not overtly. Decent, interesting songwriting but they all tend to sound about the same. Which is fine, I like their sound. I don't care for his singing voice but it works here. Part of me wants to give this a 4 but 3 seems about right. I am interested in exploring their catalog more.
Bored
Cool English post-punk, indie rock album. Through the first 6 songs I was nervous because they all were sounding the same but they added some great variety during the back half. The 20 something going out to the bar crowd is the target audience but still fun for us older heads too
Fantastic debut. Arrived fully formed and smashed it. Not an ounce of fat on these songs. Poetry and bangers…. Straight 4
This was really good, like I’d listen to this album again good. It’s like so warming with his vocals and chill guitar playing.
One of the greatest bands of all time, rock at its finest
I’ve always liked this album
Fast, energetic tunes about the grim underbelly of grey drab concrete British living. I like it, but then it's a bit nostalgic for me too. Faves: The View From The Afternoon, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Dancing Shoes, When The Sun Goes Down
THIS is what i hear when i someone mentions arctic monkeys. a certain romance is the song of all time.
If you had asked before I had listened to the album I would have said I am not to enthused with this band but this was incredible. I liked that it was about general life in the UK with a high level of insight and introspection. Not what I expected from them. The tunes are damn catchy too.
The studio debut of a band who went on making some damn beautiful music. This one is very indie, both in sound and production, with neck breaking pace and energy for days. To me, it's a very solid 4 or a lukewarm 5. Not a single skip in this track, on multiple listens.
Should be a dead cert, but it's only ok, and doesn't click.
It's amazing how much better they are in studio vs live. Live is just a wall of sound, you lose so much of the feeling of the songs. Great album
Great tunes but lack of diversity
Part of me misses this version of Arctic Monkeys when they were more manic/garage-rock than 60s-lounge pop, even if their new stuff is excellent. Remember when it first dropped when I was in high school heard "You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me" on the radio and being transfixed. It packs just as big a punch 20 years later
Noice album
Un gran tiro!
I really wanted to dislike this, was expecting next to nothing, but was pleasantly surprised by generally solid music and vocals. Am I going to add it to my playlists? Nope, but it didn’t make me regret doing this either.
Love this album and Arctic Monkeys. It was a great debut and really brought more attention to British music in the mid 2000s. It's so very British. It's what I want to call 'indie dance punk' and is super fun and takes me back to high school when this came out. Really like the Vampire song on this listen, can't think of the title.
Would love to make a record like this
Good quality Britrock. Quite a few recognisable tracks. Dance Floor was the one I was most familiar with, but I also recall Mardy Bum and When The Sun Goes Down from the old Triple J days. The other tunes I wasn't so familiar with were all ok.
An album which was foundational to my music tastes. Perfect from begining to end and it seems to have got better over the years.
Not terrible, not great.
Sounds like college!
Favorite Track: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
Can’t stop listening to I bet you look good on the dancefloor. Overall great album, takes me back to high school - very nostalgic sound
2026 = 2016 for real
Fucking good record, I’d heard all of the singles many times. The last track was transcendent
Good energy. Meaningful lyrics
Legends. No notes.
Wow, way better than I thought it was gonna be. I always thought AM were like a soft indie band.
Loved this. So high energy and catchy. Feels like a great representation of the 00's fast paced alt/indie rock genre. stand out songs: - I bet you look good on the dancefloor - Dancing Shoes - When the Sun Goes Down - A Certain Romance
Album que me abrio la mente a artic monkeys pese a que me disgustaban, pero esto es un paso a aceptar cualquier tipo de artista o agrupacion sin prejuicios. Album no de mi gusto pero eventualmente escuchare mas de ellos
Solid, no real notes
A fun little album.
Great album, I’m a sucker for the arctic monkeys. Actually have not listened to this album before so I got some good enjoyment out of it. Only maybe one song I didn’t enjoy a lot but again it fit into the vibe well!
Generally agreeable alt rock that was consistently good throughout the whole album. Good stuff.
An enjoyable, energetic, frantic vision of British youth. I originally discovered a taste for the Arctic Monkeys through their album AM, which featured a more organized and pop-oriented sound, so it was nice to get the original, punk rockier British flavor of the band. Vocals could sound a little too British for me at times (something to be expected in a debut album and is more absent from their future releases), but definitely contribute to the themes of the album. All instruments are catchy and on point, growing tighter and more technical when drawing attention, and leaning into a looser more disorganized sound when the vocals take focus. This provides a nice variety among the songs and showcases that these artists know exactly what sound they are crafting.
Sooo good
Very nostalgic for me but, the songwriting is very one note
100% Amazing album! So glad to finally have an album that I really love here
Pretty cool indie rock; I liked it!
Very close to a perfect album, so many hits, great energy. Will come back to it for sure.
Above average but average none the less
It's not bad. I Just don't like it, personally.
Love!
Starts well but tails off a bit. This punky album was an exciting debut and I much prefer it to the transatlantic rock band Arctic Monkeys have become.
hmmm def not for me gives me pub vibes.
muy bueno, la escalera que hacen con los acordes, el bajo, simplemente uno de los mejores debuts del indie rock britanico
Nulla di speciale ma mi è piaciuta molto Riot Van e ne ho aggiunte altre due, non il mio genere
All these songs sound the same and I don’t care for the same vocal effects on every track
Fainas albumas, nelabai dainos stand outino, manau kai kurios galetu but ilgesnes. Favorites: "Mardy bum", "from the ritz to the bubble" ir "a certain romance". Overall manau vertas dar vieno klausimo
solid early 2k rock! honestly maybe not the best artic monkeys record but had some highlights.
The View from the Afternoon - 4/5 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor - 5/5 Fake Tales of San Francisco - 4/5 Dancing Shoes - 4/5 You Probably Couldn't...- 4/5 Still Take You Home - 4/5 Riot Van - 3.5/5 Red Light..- 4/5 Mardy Bum - 3/5 Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But...- 4/5 When the Sun Goes Down - 4.5/5 From the Ritz to the Rubble - 4/5 A Certain Romance - 4.5/5 Yeah this definitely sounds like the adolescence of a British clubber. Sounds intentionally unpolished. Overall good debut album but everything does feel a bit same-y to its detriment and the slower songs don't really come up to snuff as the other indie-dance songs on the majority of the album. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, When the Sun Goes Down, A Certain Romance
Interesting to hear their early work and see how much their sound matured over time. Listened while driving to teach at Olene Walker
3.5/5, half the album was good the other half was meh
Noise.
Overall: 10/10 There's something special about this album. The band's energy oozes out of this thing. I love the guitar work, it's so much fun to listen to these riffs, and while the solos are simple, they're great. Alex Turner also has the best voice for this type of music. One of the best albums of the 2000s in my opinion. Fav Song: Fake Tales of San Francisco
Het is ergens best vet, maar ik zet het zelf niet echt aan. Maar onbewust ken ik eigenlijk heel veel nummers gewoon.
i like this shit right here 4/5
Top Songs: The View From the Afternoon I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor Dancing Shoes When the Sun Goes Down
Just perfect. This album brings back memories of its first listen and I can still remember the running order of the tracks.
One of the best debut albums ever made. So raw and real. Using British language and phrases makes the lyrics very relatable. Perfect album, no skips and will always be a favourite
I liked this more than I expected. When I read on Wikipedia that some people say the album concept is "the lives of young Northern England clubbers" my first impression was "eh, that sounds kind of boring". But it ended up being pretty decent.
this just has so much energy and youth, such good lyrics that really give a picture of british culture and life, this album was a soundtrack to my COVID lockdown, i loved this, amazing album to return to.
damn, i am shocked how much i enjoyed this album. need to reevaluate my life.
I'm a sucker for a Yorkshire accent and a snarky attitude.
the second best band to ever come out of sheffield
What a debut! It's hard to believe a nineteen-year-old could write lyrics this good.
already listened to it before but its such a fucking classic
I was in high school from 2012-2016 so obviously AM by the Arctic Monkeys was a foundational album for me. They had their signature sound from the start though. A little less commercially catchy, but just as strong. I’ve always loved the production on Alex Turner’s distinct vocals. Not sure how to describe it except to say that it sounds like they were recorded in voice notes without sounding shitty. It’s at least one aspect that led to them being a cornerstone of the indie sleaze scene.
*2006. UK alt. *I really want to like these guys, but I can only do them in small-ish doses because the music is just so frantic. *I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor is here. RATING - 6/10
Been a fan of Arctic Monkeys since before they were signed. They used to put up mp3s for free on their own website, many of which were re-recorded for this debut album. Eventually they matured a bit, and they're still great, but personally I love the early, snotty kids from this era.
Ugh ... more recycled drivel. My current average for music between 1990 and 2020 is 2.27. Why is so much of this detritus on this list.
Heard it a million times. Not the Monkeys at their best, but definitely at their most basic. A soundtrack to my teens and one of my favourite albums ever for a long period of time. I don't vibe with it as much as I used to these days, but some tunes (ironically the more mellow ones) still stick in rotation. Maybe it's the fact that some of the bigger, rockier tunes are such staples of British culture these days that you just can't avoid them. Excited to listen all the way through for the first time in a while
Nostalgia bias for sure but hell yeah
more like the noisy monkeys
Can get a bit samey, but lots of great tracks. Energy and evocative lyrics.
I really enjoy this band!
I like AM better but this had some good tracks on it.
One of my favourite albums ever. Wonderfully witty whilst being very blunt at the same time. I adore Arctic Monkeys, and in my eyes they can do no wrong. Their musical journey since the release of this record has been a joy to follow. I was 14 when this came out, before I was of drinking age, so on first listen I think I must have appreciated the music more than the concept. As soon as I started going out drinking with my friends, this record took on a whole new meaning for me. Best band ever. Best album ever? Maybe!
I’m in the minority of people that think AM sounds like slightly better generic alt rock. This was slightly better than good.
great album. need to listen to more
ALBUM 2 (JANUARY 5) - little behind schedule but i think this album is fair game because i have heard bits of it in the past. FAVORITE SONGS: MARDY BUM :3, riot van, a certain romance, when the sun goes down
Some pretty good memorable songs
Pretty good, although every song sounds kinda the same. It does have energy and pep. Just needs some nuance. Decent but could have been a killer.
I have never listened to the whole album before. Enjoyed it a lot. Mardy Bum and You Look Good on the Dance floor are absolute bangers with great indie energy and bounce. Rest of album is pretty good and I like the slightly sneery vocal delivery. My only complaint would be at times there are a few too many words - I like my indie rock a little bit dumber.
Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not I loved I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor when it came out, but for some reason that never translated into getting into them, so this is the first time I’ve properly listened to this. There’s no doubt they are an excellent band in the field of post britpop garagey punkish post-punk inspired mid 2000s indie, and are set well apart from many their peers by Alex Turner’s great, observational lyrics that belie his teenage years. Taking in teenage nights out and stories of people you might genuinely meet, with his wry, northern sense of humour (the band were fucking wank and I’m not having a nice time) and uber-Sheffield delivery, it's great in combination with the charge of the music, especially the bass and drums, resulting in some great songs in I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Fake Tales of San Francisco, Red Light Inidcates Doors are Secured, When the Sun Goes Down and A Certain Romance However, despite that, I do struggle to get excited by them - I think had I been a bit younger when it came out, or it had managed to catch me at the time I would be well into it, but as it is it just seems to me like a solid album overall, even if its a superior example of that particular genre/time. 3. 🤖🤖🤖 Playlist submission: I loved I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
I haven't tended to be a huge Monkeys fan and have never listened to a full album, but my respect for them has grown over their career, especially their irresistible blend of rock meets 50s croon - and these days they have a real sophistication. Not so here. This is continual riffing, absolutely pumping drum beats and thick Sheffield accents spouting lyrics of every day chancers and British references (e.g. Frank Spencer). It's all in the humourously narrative style of their fellow Sheffieldians Pulp. The fact they are unapologetically Northern British is one of the great appeals. Reet good. I love later songs like 'Cornerstone' and '505' and 'Crying Lightning' which all start to get a crooning swagger; but I can't fault this album for youthful punch, being authentic, and be delivered by a fucking good band. Except some of the songs being a bit dull on account of repeating the formula which is a bit of a fault. Easy four.
Really good album!
Fun but angry. Has many heavy bass lines. 4/5 stars
I am used to listening to rock music so not a lot on this album surprises me — I like how easy and memorable the riffs are and tried to play them on my guitar several times (it is my first time listening to this album btw)
I enjoyed this more now than when it originally came out, didn't realise how good the bass was
alex turner save me
Really enjoyed this album! Good lyrics, felt very punk. Listened to this album twice and saved several songs.
Me gustó mucho a sorpresa de nadie jaja todas las canciones muy buenas, la única no escucharía de vuelta sería riot van, no me terminó de generar nada. Mis canciones preferidas fueron a certain romance, mardy bum, still take u home, dancing shoes y on the dancefloor💃
Not really my thing.
Good vibes but sometimes a bit anxiety inducing. Would defo run to in the gym, feel good but when you listen close to lyrics some of them are a bit too vulgar
An absolute classic end to end. Full of bangers and representative of the scene at the time. Timeless
This albums surprisingly not that bad, I kinda expected some ass since ive heard nothing good about arctic monkeys but this is solid, I like a lot of the songs but the album can definitely be repetitive at the beginning.
Like it
I enjoyed this album- but really preferred the more mellow songs. I enjoyed it more and more as I listened though!
Fun listen, had never really listened to Arctic Monkeys much before. Fun upbeat album.
It was good, just not my style!
Excelente álbum, do começo ao fim. Acabou tão rápido pois eu estava curtindo bastante a vibe.
Gold
Pretty great debut for a band that’s rather average on the whole. By the time I decided I’d heard enough and was ready to stop listening, the opening to the first track was just getting ready to start again, so it was the perfect length, I guess.
Hahaha what a way to start. I already live this album but was nice to give it a full listen again start to finish to appreciate its greatness.
i came to it quite pretentious but it kinda grew in me while i was listening it... might come back later there are some good songs and i think it flows consistently. personaly a 3.5 for me
i couldn’t get past the first two songs i just really don’t like it
Good in general, maybe i could click a like button on some of those song. But i didnt. 3.5/5
Pretty good.
Wouldn’t listen to it again
What Are All These Long Song Names, It's Like North English Youth Culture Set to American Rock & Songwriting Is Straightforward... I Love The Drummer He Makes Me Want to Dance/Bob My Head
Outstanding debut album. Still a joy to listen,.not a weak song on it but also has some absolute classics.
Not for me
Very lowkey and chill, could play while getting ready. I’ve heard a few of these songs before
Absolute classic, love the lyrics especially. Riot van is hilarious.
Full of really good tunes, but there are a couple I am not as big on
Not my style
4/5 favorite track : when the sun goes down you know i love some early arctic monkeys. and ya know what? i think this may be my favorite album of theirs, and i’m so glad i finally got to be able to listen to it in full!!
nice.
One good song, I prefer The Strokes!
Typical early 2000s indie. Not a bad album. Not great either
Recognized some
You can hear a lot of the foundation of what they’ll become later. Very Brit punk like in the beginning, with great guitars.
Incredible album, one of their best
Love this album. Instantly know what the vibe is and it stays consistent from start to finish. Classic pub rock music.
I really like artic monkeys and I have listened to them before so I really enjoyed this album.
When I started my vinyl collection a couple of years ago. This was among the first five albums I bought. Is it any surprise this scores any lower than he full marks? 5/5
A decent album but I don't know if it is '1001 Albums' material.
There was about a decade of time where I gave up on new music and called everything derivative, with the dumb-name Arctic Monkeys serving as the posterband for my ire. This is the second of their albums on this list, which means it’s the second time I have to repent for my stubbornness. This is loud and bouncy and fun — cornerstone principles of rock music — and their message to cranks like me, still lost in post 9/11 haze, is a spirited anthem: we’re not going to be miserable anymore. I don’t have any connection to it, but I wish I did.
not for me, almost every songs sounds the same
Strong sound, excellent guitar work and the vocals are pretty good. Post punk, strongly leaning on the 70s punk sound. 3/5
não sou mt chegado em artic monkeys mas tamos la ne FAVS (top 3): still take you home, perhaps vampires is a bit strong but..., a certain romance mençoes honrosas: i bet you look good on the dancefloor, fake tales of san francisco, riot van, from the ritz to the bubble compraria o vinil: não bom!! não é um album que me dê vontade de ouvir completo e sequencial, mas de ouvir as musicas isoladas em momentos diferentes em uma playlist acho q fica melhor. mas as musicas sao boas :D nota final 3.5/5
Classic indie
Sounds like a temu version of Frank Ferdinand from 2004.
Utter genius
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not was nothing like what i was expecting it to be. I'm not super well versed in the Arctic Monkeys, I of course know their name and know that my 16-year-old sister likes them but i don't really remember what any of their songs sound like so i was expecting this to be sort of a soft-rock album. However, what i got was an incredibly British punkish album with quite a bit of a rebellious spirit and that is what i love so much about this album. It has that aforementioned rebellious spirit with plenty of great guitars, fun melodies and some pretty good lyrics for songs with such strange titles. I never would have expected this to be this good but it certainly was a really fun time. Best Song: Still Take You Home Worst Song: Riot Van
Classic 2000s indie-punk
fun, cohesive, dare I say masterpiece
i’ve heard this one before, i really liked it. absolutely class. liam.
not a big fan. used to be so i know this album, not gonna listen to it now im just gonna rate it lkke a 2
Not my style per se, but easy listening. I’d have no problem putting this on in the background.
i like the concept but every song sounds the same which could be that's what every night at lucy's was like
I remember the excitement I felt when this came out... listening to it now it is still good, the Sheffield accent is still funny, but to me this is no longer a superb record. A nice collection of songs, some of which are really really good. But not a record I feel like is missing from my collection
Pretty sure I heard this album before when it came out but had forgotten about it. Inventive songs, catchy tunes, and good use of instrumentation make this a 4-star for me.
Kann man gut nebenbei hören, kann man auch lassen. Die Arctic Monkeys haben mich nie so sehr erreicht, wie andere Bands dieses Genres.
Absoluter Meilenstein und Blaupause für viele Kopien anderer Bands danach. Daneben natürlich auch absolut großartige Musik.
Habs jetzt nicht nochmal gehört, aber die 5/5 sollte klar sein. Tatsächlich auch eine der wenigen 2000-Platten, auf die mein Vater mich gebracht hat (neben den Debüts von Bloc Party und Does It Offend You, Yeah!).
Was soll ich hier sagen? Außer einem kurzen Hänger in der Geradlinigkeit des Albums, gibt es hier nichts dran auszusetzen.
Ich fand AM schon immer komplett langweilig und belanglos und dieses Album bestätigt den Eindruck nur. Es gibt wirklich nichts, was ich dem abgewinnen könnte. Das scheint selbst Spotify nicht anders zu sehen, ansonsten kann ich mir nicht erklären, warum "When the sun goes down" zumindest bei mir einfach durch eine absolut stumme Tonspur ersetzt wurde, von der ich nicht behaupten kann, dass es langweiliger als die eigentliche war. Fröhliche Weihachten!
Starkes Album, das einfach nur sehr viel Spaß macht. Kein Absolutes Meisterwerk aber es kratzt dran
What genre does this want to be when it grows up? A bit too on the punk nose for me at this point in time. Listened before? N Saved some tracks? Favorite tracks? San Francisco ⭐⭐ Didn't hate it. Didn't like it. Saved no tracks.
I liked it. I'll likely give this one another listen.
non il mio stile ma ben fatto
Solid album. Good band. Not my favorite.
it was so fucking good
Nunca tinha ouvido arctic monkeys, gostei. Deu-me vontade de me arranjar e ser melhor do que ontem
Back before Arctic Monkeys became the global phenomenon they are known for today, they were yet another thoughtful and interesting edition to the Garage Rock Revival movement of the 2000s. I personally don't see this album up there with The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, or even The White Stripes but I appreciate what Arctic Monkeys bring to the table as yet another project added to the very same-y pile that was this musical movement. The only real standouts for me are I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor which is still an utter bop and Mardy Bum, other than that this album was just solid and not a whole lot more. It is pretty standard and isn't even anything super out of the ordinary or special which really confuses me because of all the critical acclaim this album has gotten. It is pretty standard and that's about all I have to say! Nuff said.
I LOVE THIS ALBUM, THE PURE ENERGY AND BRITISH TEEN EXPERIENC3 IS PEAK ONG
Awwwwww hell yessssss This is already one of my favorite albums of all time. I can’t believe this is a debut album.
Very high energy and fun, but songs do blend into each other somewhat
Moody, captured the British swag of the time perfectly. Cutting lyrics and ironic song titles (Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong(?)). Some songs sound a bit samey after a while but a couple of bangers on here, overall enjoyable and one I'll probably return to
saved 13/13 songs the base ahhhhhhhhhh
This is possibly in my top 10 albums of all time, so raw, and meaningful at the time, “A certain romance” is an all time favourite- Alex Turner at his best - both lyrically and poetic - masterpiece 🤩
Really makes me think of my first gig with my dad and brother, good memories.
Very punk rock and up beat. Giving Marauders vibes off of the first song. Can see the grunge-esque kind of teenage rebellion in the songs. Makes me want to walk into a dim-lit bar and have a toxic relationship with a girl in a band. it’s youth and rebellion in an album!
pretty good! i rate it 7/10 just bc there are some parts that dont really suit me but overall good!
TREND ALERT : instrumental number the monkeys do be drumming that drum and strumming that guitar its definitely tea but its kinda not my cuppa tea music that can only exist in one era of the timeline i dont think this work aged like fine wine but i do get the appeal before if only i lived it who knows maybe i would’ve shoved this down my throat or ears rather.
i like
A Modern Masterpiece
I liked it, enjoyable
Just have a hard time getting into the Arctic Monkeys....
Another one that doesn’t do it for me.
8/10 This is a great debut. It’s full of energy, drive and pace, but they also do a good job of breaking things up now and again to stop things from getting too relentless. It’s way more punky than I was expecting, but there was plenty of rhythmic quality to it too, with Matt Helders on drums perhaps an underrated highlight of the record. It has a feel of something somewhere between Nirvana and Green Day in some respects, but dragged up through the streets of Sheffield and given a British rock sensibility to it. Alex Turner’s vocal style may not be for everyone, but part of that probably comes down to the fact that he actually sings in his own accent, something that is sorely lacking in modern music, with so many singers just singing in a very generic American-esque accent, regardless of where they’re from. He is weaker when he isn’t singing a more driven song, but when they're going for it, he’s really well suited to the music. There are some obvious highlights here, with the two singles and Mardy Bum particular standouts, but there’s not really much thats particularly weak across the whole album. It does occasionally become a tiny bit repetitive, and the intensity (particularly of the vocal) can become a little much from time to time, but they typically add decent amounts of dynamic shift or rhythmic breaks to let things breathe adequately, which is a decent achievement on an album where the majority of tracks clock in at under 3 minutes. While I don't think it’s entirely the most consistent album, and a few of the tracks don’t manage to quite connect as well as the best songs on the album, it’s a really solid collection of songs and hints at even stronger things to come. The View From The Afternoon - They come out of the blocks flying. There's great pace and attitude to this. They use some interesting rhythmic variations and changes here and there to give the song movement and life. It’s quirky and skittish in places and actually quite heavy in others. A great opener. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - And here comes the massive hit. It might have been overplayed at the time, but it’s one hell of a single. It’s got great swagger, a solid groove and a nice jangly/heavy dynamic change between the verse and chorus. It’s hook city and it’s full of attitude and drive. Excellent. Fake Tales Of San Francisco - This drops things back a bit from a pace point of view. Alex Turner kind of only has one level of delivery which is a bit aggressive for anything that’s not fairly balls out. This has got a decent groove to it, but it’s a little too repetitive and doesn’t manage to gather anything quite as hooky as the last couple of songs. It’s still not bad and the second half brings a nice dynamic switch to keep things moving along. Dancing Shoes - Things pick up again now. Great pace and a more consistent attitude. There are some solid riffs here and it’s got some nice rhythmic stop moments in there that break up the flow really nicely. Another decent one that just smashes its way through and refuses to stick around for long. You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me - And the pace jumps up again here. This is frantic and dives its way through various sections with reckless abandon. It doesn’t necessarily latch on to anything quite as hooky, but the vibe is solid and at just over 2 minutes, does what it does and gets out of the way. Still Take You Home - They are probably more punk than they get credit for. This is another that chips along, but they throw in more rhythmic breaks to prevent things from being too relentless. There's a quite funky little breakdown section in this one too. It just feels fairly chock full of ideas, which is pretty impressive for another sub-3-minute track. Riot Van - This gives us a bit of a pause from the frenetic energy of the album thus far, and Alex Turner actually reins in his aggressive delivery for the first time proper on the album. It’s quite melancholy and kind of pretty. A lovely little interlude. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured - There’s a solid groove to this, but it still has good drive too and ebbs and flows in intensity. It’s perhaps a little too repetitive with that main riff being a little too prominent for a little too long, but it’s not bad. Mardy Bum - They carry on a bit of that skittish groove here and the switch between the staccato verse and the legato chorus is really nice. It’s really upbeat and has some great melodic choices. It’s a really great pop composition that’s incredibly engaging. Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But.. - The snarling attitude is back. The verse is solid, if a little repetitive, but I really like the rhythmic approach to the chorus. The breakdown section is nice too and builds brilliantly. There’s an edge of Nirvana to it in some respects and then it does a great job of giving a driven, riff heavy ending. It’s a nice switch up to give a more instrumental lead in this one. When The Sun Goes Down - Another really great single. The intro doesn’t really give you a hint of what's about to come, but lulls you in and then you get that punch of riffs. Again, it’s hook city. They drop in little tempo breaks here and there that let you grab a breath and then punch in again. It's really powerful. The drumming on this one is so good, it’s just absolutely balls to the wall. And this is the perfect kind of song for Alex Turner’s voice too. Absolute quality. From The Ritz To The Rubble - We’re back into a bouncing, rolling rhythm here. Again, they throw in really good range for such a short song, a drop out, a build up back to a crescendo at the end. It’s not as consistent as the best songs on the album, with the build up perhaps taking up a bit too much of the runtime, but it’s still got real moments of quality in it. A Certain Romance - This is a bit of a meandering one that just roams about without having much of a central thread to tie it all together that well for me. It’s a shame, really, because it lacks the fire and drive of much of the rest of the album. It’s not bad, it’s just a little bit unfocused. It does improve as it builds towards the end, but it’s a bit of a limp over the line.
Could never live up to the hype I heard at the time it came out, but listening to it now, I like it far more
Classic