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

Classic

Pull up to the fuckin pub and vibe type shit.

Wordy, annoying, British album that feels longer than it is and thinks it is more clever than it is. Really overrated. Good drumming though.

Hört sich nach dem 2 Stück besser an. Es ist ein mal schauen album... Und es ist so diverseStücke die eher rockig sind. Kaufen ja.. weil Geil

Every track’s a banger, they never bettered this!

Rv/g

They were pretty good!

Fantastic debut.

Such a good album - one that I vividly remember from when I was younger, and from back when the Arctic Monkeys were really top of their game and actually good. Had a lot of fun relistening to this again.

A lot of energy but it doesn’t seem to go anywhere. The entire album sits in the same energy space.

If you give me my fav album from my teen, you get 5 stars.

A lot of nostalgia here for me.

Het summum van indierockhits. Maar voor mij geen kippenvelmuziek ofzo

Just love artic monkeys. Some notable songs were: - a view from the afternoon - I bet you look good on the dancefloor - riot van - mardy bum - when the sun goes down overall solid 8/10 for me

Enjoyed

Electric

En del af indie rock og post-punk revival i start 00'erne. Men det specielle ved arctic monkeys var at de ikke udgav det hele med det samme, men som en masse små demoer som blev udgivet på internetettet som folk downloadede og delte gratis. På den måde nåede albummet at blive populært inden det overhovedet blev udgivet. Handler meget om ungdom, byliv, social status osv. Det er virkelig sådan perfekt til en forfest for en flok unge mennesker. Der er fuld skrald på ikke en eneste skip tbh. Kan huske Markus' video fra roskilde fra 2021 tror jeg det er, havde you look good on the dancefloor som musik og det synes jeg var mega fedt. Havde kun hørt AM der så havde ikke hørt så meget af deres gamle.

It was fine, my favorite on the album "A Certain Romance."

On the first listen, I will admit I wasn't paying much attention so I wasn't able to grab a full grasp on the art of the album. However, with addictive and energetic, fast-paced tracks all throughout the alb with its few slower paced tracks, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" provides an enjoyable listening experience with a rebellious personality.

Favorite Song: A Certain Romance

Fun tracks but many sound very similar

This was one of the first cds I ever bought. I had good taste! It was all downhill for me after that, apparently. Strange to relisten and notice the trickles of influence that affected my own guitar playing even years afterward. That distorted scratching at the strings that unleashes into overdrive. Yeah, please give me more of that. A question I’ve had since the beginning with these guys is, they’re always singing about clubs and dancing, but this music is hardly something you’d hear played where people go to dance. I can see some head bobbing and mosh pitting, but dancing-shoe dancing, yeah I don’t know about that. What a weird disconnect. Crazy to see the Monkeys are still at it too. They played at the venue next door to me just last summer. I regret not going now.

I went out of my way to not get into these at the time...no idea why as i love the music and the lyrics are the right amount of punchy and funny

Not bad. I like the grungy feel. made me miss Artic Monkeys.

Solid album, I’d need to listen to it a couple more times to really develop an opinion on it though.

Geweldig album. In het verleden veel naar Arctic Monkeys geluisterd. Kende daarom het hele album op 2 liedjes na. Leuk om weer eens goed naar te luisteren

Arctic Monkey’s debut album is a good addition to the Alternative genre. Unfortunately, the majority of the songs from this album have the same sound & rhythm, my two standout songs were the ones who strayed from most of the album’s sound: “Riot Van” and “Mardy Bum.” Nevertheless I appreciate this album.

One of my top albums

already listened to this - great album but doesn’t even scratch top three arctic monkeys albums for me. i love the grittyness it still keeps compared to their more recent albums and it feels their most authentic sound compared to albums like AM

10/10 heard it a million times

Ya I feel this pero so weird that the 500 albums was arcade fire and this is arctic monkey play on alliteration

Not a fan when this came out and nothing has changed. Couldn't understand the appeal then and can't see it even more so now.

A product of its time. Its alright, a couple of songs which everyone will have heard and are pretty iconic but overplayed at this point. The rest all just sound like generic Arctic Monkeys songs.

Rating 8/10 really love the guitar work on the album

Nearly went with a 3, but pushed it to a 4. It's quite enjoyable.

Not my cup of tea

Dancing shoes is yum

Expected everything to sounds like the I wanna be your vacuum cleaner song and it didn’t! Pleasantly surprised

I’ve heard a lot about this one. I know the history about the album cover and such, and I know a lot about the Arctic Monkeys, but the only album I’ve listened to by them has been AM. The opening few seconds of Whatever People Say I Am album is really good, with some fun drums leading to a catchy riff and a great bass line. Emphasizing bass in a song is something I really love so I already liked this. But, I will say that, in its whole, The View from the Afternoon is a bit of an odd choice for an opener. It has that pause in the middle, which really slows things down, whereas initially the track seems to be going for a more energetic, punchy feel. It’s not a bad song, it’s just an odd choice in the listing as a whole that I feel wasn’t a good choice. The second song, I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, has a surprising punk opening. The first few seconds definitely sound like something out of Nevermind or maybe even a Minor Threat song, though the rest of it does slow down a bit. The third song, Fake Tales of San Francisco, continues the energy of the first two songs. It also has a really great storytelling aspect—which is something that’s pretty common throughout a lot the songs. The lyrics are really well-written. The build-up and sharp change in volume at the end of the song is also impressive. It’s the first truly dynamic part of the album. Dancing Shoes is also really good. It continues the energy with the lyrics, fun drums, and guitar solo. I actually think this would’ve been the perfect opener. It literally starts with a pop punk riff then goes “put on your dance shoes.” The melody on You Probably Couldn’t See is amazing, especially during the opening part where it has a layered sound to it. The riff on Still Take You Home is amazing. The opening sounds a lot like Dead Kennedys. They definitely wear their influences on their sleeves—the vocals are Jack White, the lyrics are The Strokes, and the guitar is a blend of punk and Brit pop, expressed through a garage rock edge. This album is an interesting bit of musical history, even without accounting for how they changed the way fanbases are built. Marduk Bum is pretty good. The riff is very addictive and adds a good amount of depth. The buildup with the drums and then the release into a solo-ish part that acts as a mirror for the riff is impressive and well-executed. Perhaps Vampires… has a very obvious Sonic Youth influence. Parts of it sound right out of Goo or Dirty. As it’s their debut, I guess they do lean pretty heavily on the specific sounds of bands that were inspirations for them—which is a very smart thing to do on a debut, when you’re not fully formed, but it also causes them to sound…well, not fully formed. They also definitely sound a bit like a British Fall Out Boy at times. I haven’t actually listened to Grand Theft Autumn, and if FOB did inspire Arctic Monkeys it would likely primarily be through that because that was 2003, but it does definitely sound a lot like From Under the Cork Tree, which came out the previous year—the lyrics about dancing and romance, the long song titles, the vocal edge, the pop punk-inspired riffs. From the Ritz uses dual guitars really well. That’s something that’s pretty consistent throughout the album, in fact—there’s a lot of great layered and call-and-response guitar parts that add a lot of interesting elements to the song. A Certain Romance is great. The opening drums are so fun, and the guitar riff made me want to look up the tabs. It also has this almost ska rhythm to parts of it that’s just really creatively done. And the ending is instrumental part is amazing. Recap: Favorite songs: Dancing Shoes, A Certain Romance Least favorite song: The View from the Afternoon Comparisons/Similar albums: Goo, Dirty, White Blood Cells, Nevermind, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?, From Under the Cork Tree, Is This It Rating: 3/5

I will say that I'm generally lukewarm on Arctic Monkeys, but I enjoyed their debut here more than I expected to. While I mostly know Arctic Monkeys from the smooth, accessible alt/rock sound of AM, I did find some older stuff of theirs I like, in particular Brian Storm, which captures a fun, youthful, almost pop-punk energy that I just don't think their more recent work has. And I am pleased to announce that Whatever People Say I Am... is more like this older song. It feels fun, youthful and energetic, with songwriting to back the vibes up. I do think this album generally works best on its highest energy songs though, where it almost functions as particularly accessible punk. Some of the mid-tempo songs just don't do it as much for me. And while I'm talking negatives, the lyrics were kind of hit or miss for me. That being said, it doesn't put too much of a damper on things. Whatever People Say manages to be a pretty great time, even though it's by a band I don't love. And even if I'm not *convinced* that this is essential 2000s rock: it doesn't have to be. Arctic Monkeys throw a good enough indie weekend party that I can't really complain that they didn't move any mountains while doing so.

Good debut album, good sound, good vibe. Fun to listen to. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor makes sense as a hit

Raucous and rollicking energy. Things slow down a little later on. You can hear the influences. I can see why people enjoy this, a solid production. The vocal stylings become repetitive, which is not uncommon with this style of music.

N-a

More noise pretending to be deep and meaningful

probably would have liked this better when it came out.

I didn’t know artic monkey got like that. Fake tales of San Francisco is a fave so far

My world wasn’t shifted by it yanno

they've put horny in the water in the 2000s it seems extremely adolescent as expected from adolescent musicians gave me a headache/10

CLASSIC ALEXA MARDY BUMMMM

4.5

I wasn't super impressed with the first half of this album, but the downshift to Riot Van and Red Light began what I was hoping to hear all along. Their slower, more melodic songs are great, but the high energy/fast songs of theirs all just sound like they're playing fast for the sake of playing fast ⭐⭐⭐.75

Sounded the same after 3 songs. Top song- you look good on the dance floor

Musically, I'm digging it. The vocals, though... hate 'em.

8/10 Favorites: The View From The Afternoon I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor From The Ritz To The Rubble

Bloody brilliant rock

I bet we'd all look good on the dance floor

Brillant lyrics and some banging tunes to boot

Sit down. Crack a beer. And get schooled in songwriting by Alex Turner. Is there anyone else in indie (or even outside the songer/songwriter genre) who can engage you so totally in the lyrics that the music, as good as it is, is almost forgotten. Genius.

I think I liked this more back in the day than I do now - its lustre has faded somewhat over the years for me. Still good, but there are a weaker tracks on it that drag it down a bit.

Pretty solid post punk, not eccentric enough I guess

Listen, I understand how important this album is in the wider context but it's just not for me.

Bottled youth

Enjoyed it thoroughly

I generally like Arctic Monkeys when their music passes through me like neutrinos. I am as equally ultimately unaffacted after, but I'm like, that was kinda cool. They have excellent song titles.

It’s very British, beyond just the singer’s heavy Yorkshire accent, with echoes of Britpop's lad culture and even punk before it. The singer is a clever lyricist with a good flow, and the band is high energy and tight, but the music itself is not terribly varied. I like this, but I have a sense it captures a time, feeling and scene that passed me by.

Liked this more than I thought

Had heard this when it was new and the Next Big Thing. It's fine but doesn't really stick with me or make me curious about the rest of their catalog.

I listened to this album in April 2025 and gave it 2.9/5

This was just OK. Didn’t speak to me. Surprised it’s regarded as so great.

Oh my god they’re like lame fall out boy…

10/10 no skip album Consistent energy from start to finish and when the energy does drop (pretty much Riot Van) it’s very much welcomed I wish when I was 18 I could’ve written these songs Also deffo gets extra points for having Steve Bracknell on the cover

fucking fire

2.54

The mid 2000s had a whole spate of British dance rock (is that a thing?) bands like this. Some of them I feel are indistinguishable. I like this music though I don't feel like it will really hold up past the next few years, indeed it has been waning for years now. Interestingly it cropped up around the same time as the stomp, clap, hey! bands that were thankfully short-lived. Not sure why that's significant but it seemed appropriate to mention. I like this album - the band is super tight. Drums are great, though they are kind of dry and I wish they sounded a little fuller. Good guitars, great bass. Vocals are decent, though not the best. This is a hard one for me to rate because it is definitely not a 4 star album for me but I feel like 3 stars is a bit of a disservice. It's better than that. I'd give this a solid 3.6 and I suppose I have to round that up.

Something about Arctic Monkeys just doesn't do it for me. After one song I get the shtick, sounds like heavy music for people who don't listen to heavy music.

Another absolute stormer of a debut. I actually saw them in Barcelona in 2006 when they were touring this. “Electric” doesn’t come close to describing the live experience but it was very representative of the album - it crackles with youthful energy but they sound so tight at the same time. Like everyone I have favourites ( Maddy bum, a certain romance) but there are really any weak notes and you’re carried along on a wave of energy from start to finish. Who the fuck are the arctic monkeys anyway?

It was fine? Nothing really stuck out to me except the dance floor song, and that's mostly because I heard it a bunch when it first came out. I suppose the best part of this album is that I woke up this morning with my mind playing "I wish that you looked good on the dance floor... ", so that's kind of amusing.

i liked the sound of the opener, the vocals and tempo were interesting and varied enough to keep my attention, though i didn’t care for the lyrics. the rest of the album blended together in an irritating background noise and i was just waiting for it to end. 2/5 just because at least i liked one song.

fun, rhythmic, some great hooks, sometimes gets a bit too loud and repetitive

they suck so bad idk why people like them

2006. This is a rocking dance punk album that has a lineup of hits. Perfect to get you going

Decent throughout but it is all kinda samey. 3.5 ish but will give 4 because I'd rather listen to this than a 3 star album

Fake Tales of San Francisco, Mardy Bum, and Red Light Indicates stood out. Overall solid album.

I didn't want to like this, but it's pretty rockin'.

Great groove throughout the album. I can hear how the Arctic Monkeys influenced alt rock.

I love albums that launch out of the gate as this one does with The View From the Afternoon, loving the vibe of it. Red Light Indicates... reminds me of White Stripes in the best ways. Overall the album was pretty consistently good. Best track is When the Sun Goes Down. A fun listen.

Better than expected but songs were too similar. Loved the long song titles.

YUMMYYYY

One of the few bands / artists that I have liked in the past 20 years

Jive Bunny for indie pop. Cherry-picked highlights stolen from 5 years of indie and mashed into over-produced radio friendly slop. Clearly they can play their instruments but their art is forgettable marketing dross.

Favorite track(s): Frankly they all sound so similar that I couldn't distinguish one from any other

I’ve heard the hits- let’s try the whole debut album. Yeah it’s alright. The vocalist seems to be a bit of a one trick pony. Lyrically it’s a bit tedious for me as well- all tales of English juvenile delinquency. It’s fine. THREE STARS

Much better than I thought it was going to be. I always associated this album with the indie sound of the time coming from The Kooks and Razorlight. Particularly liked 'Perhaps Vampires is a bit strong but..' although there were no real duds.

Heard of band not the album. View from the afternoon is a really good start. Great guitar, catchy lyrics. Very British. Cool switch up in the middle. Find myself nodding along. Dance floor is super catchy. Very early 200s pop rock. Great song writing. Honestly wish it was longer. Love the guitar riff on fake tales. This song is really good. Love how it continues to build up as the song goes along. Again, wish it was longer. Not as much of a fan of dancing shoes, a little cheesy lyrics wise. Good guitar solo. “You probably” is fun. Good not great. The song writing throughout the album is really good, I love the story telling. You know nothing is so fun. Song you want to sing along to. Riot van is more of the same in the best way. Red light has the best guitar of any song so far. Not sure how I feel abt the tuning on the vocals but song is really good. More really good song writing on Mardy bum. Don’t know what that means though. Perhaps is pretty good, nothing special. Sweet outro. When the sun goes down is another fun song. Catchy chorus. Awesome bass line on Ritz. Simple guitar but works so well. Songwriting is great as it has been the whole album. Such a good song. Another great bass line on certain romance. Great music, more great songwriting. 5.5 minute outro rocks. Guitar solo in the middle is good as well. This album just kept getting better as I listened to more, and the same can be said for the last song. Banger, great way to close it out. Will have to to listen again soon. 3.7 stars, could end up going up on second listen.

Arctic Monkeys don’t quite rock hard enough for me to like them as a rock band, and they don’t have the kind of melodies that please the pop part of my brain, which is a shame as they’re charismatic, distinctive, and I’m a fan of how the regional accent is up front and centre and the lyrical here-and-now of the everyday/everynight. I like their brevity. I’ve tried them before, I’ll probably try them again as there’s a lot of good here; there’s a sense of their finding a mode and getting stuck in it.

I am quite familiar with this, surprisingly not because I was really big into the MySpace scene.. No, my eldest is a huge AM fan, and I enjoy the chance to explain highlights of the English vernacular and the subtle (or not-so-subtle) differences between a Yorkshire, a Lancashire and a "London" accent. "Go a bit Frank Spencer"; "lairy girls"; "mardy bum"; "trackky bottoms" all fine educational material. It's pretty good, for my ears the best of the "older brother probably had a Gang of Four record" mob from this era. "Fake Tales of San Francisco" is the highlight - "the band were fucking wank"; "Hunter's Bar"; "Rotherham" advanced level dialectology. She'd rate it a 5, their best; I'm not fully convinced

C'est ce qu'on entendait quand j'avais 17 ans, donc on devrait adorer. mais non..

Amazing album and what a debut! I love the mood and style the Arctic Monkeys use when writing their songs. The album alternates between very fast-paced tracks and slower, more melodic ones, and it does so in a masterful way.

The Arctic Monkeys's debut is a rare paradigm for rock music that's also + before anything else dance music, thanks to Alex Turner's rhythmic sense and funky locution along with Matt Helders's catchy drumming. 'Get off the bandwagon and put down the handbook'; 'Get on your dancing shoes / You sexy little swine.' This means that the band doesn't really give a shit about melodies, and this elision of melody often smacks of a crutch rather than an innovation, but these songs get you off your ass in a real way. Even at their aberrantly contemplative, Turner is the voice of fun and the wisdom to omit all seriousness: 'Oh, those silly boys in blue / Well, they won't catch me and you.' I prefer The Libertines's self-titled second, but this survives.

This is what listening to "classic" albums is about for me. In listening to this album, I developed an appreciation for rock music. I understand from other criticism that WPSIAM isn't the most complex or creative music but that's what makes it easier for a rock newbie to digest. The core elements are all here and executed well - catchy guitar riffs and bass lines, excellent drums that keep you on your toes and of course packages the relatable lyrics through Alex Turner's unique vocals. My first listen through my thoughts were "yep that's the Arctic Monkeys". It was my second listen through with more attention to the lyrics that it resonated with me. I was born in Northern England but moved to Australia when I was young and this album provided a glimpse into what could have been my life - drinking, partying, picking up women (sometimes unsuccessfully) and unsavoury characters. It sounds bleak, and maybe it is, but it pulls at a part of me that yearns to head down the local with the lads and just be an idiot. I like this album but I don't think it is exceptional: 7.5/10

This seemed pretty good to me. One in my listening group really loved it. Best track was From The Ritz To The Rubble IMHO. I thought the clean guitar sound didn't age super well - it's a bit Strokes-ripoff also. Anyway overall this was pretty fun and sounds great and was actually a bit of a surprise to me - I knew of this band and never dug in before.

You can tell the singer just loves the sound of his own (mediocre) voice.....if he could actually sing this would actually have been pretty awesome, but it was so distracting

Never gave this album a chance until today. It’s really good the drums are 🔥

144/1001 Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ Pure nostalgia for my college days this. An album we'd play when sneaking off to the park with a 2l bottle of Strongbow in our lunch break. I don't listen to it often now, but because of it, I appreciate it even more. The wry lyricism, the catchy hooks, it captures life so well.

6/10… garage rock / post punk / *2006

This is one of the very best debuts ever recorded. Alex Turner is an extraordinary song writer and hit the ground running here, and backed by Matt Helders’ drumming this makes for an incredibly powerful and clever album. There’s barely a misstep here, perhaps the harshest criticism can be levelled at the guitar leads which tend to be very simple boxy pentatonics, but other than that this is brilliant. The hype it had, and I remember it as I was there, was fully deserved.

Ugh, I want to like this more than I do, i just can't stand the noise. "Perhaps Vampires..." is a great example where i love the middle of the song but I have no desire to listen to this again because it just becomes noise. I love "Dancing Shoes" "still take you home" "riot van" "Mardy bum" and "A certain romance" but i don't really see myself coming back to this album much. Which I could give half starts

Love love love Beste sang: when the sun goes down

Fav song: Riot Van Good production and awesome debut for one of the biggest indie bands on the planet. Definitely a product of its time and I find it hard to see past the 'me and the lads are cooler than you' aesthetic now I'm in my 30s, but I'd wager they probably feel the same way too.

Teenage classic. Still sounds so good. Some bum songs on it but the highs are high enough to carry it through. Amazing this isn’t their best album. Animal of a drummer.

Reconheço várias músicas, mas nunca foi meu álbum preferido deles, apesar de gostar!

Nice album! My gen

Largely irresistible if a bit dated

A brash, snarling leer of an album, full of piss and vinegar. I remember seeing these guys open for The Black Keys and it should have been the other way around. Not a whole lot of variation, lyrically, but it doesn't matter with songs as tight and focused as these. The spirit of punk was alive and well on this album

Cant be objective here because I've listened to this one countless times and the hooks are burned onto my subconscious. One of the finest indie rock albums of the 21st century. Alex Turner and co bringing the Strokes-esque swagger, before they went massive with AM or faded back into obscurity with the current lounge lizard act (which actually is kind of good.) Just incredibly punchy tunes, sleazy Yorkshire delivery, super memorable lyrics. Remember seeing these guys opening for the Black Keys in like 2012 and the Monkeys made much more of an impression on me. The percussion on this record particularly deserves a lot of credit, driving beats and excellent fills

Aunque este album no sea mi favorito de los monkeys es una buenisima introducción a su estilo, hace mucho no lo escuchaba y me gusto volver. When The Sun Goes Down fue mi cancion favorita muchisimo tiempo, le tengo cariño al album y es bastante iconico Mis favs desde siempre: From The Ritz, When The Sun Goes Down, Mardy Bum

Hear me out: el grupo más importante de nuestra generación. Muchos nos volvimos indies con AM, pero yo siempre digo que sus primeros discos están muy infravalorados y este no es una excepción. Además de los absolutos bangers que hasta mi padre conoce (I bet, Dancing Shoes, Mardy Bum) en este album hay otras joyas que para ser 2006 suenan muy 2010s, seguramente porque ellos marcaron la tendencia de cómo iban a sonar todos los indies-rockers de la siguiente década. Favs: Todas me han gustado en algún momento de mi adolescencia.

Uno de los primeros álbumes que me ayudaron a expandir mi gusto musical. Literal que hasta 2015 escuchaba solo EDM lol, y por esta época me pasé al indie rock y al rock alternativo (gracias bangers de los PPVs de WWE) No es mi fav de Arctic Monkeys pero tiene algunas de las canciones más icónicas de los ingleses. Sentó el precedente de la identidad de la banda para el resto de álbumes y la verdad es que vuelvo mucho a él. No me esperaba que salieran en este challenge pero es cierto que son verdaderamente imprescindibles en el siglo XXI. Favs: The View from the Afternoon, Fake Tales of San Francisco, When the Sun Goes Down, A Certain Romance

Good album. Love AM, but this isn't my favourite.

I am biased because Arctic Monkeys are pretty high on my list but yeah what's not to love? I'll be fair and give it a 4 because I don't think it's their best album.

One of the few albums so far that I actually knew pretty well. These songs absolutely rip. Takes me back to my iPod days

Some good licks in here and overall a good upbeat vibe. I'm more partial to pre 2000s rock but this was a fun listen.

Not my bag. But can appreciate it

Maybe I could enjoy this album more if the title was longer, because right now I feel it's a bit short. And also if music could also be a bit more generic it would please me greatly.

it’s so easy to like this album

Their debut album. Indie / Rock. What a debut ! One of the best debut albums of all time ! I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Fake Tales Of San Francisco, Mary Bum, From Ritz To Rubble, all bangers ! The best of British Indie Rock. Lyrically brilliant, musically superb. An album you can dance and sing along to. A real energetic masterpiece of an album !

I LOVE ARCTIC MONKEY!!

Just brilliant

Normy-core rock pablum. There's nothing here that hasn't been done waaay better before

Great trip through memory lane. Lots of bangers

Liked this more than I expected to. Not enough that I’ll probably ever listen to it again, but I never wanted to turn it off or skip songs.

Pretty great album. I had heard the arctic monkeys before but never took the time to listen a full album. Grit, angst, with some swaggering vocals and good rhythms.

symaptoche

Yay

L’album sonne comme des vêtements qui puent la clope et la bière en lendemain de soirée (depuis laquelle tu ne te souviens même plus comment t’es rentrée)

I like a few Arctic Monkeys songs but hadn't listened to much. Only a couple songs grabbed me here

Slaps. Favs: Idk they all slap.

Amazing record front to back. Danceable, headbanging, rock done right. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured is one of my favorite songs ever and I don't even know if it's objectively the best song on this album. 5.2 outta 5

Highly enjoyable rock album. I think I like their other albums a tiny bit better, but this was still great

Can't get past the "singing"...

great background noise. Nothing catching, somehow easy to get through my readings while the band plays through

I have a few Artic Monkeys songs on my favorite list but none from this album. It's okay, nothing really stood out.

Would like to give this a 4.5 - good songs but it does sound very 2006 but maybe that is because of my nostalgia too - still good I really like this

I love this album. I bought it when it came out after seeing the music video for I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor simply because the song was good and the band was the Arctic Monkeys, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. Their high energy London indie vibe resonates along with the narrative of getting into trouble in the underground. Then you get Marty Bum and Riot Van, which break up the tempo and tell very real stories of no win situations that the narrator caused. Then it closes with A Certain Romance, which serves as a perfect reflection of a 20 year olds level of cynicism. It’s a wonderful tribute to ruffians getting their comeuppance without a sense of self reflection. Plus, the guitar and bass are spectacular!

H: this was the definition of mid. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either. There wasn’t anything to get excited about or want to listen to ever again. 4/10 H fav song: A Certain Romance Z: I’m thinking this early 2000s alternative rock genre just isn’t for me. Nothing quite special about this one— fuzzy vocals and loud noises. 6/10 Z fav song: Mardy Bum

Boring, through & through

Like stumbling into a packed club just as the lights flare and the floor starts to shake, this indie rock album hits with sharp, fast-paced guitar riffs, tight bass lines, and pounding drums bursting with nervous, garage-rock energy; the vocals, quick and sneering, half-sung and half-spat, ride over lyrics steeped in nightlife bravado and social awkwardness—then, just as suddenly, it’s over, leaving your pulse still racing in the afterglow.

I really enjoyed this, annoyingly. Back when this was new the world was drowning in these guys. Despite having great catchy songs we all got so sick of hearing them everywhere that it fostered annoyance and dislike. Now, with time passed since then, it appears I like them again. This stuff is so catchy and cheery sounding, it's impossible to not tap a foot or give in to some air drumming. I wonder how popular they are outside of the UK because they sound so deliciously British I figure they might encounter issues with it elsewhere.

I liked the voice but no really a big fan

очень хорошо

Yeeaahh, Arctic Monkeys. Debut studio album. It's solid, but mostly plain. I think it's a little outdated now. A lot of songs sound like Arctic Monkeys songs, not much expression and uniqueness in these songs, just the regular Arctic Monkeys sound. 3/5 —————————————— Liked: — I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor — Mardy Bum — Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...

It’s always fun seeing how a band has evolved when you listen to their older stuff. Really fun listen, has a great raw energy to it that I enjoyed a lot. Best Track: From The Ritz To The Rubble

A mediocre british rock album, and another one that was relatively same-y. I probably would have enjoyed this back when I was in middle school but now its just not my taste

Such a fun listen … good intro to a band

Garage/indie rock. Angular chord progessions amidst more standard power chord riffs. And characteristic vocals. Not bad actually. The style is decent and doesnt get old, but not overwhelmingly good. Best track - The View From The Afternoon, Fake Tales of San Francisco, Red Lights..., When The Sun Goes Down 3-4 stars

Just a perfect debut. It might be a 4 objectively but ultimately none of this is supposed to be objective. So nostalgia and sentiment make it perfect.

Now this was interesting. I was expecting quirky alternative spoken word music but this actually rocked. Maneskin definitely influenced by these guys. Absolutely intrigued and want to listen to this again. Really cool stuff here. Certainly not something I’d put in at a party and get everyone into it - it is niche. Jim Carey voice - “I like it a lot.”

4.5

Didn't know the arctic monkeys were cool (pun intended)

Like a thps exclusive band.

fun!

No es mi estilo

It's full of energy

Such a competent debut. AM might have better songs but this is a better album.

This just rips. One of those bands where I can't find a weak link. I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor and Vampires are all timers.

gitaar herrie, soms lekker

Felt very nostalgic

First time I really listened to them…fantastic!!! Great rock and roll music…my new favorite

Yeah, that's pretty cool.

Fun album start to finish

They're not a favorite of mine and I don't follow them but I do like their music and style. I've seen them a couple times, they bring it and are fun. I believe I have heard this album in full before. Very good. would not expect this one to be on a list like this. I want to give it a 4-star but I know the 4-stars and I personally don't think it;s that level. IMO

curti curti não dá para errar com artic

Really cool guitar rock with a strong English strain. Kind of like if the Kinks never shed their American influences and discovered punk.

I don’t mind the Arctic Monkeys and this was fairly solid. Don’t know if it’s their best album, based on Spotify listens it looks like it’s AM (I definitely know more songs off AM). For a debut it’s pretty good and showcases Arctic Monkeys’ unique sound, particularly their unique vocals. Fookin ‘ell.

The best Brit pop album in my opinion. Completely original, fantastic songs.

This was good

I'd almost like to hate on this album, but I honestly can't. Such power, it was a breeze of fresh cold air blowing away any stagnation. Despite how pop it was, I still believe it's a masterfully written album.

Great

not bad, but mostly for 1 song.

I really enjoyed the album, despite not checking the names of tracks as they stood out to me. I think they have a great sound that is distinct. The album gelled well from song to song.

Peak high school nostalgia. The record I probably came closest to knowing how to play front-to-back on the guitar. Admittedly, now that I’m more music literate, it issssss a bit “watered down punk”. But, to a teenager who didn’t know better, this was as rebellious and snarky as music got.

On paper I should really like this album but in practice it just didn't do a lot for me. It was fun and fast paced but it just kind of went by in a blur. It felt like waking up the morning after getting pissed on a grimy British pub-crawl, which is the intent I'm sure. Favorite tracks were probably the first two "The View From The Afternoon," "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" and "From The Ritz To The Rubble." It's a solid debut album, just didn't resonate much with me. Not the best but not bad, a solid 3.5 for me.

Aldrig riktigt lyssnat på AM. Det är inte riktigt min kopp te i rockgenren, men det är faktiskt tillräckligt bra/roligt/varierande för att ändå få en fyra. Så positivt överraskad.

Önskar att jag tyckte detta var bättre än vad jag faktiskt gör. Vet inte vad det är, men det resonerar inte riktigt med mig, trots att det hörs tydligt att det är ett band med kvaliteter. Det är absolut inte dåligt, men inget sticker heller ut som särskilt bra, inte ens singlarna. Det saknas hits helt enkelt och jag har svårt att plocka ut en favoritlåt. Typisk trea.

Good times

3.5.

Ahh, yes, there are some absolute bangers on this one. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor gives me goosebumps and When The Sun Goes Down is great for a singalong in a rubbish Sheffield accent. Alex Turner’s lyrics are fantastic, hard to believe he was so young when this came out. Slightly too long and a few too many generic AM sounding tracks brings it down to a 4

I really enjoyed the garage rock revival. I see why people like this band.

No notes. Favorite song "When The Sun Goes Down" 5/5 just cause it's not a 4/5

This is such a funny (and phenomenal) record when you know their whole discography. Alex stays within such a lane but the music is so brash and loud. As he got more confident, controlled and styled but bigger - so did the band but they got quieter. And one of the great rock singles of this century.

At first I thought it was... fine. Sort of whatever. But it grew on me. It has an energy that their later music lacks. But with good playing. I found myself listening again.

3.5/5

Arctic monkeys, ik ken deze band! Dit is echt een goede week met interessante muziek, ook al zijn we nog niet boven de 4 sterren uitgekomen. Mijn god, het tempo ligt wel echt hoog op dit album. 1 seconde niet opletten en we zijn voor mijn gevoel al 4 nummers verder, maar eerlijk? Ik vibe het wel! Dit is nou gewoon lekkere rock als je het mij vraagt! Het valt me op dat de melodieuze stukken zo vet zijn hier, het is allemaal heel dansbaar en loopt lekker door. De zang irriteert me niet, maar springt er ook niet heel erg uit. Voor mij is de band het duidelijke hoogtepunt van dit album. Heeeeerlijk ook die drumsolo bij Vampires is a bit strong... A certain Romance is ook nog eens een heerlijke afsluiter. Ja dit was echt een goed album, ijzersterk begin, midden kakt het een beetje in voor mij en een ijzersterk slot; een soort gekke hamburger waar de broodjes de beste onderdelen zijn zegmaar. Genoten! En absoluut 4 sterren waard, deze had ik niet aan zien komen eerlijk gezegd! FAVO: I bet you look good on the dancefloor, Dancing Shoes, Vampires is a bit strong... , When the sun goes down, A certain romance

Oh my god, so excited to see Arctic Monkeys here. I've never heard their first album, and I think it's not so much for me, but I enjoyed knowing where they come from.

too clever and weird pace. relax. its like if the strokes were not cool but were anxious and twitchy.

(Genre = Punk and Indie Rock) 1. The View From The Afternoon - 9/10 2. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - 8/10 3. Fake Tales of San Francisco - 7/10 4. Dancing Shoes - 7/10 5. You Probably Couldn’t See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me - 7/10 6. Still Take You Home - 6/10 7. Riot Van - 8/10 8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured - 6/10 9. Mardy Bum - 10/10 10. Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..... - 5/10 11. When The Sun Goes Down - 9/10 12. From The Ritz To The Rubble - 7/10 13. A Certain Romance - 9/10 (Album Rating = 7/10) I absolutely love the Arctic Monkeys, but I prefer their more recent work in comparison to this album. Loving the rock elements throughout this album, and how each song sounds very different from the next. Glad I was recommended this album as I have added a few songs to my playlists and would probably listen to this album again!

I didn't want to listen to it but it was a nostalgic banger and I didn't realise how many songs I actually knew

Prefer Favourite Worst Nightmare but I’ll never get sick of this

Not what I thought. I expected emotion, got punk-tinged snarl rock. Which is better! Clearly I haven’t really listened to Arctic Monkeys.

The View From the Afternoon: fun song, got me excited to hear the rest of the album. random ska break *I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor: really good song, stupid catchy. wish it had a little more grit maybe but that's not a negative, just personal preference. it definitely has a vibe and a presence regardless *Fake Tales Of San Francisco: enjoyed this one a lot. I feel like I don't have a lot to say about these tracks because they're not particularly unique, they just do this sound really well *Dancing Shoes: high energy, aptly titled. reminds me of Bloc Party which tracks since this was around the same time *You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me: Fall Out Boy ass title. random comparison but this reminds me so much of a specific song by The Bobby Lees, maybe Dig Your Hips? love the parts where the guitars kick in full blast, had me bobbing my head along for sure *Still Take You Home: pretty similar to the last song so I also like it (maybe a little better), but they're basically interchangeable Riot Van: feels like an interlude, nice to have a little break but nothing special to me *Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured: the bass line/guitar riff during the verses fuckin rocks. love the bridge too. great song *Mardy Bum: this is fantastic honestly. sometimes a song just has some unidentifiable thing that makes it feel like a classic and this has that to me *Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...: they cranked up the distortion on this one (thank God). the build during the instrumental break goes crazy, I wanted them to keep at it for like two more full minutes. *When The Sun Goes Down: that guitar riff is such ear candy. thought it would be kind of a snoozer from the start but it's energy on energy on energy. love this one *From The Ritz To The Rubble: chorus is massiveeeeeee, fuzzy dance-y punk-y goodness. I keep expecting to find some filler but it's truly all killer straight through A Certain Romance: love that twinkly guitar tone. has a bit of a ska feel again with the guitar plucks on the upbeats. glad it has a big payoff towards the end because aside from that it's a bit whelming for an album closer this album is pretty much set up to win by being post-2000's indie rock which is not only my bread but my butter as well, whereas everything else has been stuff I wouldn't have listened to on my own. I guess you could call this a zero skip album since it's consistently solid throughout even though not much of it is remarkable. the couple songs I didn't save were still good, but I'm okay just hearing them if I decide to spin the entire record (which I probably will). also the vocalist sounds like a douchebag but that's par for the course with all these rock albums __ SCORE: 7/10 ADDED TO PLAYLIST: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Dancing Shoes, 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, Mardy Bum, Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..., When The Sun Goes Down, From The Ritz To The Rubble

I was not familiar with early Arctic Monkeys. I like this so much more than their later stuff. The raw emotion is still there but there’s an edge in this early stuff that just isn’t there on AM.

(4.75) so so good an insane debut album

Bravo pour les souvenirs

Completely listenable. Good instrumentals, unremarkable lyrics.

👍👍

Dope

I remember the excitement around the time I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor came out. Everything I've heard since from then is a diluted version of this. A couple of other songs on the album are OK but nothing is on the same level. The artistic progression to a 70s lounge act and continuing popularity in America also seems hard to explain I don't see any reason why I'll be looking to return to this.

This is making me realize that I've never heard an Arctic Monkeys song in full, let alone a full album, before this. They're like The Strokes but less fuzzy and more fun. More than anything else, this album is a damn fun time. Not particularly deep, but I'm scared of the idea of the cross-eyed guy smoking a cigarette on the cover making deep music, so it's fine. I guess he's no longer cross-eyed or smoking because I said he is, and whatever I say he is is what he isn't. Anyways, the music. Good fun, I really like the majority of the tracks. This band seems pretty good to throw in a party mix of some kind. Much like party music, I started to tune it out at some points, though.

No do not like this band

It's a good album for sure, especially for a debut, but it just feels overhyped. Arctic Monkeys was such a big deal when I was a kid (made some of you feel old huh?) but I never really got into them. Is it good? Absolutely. But it's not five stars.

This album is the best for its genre. I enjoyed this album when it was released, and I enjoy it probably even more now. Every song is a banger, and no song feels out of order on this album. Amazingly, the concise 41 minutes of music never overstays its welcome. A perfect 5 out of 7.

A personal favorite, with a ton of replayability.

scho vorher kennt und isch halt scho as guats album - mängmol hätt ma d songs aber fast scho zu oft ghört

1. The View From The Afternoon - 6 Great guitar sound with some excellent drums but they drown the lyrics out a bit and the song seems to stutter stop twice which makes it hard to really get into and enjoy it fully. 2. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - 10 Brilliant track. Lyrics are so metaphoric with so many references before a brilliant chorus. The guitar riffs are supreme and are all underpinned by a brilliant drum that is willing to both set pace and roll the song in and out of the next part. 3. Fake Tales of San Francisco - 7 Great instrumental sound. At times the lyrics are excellent and at times they are too repetitive. Still a very enjoyable track. 4. Dancing Shoes - 6 It's an alright track. Nothing overly to rave about but still enjoyable. Right in line with The View From The Afternoon. 5. You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me - 4 Average track. It's not lyrically poor but it's just a snoozer of a track. Definitely one to pass over on the album. 6. Still Take You Home - 7 Very fast track but with a good sound. The lyrics brush up against being too fast to comprehend but they never actually go over the line of becoming incomprehensible. Enjoyable song. 7. Riot Van - 6 Lyrically it's very good. Lot slower a song and it's very much a rebellious youth kind of track. Not bad but not the best thing on the album. 8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured - 7 It's a decent track. Right in line with The View From The Afternoon and Dancing Shoes. I am a huge fan of the bass on this track, which I feel elevates the track a little bit more. 9. Mardy Bum - 9 Very good song. Love the lyrics and I feel like the instruments guide the track well, even through the slowing more calming bridge into the outro. 10. Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... - 8 Good track. Love how the vocals have given way to the instruments which have so much space to just continue on and they do so very well into about two to three different directions. 11. When The Sun Goes Down - 11 The line about Roxanne is absolutely brilliant. Overall, this is a supremely well written track. The instruments and intro so absolutely fantastically as well. 12. From The Ritz To The Rubble - 6 Good track with a good sound. Lyrically I find the track hard to follow a little, which is the intention but it hasn't done anything to up my enjoyment of the track. 13. A Certain Romance - 11 Incredible tack. Instrumentally it's a masterpiece. Lyrically it's incredibly strong. If you've ever been through a hard breakup, you've listened to and maybe even cried to this track. It's an instant classic. Best track on the album by far. Average Rating: 7.54 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 3.77 Rounded Up: 4 Stars

Let down the middle for me

A favorite. Mardy Bum is a perfect little song.

1983 This is a great album, and in my opinion their best work. I have this on my shelves. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆ (7/10)

It’s a fine little turn of the century rock album on par with The Strokes or The Fratellis. No complaints.

Love the dirty garage sound of this one.

A phenomenal album. Alex Turner’s writing is something else.

A personal favourite that I've listened to more times than I can count. Always amazed at how much I find to enjoy each time through, as well as that they were all ~20 writing this album. It's got an air of amateurishness (complimentary) and garage rock mess. Songs are all tight but loose. Intricately layered, noisy, twitchy, and full of brash, youthful energy. Alex Turner is at his fast-talking best as he sings about being young and stupid in the UK. Love this one all the way through, an easy five stars and a truly great album.

oh HELL YEAH I loooove this band, saw them in concert just fantastic - all the Italian teens singing with a Sheffield accent, lolll. This is a fanTAStic record, Dancing Shoes is my fave, what a kick ass sound, so creative and edgy, great song writing. Reminds me of Morrissey (the writing, so clever) I'd give it a 5 but I want to be careful w my 5s, so 4.5 : ) ps Stu your Odelay review lolllll

Great energy, attitude, and fun. A most welcome addition to rock and roll in the early 2000’s.

Like an iced Frappuccino. You take a few sips, only to realize later that it may have a bit more sugar than you like.

Fiery lads being uh fiery. Before they stopped being fiery and discovered their inner lounge the only dancing going on was the jumping up and down and up and down and up...yeah. Respect the hell out of it. They're kids on this outing and that energy comes through but it never really takes flight. It's just up and down and up and down and up...

This really did not hold as much as I expected to. Riot Van is a lovely song, but at the end of the day, it was bit of silly snooze.

While there’s some proper tunes I never got the hype. Lyrically lazy and horrendous in concert. Half the albums proves they could’ve once actually been the brilliance wrongly proclaimed. Shouldn’t have echoed Oasis in making their best song a b-side.

Ok, I guess, but I was already well past the age or inclination for this kind of music/attitude when the album first came out. Musicianship is excellent, but very few memorable tunes outside the singles - those that are tend to be the few quieter moments. Definitely don’t feel like I missed anything by not listening to this at the time, but pleased to have at least given it a try now. And do appreciate it meant a lot to a lot of people.

Never heard of these guys, but good exposure to something new. Probably won’t listen again, but I appreciate the style and music

excellent album from an excellent band

Lyrically very strong some of the music is rehashing some of the same ideas. Still a modern classic 4.5*

The Arctic Monkeys have a very distinct sound. Some people will love it, but I found I got a bit bored of it by the end of the album. There are no bad songs here, but it's not for me. Favorite Songs: Perhaps Vampire Is A Bit Strong But...

Fue un álbum interesting.

A real classic. I love this album

me like rock hate paper

very good, very close to a 5. i feel this one needs to sit for a bit

I LOVE It, it's one of my favourite albums and the fact that it's their debut, it's amazing and the music and the lyrics and Alex turners young voice it's just perfect

Solid album. Very British.

Nope

Banger

One of the best debut albums of all time

Classic

Remember the hype around this when it first came out. Felt like quite a front loaded album, but it didn’t have much sticking power to me. A lot of people liked the real life lyrics but I always found them a bit shallow. View from the Afternoon, Dancing Shoes, When the Sun Goes Down and Certain Romance stick out in my mind as the one I enjoyed the most.

I really like this group but it’s not their best album

So this is the band Russell Brand copied when he was in his little singing phase huh?

No me gusta esta banda. No me gusta. No. Nota: 2.5

This was better than I expected. Interesting and lively with some good variation

Superb - every song a classic

Meh. Not super into it

loud, banging and screaming

Not my type

It was really good but I’m just don’t feel like I can give it 5 maybe on a re-listen

If only the quality of music stayed this good! The album is completely new to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is great british rock! My rating is teetering between a 3 and a 4, rating it a 4 because I could see myself revisiting this album again.

There's Verse And Chapter Sat In Her Inbox 1001 Albums Generator 132 (10/03/2025) Having only listened to 2022's The Car when it came out and a couple of hits off of AM, I was floored by how good Arctic Monkey's debut album is. I never really understood the Arctic Monkeys thing because of my limited exposure to them, but Whatever People Say I Am is super fun, energetic piece of indie rock. Alex Turner is a great frontman; he always feels like he needs to say a little bit more than he has time to, but this adds to the feel of the album. The instrumentals on this album are also great. There's a moment near the middle of The View From The Afternoon where it cuts to just this rhythmically ambiguous guitar before the drums come in for an awesome build. This is a great example of how these songs, despite being almost entirely high tempo, still manage to have quite a bit of dynamic diversity and are very well composed. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor has these reserved verses that explode into the choruses, with the last chorus being especially explosive. While I could see this formula getting old for some people, and even I found myself slightly tired of it by the last couple songs, I don't think I really have any notes about this album. The slow song, Riot Van, is my least favorite, but I understand why Arctic Monkeys put it here. I can't believe how much I liked Whatever People Say I Am! 4.5/5, rounded up to a 5. Favs: The View From The Afternoon I Bet You Look Good On The Dancfloor A Certain Romance Least Fav: Riot Van

4.5 - Great

Rolling stone albums 373 A perfectly fine rock and roll album, Nothing special. A bit punk tinged and gnarly but hardly memorable or special.

Debut album from Sheffield guitar band Arctic Monkeys has a nice early rawness reminiscent of the Strokes and Oasis. Some good singles with plenty of simple hooks make this a bit of a rocker. Worth checking out.

Four young lads on an endless number of uppers, Carlings, pie, mash & liquor are released in the studio and record an infectious rock album about clubbing culture in the northern part of England. The album with the long title contains 13 catchy songs of earworm sonic brilliance hot sharp shit buzzcocked by who & what not. It's met with great acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. You know the rest. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not feels both essential and at once forgettable much like life does when you're young.

Not a single bad song here. They're all great. They're just all the same. I need more variety than this.

Wow. I am very familiar with later songs by Arctic Monkeys. I didn't think I knew any song from this album, but I did know A Certain Romance and I love that song. My standouts are definitely A Certain Romance, From the Ritz to the Rubble, Riot Van and Fake Tales of San Francisco. Every song was really good, though. The only maybe downside is this is a VERY British album lol. I think it works here and I wouldn't want anything else from an Arctic Monkeys album, but it can be a bit much sometimes. I do love this album after the first listen. It is not the best thing ever made, but it is fun and familiar. Nothing not to like here.

This IS! Fine. With all the glaze this got I half expected my toes being curled in ecstasy but nah it was good. Good almost great but still good. 3.00-3.50/5

Essentially just Artic monkeys Some of its good Some of it isn’t 3.5/5 really but that’s not an option

Not my favorite of theirs, but still what a debut! Alex Turner's poetic take down / send up or British lad culture is astoundingly complex for a teenager. The rest of the band already sound so refined. Really came out of the gate swinging on this one.

history. legendary. never been done better. no better song to smoke to while pontificating on the nuances of your girlfriend being a mardy bum...true art...

i like arctic monkeys and i like this album! i think it's fun, i think the songs are really great and truly a certain romance makes me feel so many things :(

this was actually pretty good. I'm giving it 4 stars

👍🏻👍🏻 enjoyed the album

Really good album actually. First time listening to their music and I quite enjoyed it!

I enjoyable AM album. I noticed their drummer the most out of everything. Solid! 7 out of 10

Kinda unique honestly. Very british, and pretty punky alot of the time. This album wasn't bad. If I knew nothing about this album before going in, it would be pretty obvious which song would make it big.

I'm not a fan of a band's later work being used too judge their early stuff but favourite worst nightmare is the album following this and just outclasses it in every way. That being said this is still really cool indie that I'm kinda nostalgic over. 3*

Decent 4

This is raucous and very fun. Much more punk-y than I expected! The basslines and riffs are awesome all over this album. It kind of sounds like a mixture between Blur and Fall Out Boy. This is a loud, live band in this era and it comes across on the record. Just groovy and catchy and very pub-y vibes. I really like Wet Leg and they are definitely very inspired by early Arctic Monkeys. Really enjoyed!

Lekker albumpje, vooral mardy bum

If I went to a record store and said “I would like to purchase one rock music please”, this is what they would hand me. It's definitely not as good as Madvillainy. EDIT - I'm going too easy on albums that piss me off. This album pisses me off. 1 star.

I wasn't on the bar scene in the UK in the mid-2000s, but this sure helps me visualize it! You can almost smell the spilled beer and cheap cologne. I only knew them from the "Dance Floor" single, but the rest of the album lived up to expectations. It plays as a fusion of a lot of different sounds, IMHO, but never strays too far from the central concept: smacking you in the face with smart and catchy beats while the lyrics are shouted with earnest energy. Wikipedia called it a "concept album" focused on Brit pub life, and I can't find a fault in that. A band that I wish I had appreciated more when I was younger, totally missed out on them at the time.

Strong opener, consistent throughout, and a nice closer. 7-8/10

I really liked this album around the time it came out. Doesn't hit me as hard now, but still some great tracks and fun lyrics. A lot of British people on this list.

Redefining Dad Rock

Not as consistent as later albums, but still a rollicking good time. The grimy characters and late-night stories hold up well, and they bring an urgency and consistency to a range of styles. Peaks: Dancefloor, When the Sun Goes Down, From the Ritz to the Rubble, Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured Pits: You Probably Couldn’t…, Fake Tales of San Francisco

I forgot about this album. Really enjoyed listening to it again.

4.5

*** A Bit to much Indie. Ok, but nothing more

Oi, you sed whut, m8? I’ll bsh ur fkin’ ‘ed in m8. Swear on me mum.

Really good 2000s indie debut. There was a lot of dross around at the time, which may have made this feel better than it was, but it still sounds great, and Alex Turner has proved himself a really interesting and versatile songwriter since. 4.5 stars.

First time that I’ve give the Arctic Monkeys a full album listen from start to finish! Thought that it was well produced with some great songs. Tunes that I stood out were Fake Tales Of San Francisco and Riot.

one of the best 00’s brit rock

Instant classic. Maybe the ambition was greaer than the actual raw talent, but it works.

Classic

Not my favorite of theirs but really great anyway. Great for indoor bike riding, just fyi.

Somehow I don't think I've ever actually listened to an Arctic Monkeys album before. I knew of them, because who doesn't? They definitely demonstrate that blunt style of British rock from the early 2000s, recalling contemporaries like Franz Ferninand and Maximo Park. They're probably a little more accessible than both of those, which helps explain their massive fame at the time. It's a good album but I think it might have been more exciting at the time it came out. You had to be there, as they say. Still, it was worth a listen.

Released in 2006, this debut feels like a lightning bolt captured in a pint glass. It’s raw, witty, and brimming with youthful energy. Alex Turner’s lyrics are observational gold—sharp, sardonic, and deeply rooted in British nightlife and working-class culture. Tracks like “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “When the Sun Goes Down” are instant anthems, but it’s the lesser-known cuts like “Riot Van” and “Mardy Bum” that show the band’s knack for storytelling and mood. Musically, it’s tight and punchy—garage rock with a post-punk edge, driven by Matt Helders’ frenetic drumming and Turner’s charismatic delivery. It’s not just a great debut; it’s a cultural snapshot of mid-2000s Britain, and it still holds up remarkably well.

I always had a bit of an aversion to artic monkeys around the time of this album. I think I decided they were too cool or mainstream at the time. I listened more to their later albums, but never really went back to this one. Listening now I missed out. Undeniably great album, no bad songs, a fair few fantastic ones.

I bought NME religiously from 2002-2005. Every week another must-hear indie guitar band was on the cover… The Strokes, Libertines, The Hives, The Vines, White Stripes, Interpol, Muse, The Coral, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, King of Leon, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, Bloc Party… Arctic Monkeys were the top of the rollercoaster just before the decline towards landfill indie …Fratellis, Pigeon Detectives, Wombats, Scouting for Girls, The Kooks Jesus Christ did it fall off quickly. I wasn’t sure which side of the line this album would fall 20 years on since I first heard it. Glad to say it still holds up.

I wasn't familiar with the Arctic Monkeys beyond just recognizing the band name. This is a really good debut. I'm guessing I'd be rating it more highly if I'd heard it closer to 2006. Highlight: "The View From the Afternoon"

nice sound.

Dismissed them at the time, didn't know how good rock had it back then

I think once I really start listening to this album more, I will really enjoy it.

It was good. I like more variety in an album, which isn't always the norm.

New favourite band, small sample size but still. They remind me of We Were Promised Jetpacks who debuted one year later in 2003.