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

good record but as long not their best. (3.5/5.0) big fan of arctic monkeys and one of the last good mainstream bands that still drops music

♥️ Arctic Monkeys but never heard their earlier records...is this their debut? This rocks a lot harder than the stuff of theirs I do know. Amazing how much they've evolved. Go listen to the opening track on their most recent album - There'd Better Be A Mirrorball - also great, but in a very very different way but one that feels like they come by it honestly as reflective artists twenty years older than before. This album gives a feel like a young band with a huge chip on their collective shoulder made up of talented players who know each other well and are playing the sh*t out of these tunes. This album sounds like the band left it all on the field, as they say in sports about players who give it their all. I should know the singer's name but one thing I like about him is the Bowie influence. I also love the unselfconsciously unfancy British accent - goes well with his attitude and as opposed to most of the records we've been getting lately, Artic Monkeys sound like they actually have something to say. Something that needs to get out. And I'm very glad it did. One of my favorite bands of the millennium!

I feel like I've seen several references to the Arctic Monkeys in various Wikipedia entries for other albums in this collection, so it's nice to get one of their albums. They sound familiar, so I'm guessing I've heard a few of their radio hits over the years, but this album is largely (completely?) new to me. They may not have a huge range, style-wise, but they seem and sound like a solid band, with fun songs, and elements of the White Stripes and maybe a bit of Franz Ferdinand too. I particularly enjoyed "Fake tales of San Francisco", "Dancing shoes" and "Red light indicates doors are closed". And the video for "The view from the afternoon" was very reminiscent of the movie "Whiplash" (in a good way). This is really an impressive debut album, and a really solid album on its own; also pretty impressive how they became so popular outside the regular label/studio route. I enjoyed this from start to finish, and I also really appreciated it that this is the only Arctic Monkeys album in the collection, which bumps this up to (at least) 4 stars.

This album was a pleasant surprise. I’ve never listened to this band, may check out their other albums.

Im Vergleich zu dem anderen Schmutz muss man ja schon 4 Sterne geben :D Deutlich besser als der andere Mist

I used to love this when I was 16/17 and haven't heard it in years. So good to relisten. Its such a fun homage to just being a teenager and going out in small towns up north.

I should have listened to this when it was new, I think 16 year old me would have really enjoyed this and it would have made its way into my pantheon of great albums. Hearing it in 2024 was good, and I did enjoy it, but I don't think it was the right time for me.

CLASSIC. doesn’t hit the same as it did when i was an annoying wannabe teenager 10 yro, and some lyrics were so cringe but it doesn’t stop being an ultimate classic and a must if youre getting into music

Only ever listened to a couple songs by the Arctic Monkeys. Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album. Took me back to a simpler time.

It's a refreshing album for someone that listen similar things

I prefer this more than their follow up, AM, which I believe is more critically acclaimed. Love the energy and lots of solid tracks. Solid all around. 4/5

Not my favorite album of theirs, but a damn fine album all the same!

The funny thing about the Arctic Monkeys is that they released this absolute banger of an indie rock album (one of the best of the entire decade) and then went on to release music that does absolutely nothing for me. The dirty garage rock instrumentation, dance sensibilities, and Turner's rapid-fire yet melodic delivery are all dialed up to the max here - it makes for a consistently enjoyable and addictive listening experience. It's not even "fake" dirty either like they're trying to water down the sounds of alt-rock greats like 'The Stooges' and 'The Velvet Underground' for the mainstream - it's genuinely quite "authentic" sounding and it managed to amass such levels of popularity doing it this way. The two opening tracks are my favorites here and are on constant repea and I love the slower switch-up of 'Riot Van'. The opening grooves and riffs are incredible on songs like 'Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured' and 'Mardy Bum - everything sounds so tight and crisp with such defined basslines. One of the best in this stream of post-punk, indie, and garage rock of the 2000s. Such a fun listen.

Me gustó mucho, no es mi tipo de música y sin embargo no es nada aburrido

I've listened to one Arctic Monkeys song and this album is nothing like that, which surprised me. A lot more British and as a result a lot more goofy sounding. But it's still fun listen. Low 4.

v good. its the type of upbeat that makes the whole album kinda blur together in my brain so I couldn't really pick out songs I like more

Really fun listen, by far the best arctic monkeys stuff I’ve heard. Probably gonna regret not giving it a 5

Quite enjoyed this even though it heavily reminds me of the 2000s and I hate the 2000s

Maybe I’d have been more inclined to give a 5 if they weren’t shite at Reading. Just sing the hits! And do them in a normal way! Simpsons: No

Padre pero no me voló la cabeza.

It was cool

their second best album 🫢 i bet you look good on the dancefloor clears

Escutaria regularmente se não fosse pelo meu pai

it's good, very listenable, you look good on the dance floor was my favourite

Way more raw and punk than I imagined. I love how dark and fun and musical and angsty the album is without being cynical. This listen made me want to hear more from the artist.

I know about them but never got around to dive in. Oh I remember I bet you look good on the dance floor. Good song. Hives/parquet floors vibes. I bet this is great live. High energy. Good drums.

chock full of personallity, riffs, nice tones, and fast grooves that just transport me to UK pubs and vibes lol

Somehow balances raw electricity with breezy grooves. Makes me feel like I’m running from a dogcatcher as a British Jack Russel terrier with a little hat. 3.75/5

Kick out the 2000s jams

I miss this version of AM. Energetic, hard hitting, cutting, angsty and punked up.

Not my favourite but I enjoyed it. I could imagine this being as influential as it was. 3.5

The best Arctic Monkeys album...to me atleast.

Genomgående bra!

Nice rock and roll. Emo.

i was going to give this a five for pure nostalgias sake but after properly listening to it a 4 hits best. it WOULD be a 3.5 but this dogshit ass site won't let me do half star reviews so it is what it is. truly the greatest part about this album is the drums, with the lead guitar coming in as a second. it has some of the best drum fills and sections in rock/alt rock. an alt-rocker that actually knows what his toms and ride are instead of just abusing the snare, hi-hat and crash??? crazy. unfortunately they don't really give him much solo time to shine except for a few intros, and he manages to give such a rhythmic and layered performance that it gets watered down and washed out by the fact that other shit is going on around him. the lead guitarist obviously has some great solos throughout the entire album and he's using a les paul studio which just has such a nice full sound to it, but again he's often competing with other sounds of the band. the greatest parts of this album tend to be competing with eachother, while the mediocre vocal leads and over distorted dogshit power chords from alex turner wanking himself over his dogshit telecaster is often the loudest element and given the front row seat, while simultaneously being fucking shit and awful. the thing that really holds arctic monkeys back, and has for a while now, is both their bassist and their vocalist. theyve always gone for that smooth but grungy punk alt-rock vibe but that really needs strong bass. some of the greatest garage rock and grunge bands: white stripes, black keys, nirvana etc all understood the importance of a prominent bass line, but AM seems to have mistaken a strong bass line for a loud one. they often have the bassist effectively playing the rhythm guitar's section, just playing the key note for whatever section theyre in, instead of playing a lick or a permutation on the lead or rhythm's section. and when he play a lick its like 3 notes long and in the same exact same rhythm as the rest of the band, or like in the case of still take you home, he's just mirroring the vocals or lead guitar, and often simplifying their part as well. and the vocals. i think everyone knows that alex turner is a fucking wanker at this point, but at least he was a good lyricist on this album. he absolutely fucking sucks at the high register and he refuses to scream to ruin his pretty boy image. a proper grunge, punk, even a core or metal singer would have been able to do a lot more justice to the heavy sections of this album, which are clearly the highlights. in fact the one section where he does get a bit throaty at the end of dancing shoes is one of the highlights of the album, but they turned away from that sound because turner became the frontman and face of the band while being it's weakest part musically. ultimately whatever people say i am is both the best thing they ever made and the thing that killed the band musically. it showed what AM could have been, a technically capable grungy alt rock band, and the dihcotomy between the sound of this album, and the watered down, radiorock sound they have now is a testament to how a dogshit vocalist who's popular because british women have awful taste in male attractiveness can ruin a band. many such cases. still holds a soft spot in my heart but fuck alex turner and fuck the british. also the breakdown at the end of a certain romance is one of the best outros to an album ever. especially because turner shuts his fucking mouth for most of it, and its one of the few sections were the bassist is capable of playing something that sounds interesting and unique instead of just loud and annoying. the whole band comes together in that final segment, and tells alex turner to shut the fuck up while they show their musical chops, and its such a fucking shame that they didn't do that for the rest of the band's career. as much as i shit on turner he is a good smooth vocalist and i do still sing every lyric to this album when i listen to it, but he would be much better off with a different group instead of dragging down a bunch of legitimately skilled musicians to his level. also if he took his dick out of his own mouth and stopped trying to be a 60s greaser for whatever weirdo reason. nevermind fuck alex turner he's still a wanker i take it back.

4 stars is the rating, my actual critical reception is more like 3.5

als je zo'n debuut kunt maken, ben je goed bezig. Enkele tijdloze nummers... maar tegen het einde toch net iets te veel van hetzelfde...

Always been curious about these guys and just slept on them.. assumed they were a bit weak or postering but I have to say, this listen is a pretty fine time. While I'm not in the need of new entries of early-2000's tight pants indie rock sass in my world at this point in my life, I don't hate this at all. And as I always say, not hating something is the first step towards liking it. Some catchy bops in here, ample angles in the basslines, great instrument tones, ect. You can tell these boys earned their reputation with some effort and passion and it's nice to hear some stuff I always been skipping over.

I was a big fan of this album. Really liked the lyrics and they sound so british here

C'est la première fois que j'écoute Artic Monkeys,, même si j'ai souvent entendu parler d'eux. J'aime beaucoup la basse+batterie, la guitare en son clair et saturé, le dynamisme des morceaux, et même le chant. Presque parfait (je vais me le procurer, et écouter d'autres albums de ce groupe), mais les quelques morceaux un peu plus faibles (par exemple Riot Van) lui font rater la note maximale. => 4.5/5

Brilliant! Best tracks are Fake Tales Of San Francisco, The View From The Afternoon, Dancing Shoes and When The Sun Goes Down, but the rest of the album is great too 4/5

Love artic monkeys!

Helt ait

4 stars. Really good.

Spunky very fun full of attitude, probably one of the last good unique rock albums that had some wider appeal. I will be going back to this!

every song on this album is extremely well-written with great instrumentals

I always liked these guys. This was their best album I thought.

It has Mardy Bum on it, so already I’m a fan. Didn’t quite hit the highs I was hoping for, but still a fun listen.

Extra star for nostalgia

Really liked this. Loved the high energy and pace. Guitar sounded so good all the time. Wouldn't listen to every song again but none of them were weak and it was still enjoyable throughout, the highlights definitely make up for it. Really solid. Highlights: The View From The Afternoon You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me Mardy Bum Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..

I had never given this band a chance, which is a shame, because I quite liked this.

4 This aged really well!

This is good! Pretty classic rock and roll.

Arctic Monkeys have always been kind of two bands for me. When I first heard them, I didn't really like them. I knew "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and (from later albums) "Brianstorm" and "Crying Lightning" which all have a kind of dark/minor thing going on. Maybe that's the punky side of AM. It wasn't until I heard "Cornerstone" from their third album Humbug that I started listening to them more and came to appreciate some of those older songs I didn't like. But! Even Suck It And See, my favorite Arctic Monkeys album and their fourth studio release, has an almost even split between jangly indie rock and harder punky songs. Though Whatever People I Say I Am has more of the former, there are a few others (my favorite songs of the album) that are more my style: "Mardy Bum", "Riot Van", and "A Certain Romance." What ties the album together more than its musical style though is Alex Turner's songwriting style, featuring a ton of deadpan humor and vivid reference to working class, struggling musician types in Northern England. 4.49.

Really nice album loved the mixing and instruments.

Amazing. Favourite Worst Nightmare & Tranquility Base >>>

pretty good

Don't really think I need to explain why this is good

Wall to wall bangers but not particularly deep.

alt-punk-indie-metal-rock?? I'll take it :-) Favorite track: From Ritz to Rubble other picks: Fake tales of San Francisco, when the sun goes down, perhaps vampires are a bit strong

4.1

He tastes like cigarettes

Decent album

Fun, and nostalgic to when I realized how much music was out there to discover

Pretty rocking

The 2000s really were a beautiful time for rock music. That decade and the 70s were really the most defining time periods for modern rock music as we know it. And the 2000s really was a time for resurgence. You had the roots of heavy and garage rock coming back with angst and style with the garage rock revival movement, pushed by bands like The Strokes and The White Stripes. But the former was also helping modernize post-punk along with bands like Interpol. And post-punk was also being evolved upon even further with groups like LCD Soundsystem and Franz Ferdinand making dance-punk the next hip thing. And although it was still sort of stuck in the wormhole of gangster culture, rap was facing new creativity like never before because of people like Kanye West and MF DOOM. It’s really wild that all of these things were happening at the same time. And today’s band, Arctic Monkeys, feels like it resides in all of these places at once. Except for the rap part. I’m really not much of a fan of anything they’ve put out recently. But I’m willing to admit that this is a pretty awesome debut. They just come out swinging, and way harder than I expected. They really put the punk feeling in dance-punk. The drumming in particular on this record is so blazing fast, with great fills. There are a few songs that feel like they lean more into the indie rock sound that the band would explore further on albums like AM, and I’m just not about that. I want cool and flashy Arctic Monkeys. Not slow love song Arctic Monkeys. I also wasn’t sure how I initially felt about Alex Turner. Listen, the man can sing for sure. But something about him gives me the impression that he thinks very highly of himself. It’s the same dilemma I have with Morrissey. But it doesn’t take away from the music by any considerable amount. Me enjoying this album as much as I did has only helped to strengthen my opinions on dance-punk and really this era of rock music in general. Because there are just far too many amazing bands and albums that came out for me to not love it. Rating: 8/10

3.5

Strong rock album with interesting song structures and lyrics. Some songs are somewhat one-dimensional though

The fun guitar riffs, bass lines, and indie disco rhythms make it the album that it is, and they’ve pretty much mastered it here anyway. But maybe it gets a bit formulaic by the end?

One of the best albums of the 2000s. Up there with The Strokes - Is this it

first time listen. fantastic.

It's a solid album. Not 100% my style but it's good for a listen every once in a while. Will I listen to again: 60%

Great garage rock album. Just a fun listen and a very good to play in clubs and bars. Artic Monkeys debut is also their peak, and they only decline from here. 4/5

Remember when this first came out, and there was so much hype about it. I was a smidge too young to be living the life that they talk about, so it maybe didn't resonate with me quite as well then as it did for some of you. It's aged pretty well though (even though I'm now far too old to be living that lifestyle), it's been a while since I listened to the full album but Fake Tales Of San Francisco, When The Sun Goes Down and A Certain Romance are still regulars on my playlists. Unlike the rest of you, I quite like Riot Van, don't think it's the weakest track on the album by a decent whack. Really good album, not quite a 5 but not far off. 

I tend to listen to these new albums on Apple Music whilst working and, when they finish, a playlist generates of similar music from a similar time. I always find it interesting to see how good the album in focus is compared to its perrs that follows. And this holds up very well. AM have morphed into something far more sophisticated in recent years and rightly so. But here we have a sharp, punchy debut by a bunch of gobby kids with arrogance and talent. They get better. But don't all great bands?

Arctic Monkey’s Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is a banger of an album. The entire way through you feel grabbed and dialed into the music. My favorites, Still Take You Home and Riot Van, are so mellow but poppy, its honestly just amazing. Really cool alum concept as well, not exactly delving into the deep end of Indie or Rock, but keeping a nice mixture in between. I’ll definitely be listening to more AM. All in all, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is a great album. Best Song: Riot Van Worst Song: Dancing Shoes

Maybe I don't hate this band as much as I thought. This was a good one, they sound like they're having more fun than some of their later stuff.

Turn it up

It's good overall, hard to believe this is their debut record. I've never got around to listening to it until now.

A band that were hugely popular who I didn’t like the sound of initially and avoided. I’m sure over time I didn’t mind them that much without being able to name particular songs- one is on the album after this and there were about 3/4 I knew on this that still hold up - it’s a good album from its era and I had a feeling it would be. The last song was probably the highlight - a certain romance 4/5

Album molto bello, alcune tracce devastanti, altre un po' ripetitive

4.5

I don’t remember much from my grad-school days but I remember this album. It is filled with now classic bops. At the time it was compared to the Beatles, which I don’t know if that’s accurate but I do know this album is fun! Key tracks Mardy Bum and Perhaps Vampires. This is a definite listen to again and often!

I liked this one as it was really fresh sound to me. kind of a 2000 ish Punk sound which I liked

Was not prepared for the Arctic Monkeys this morning but I love it! Honestly don't know if I have listened to anything past 'I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor' and 'Marty Bum.' I forgot just how punk the Arctic Monkeys were in their early days. All in all a very solid album, good to mix it up on this Tuesday!

Genial

4 really good modern classic

Oooo bby

A lot of absolute classics on here. Favorites are Fake Tales of San Francisco, Mardy Bum, From the Ritz to the Rubble, A Certain Romance. I like the style so much that I wanted to give it 5 stars, but several of the songs sound pretty similar and are fairly skippable in my opinion.

Unexpectedly awesome album. Great change of pace and fun to listen to. High 4!

One hell of a debut album. The pacing makes this album fly by and then you won’t realize that it’s over. It leaves you wanting more, which isn’t bad because this is one most everyone will want to return to eventually. There are some bangers on the album, like I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor, but Mardy Bum is my personal favorite. I think I could give this a five and feel alright about it, but a strong four will do.

My preconceptions about this band, as another bland band in the Franz Ferdinand/The Strokes/The Black Keys-vein were heavily put to shame. This album is more fun, more rocking, a lot more good. That is, until Riot Van rears its ugly head and falls into the brit-garage-ballad-trap. The album never truly recovers after that song, with the honorable exception of When the Sun Goes Down and From the Ritz to the Rubble. In all fairness it’s a 6/10- album, but I feel it’s a bit harsh to rate it only 3 stars.

Classic indie rock

My gut instinct is that this is a 5* album, but that's probably got a lot to do with me listening to this record to death in my formulative years. Then I thought it was a 3* album simply steeped in nostalgia, but that didn't feel fair too. Admittedly this album is lightning in a bottle - considering that it's a /debut/ album made by a bunch of 20 year olds, AND they pioneered viral online marketing - a 3* would be very harsh. It's a good album. The perfect length, good mix of upbeat and downtempo songs. The singles are raucous and the 'filler' is still pretty good. Have your 4* and be happy with it Alex.

awesome great garage sound. a bit british but that's okay. Favorite tracks: When the Sun Goes down, I bet you look good on the dancefloor, a certain romance

First time I've ever listened to Arctic monkeys. I dig it though.

The lyrics are pretty clever, and it took me a second listen to appreciate the music. I feel like I want to start speaking with a British accent or at least go watch a Ted Lasso episode.

It's just fun indie rock with a very very strong Midlands accent

I really disliked the Arctic Monkeys when they came onto the scene. I found the vocals very grating, mainly because of the heavy accent. And I say that as somebody with basically the same accent. I don’t mind some of the tracks nowadays, but I’ve certainly never heard this album in full. Songs I already knew: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Fake Tales of San Francisco, Mardy Bum, When The Sun Goes Down Favourites: Mardy Bum, Riot Van I liked this more than I expected to, but I’m still not the biggest fan of Dancefloor. The guitar is too twangy in the verse. Otherwise, this was a pretty good rock album, and I do concede that I perhaps should have given it more of a chance in the early days. I still wouldn’t say I like the vocals, but they don’t annoy me quite as much as they used to.

Class cheers Alex Would've been a 3 but the three last tracks did something to me

Arctic Punkies more like. Good album. Love the raw energy and youthful rock bangers in this one. Listening to this I can almost smell the Carling and WKD in the air, and feel the bottom of my shoes sticking to the club floor. I wouldn't want it any other way. Best Song: A Certain Romance Worst Song: You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me Score: 8/10

Still cool and well 'ard, etc., but sags in the middle more than I remember.

I had never heard it before, and I like it. This list is Brit rock heavy, but this is the best kind IMO. The best iteration of the rhythmic danceable rock of the early 2000s. I can't do it all the time, but when I'm in the right mood, it hits.

I think I prefer this era of Arctic Monkeys as just a young and scrappy Sheffield kids who made a album together, and the end product being not so bad all put together. They have a serious knack of writing pretty memorable and enjoyable songs to listen and dance and groove too.

I’ve had a few weeks of really mediocre albums and I was not super excited when I got this yesterday morning but it ended up being really fun. It might not actually be 4 stars but it’s definitely 4 stars in my current journey through this list!

Slaps. There's not significant lowlight to the entire album, and neither does any song stand out above the rest for me. A really great album, but one that I think misses out on being like a top 50ish. Still well deserved on this list, and I really enjoyed listening to it.

In the same bucket with Strokes, Hives, etc. Good mid 2000s guitar rock.

Tracks are fun and energetic all throughout, but it still feels same-y by the end of it. It’s good but not the best.

College with a capital C. Still thrashes.

I always seemed to mix up arctic monkeys with other bands such as Cage the Elephant which I heard in the opener here, and the Black Keys for a song on a later album. As this album progresses it seems the singer gets more and more British. It's kind of humorous as the accent comes and goes, and maybe it's me, but it seems the more British it sounds, the more cheeky the lyrics get. Coming yo a peak at "Mardy Bum". There is a lot to like here, but something is keeping it from going to a full 5. It could be something as silly as the obnoxiously long song titles, but it is what it is today. Favorite track "The view from the afternoon" 3.8/5

Arctic Monkeys are the aughts' most successful British punk/pop band. Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm not, their debut, set the record for the fastest selling debut in British history. Driven by a few hits, like "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," and a very early command of social media propelled, the Arctic Monkeys to global stardom very quickly. Their music is an energetic, skillfully played post-punk. The band's consistent lyrical focus created a (perhaps intentional) concept album: this is a snapshot of a young, club-hopping British man.

The Arctic Monkeys struck gold with this one, probably the only album of theirs I actually go back to and appreciate every song.

Not my favorite album of them, but certainly has some great and beautiful numbers on it.

I liked this album. I thought that the music was really solid and very much 2000's rock. What really made this album though was the lead singer. His voice and style of singing was unique and the band knew how to musically bring the most out of it. I plan to explore this band more.

Love the youthful energy. The opening few tracks to this album are really good, it takes a little bit of a dip in the middle and finishes strong. I think the singer really knows how to dance between a more rhythmic and talking style into some singing. He's got a really distinct voice that is a bit unrefined, but it adds to the style of the album. I love how the guitars go from a bit of chaos into more grooving rhythmic section. They get stuck in my head all the time. One of those albums I've played a lot over the years and will continue to do so. I wish their newer stuff came back to this style a bit.

Teenage Nostalgia

i've listened to arctic monkeys most recent-ish albums, this album from earlier in their discography is a lot more uptempo and louder than those. very great example of fresh punk that has inspirations from the rebellious and sometimes rockabilly aspects of the past while also bringing something new to the table. alex turner. what a voice

Standout songs: Fake tales of San Francisco Still take you home Mardy Bum

Love the Arctic Monkeys.

Very hype, makes you bang your head (lightly). I wasn't expecting much based on the two songs I knew from them but this was great. Stand-out: Mardy Bum

Genial!! Un poco demasiado duro para mí gusto pero son los Artic Monkeys con su inigualable cantante y sus solos de guitarra.

solid, unique, but grows stale as it goes on

Never heard of them. Lyrics are interesting.

I did like this

Have heard some of these before, but not the whole album. Dude on the cover always looks like Adam Sandler to me. Great energy in this album. Highlights: mardy bum.

Listened to it a million times

It's amazing how something as simple as moving to a cold climate can so radically change the sound of a band. Here I thought this band was so old, and some had even died, that they could sound so much different than they did back when they had a warm weather based TV show in the 1970s. I mean look how much younger Mike Nesmith looks on the cover. That Arctic climate seems like a frozen fountain of youth. Great album.

Really good. Not one song feels like a hit, but everything was good start to finish.

4.5! Kick ass rock album

Better than I though

I lived in Sheffield (the UK hometown of both AM and Pulp) for six months, so it's a fun coincidence I got each band's representative album back to back. With that context, it amazes me to see Pulp trying to shove their South Yorkshire heritage under the rug and pretend to be something they're not – 'Desperate Class' fails as an album because it feels so forced, so desperate to claim some sort of high-class appeal (writ large and subtle as sandpaper in 'Common People'). Perhaps that's why 'Whatever People Say I Am' is such a breath of fresh air - Alex Turner and co. aren't afraid of their upbringing in a steel mill town with the worst team in the Premier League. It's their willingness to lean into the grit, the grime, the mundane day-to-day grind of middle-class living in the early 2000s that makes this LP feel so fresh and genuine two decades on. The same gnashing guitar tone throughout, solid rock drum beats for days, and Turner's now trademark nasal vox filled with don't-give-a-shit attitude make this a ripper front to back, with some well-executed balladry to add some tonal flavor. That's all that's needed to make this a winner, so it doesn't hurt that the songwriting feels genuine, alive, and real as if these are events/emotions that actually happened. No pageantry, no playing pretend, just life as it is in a mid-size British city with its best days behind it. Sure, Turner may be crooning over spacy art-rock to much larger crowds nowadays, but he and the band have damn well earned it and I doubt Jarvis Cocker could say much of the same.

A quality taste of what's to come with Arctic Monkeys. Youthful and energetic on every track, with strong mixing to compliment - AM here feels like Britain's answer to the garage and alt sounds of White Stripes & the Strokes, and strongly contrasts with some of the sloppy Britpop that preceded it. That said, not every composition works perfectly, and some of the lyrical colour later AM records would have is missing here. Still a solid showing.

Get on your dancing shoes, you sexy little swine

Great, leading to greater things.

gooooood preferred the other one layla told me to listen to very rocky 🤘 would listen to again 👍🏻👍🏻

"I can't see through your fake tan" is diabolical knew more than I thought , probably from hearing it through my wall. good car songs

ahhhhh 2006. what a vibe.

yuh

throwback classic for me, love head banging to this album

Excellent 1st album. Lots of quirkiness, political and social jabs everywhere. Remarkably easy to listen to. And Alex Turners vocal and intonation are so laden with sarcasm and side eye stuff, it's great. I understand what all of the fuss is about.

Hell yes. One of my personal favorite bands. It's not Favourite Worst Nightmares which is one of my all time most listened to albums but man do I love the earlier Arctic Monkey's stuff. It's just solid, fun, well written rock music.

I’m vibing tbh

it was fine.

Pending subject passed! I liked them a lot!

Decent mid 2000s alt-rock. I gave it another listen over the weekend and it grew on me.

Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is the debut album by Arctic Monkeys, a four-piece indie rock band from Sheffield, England. Released in 2006, the album became the fastest-selling debut in British history, and received critical acclaim for its energetic and witty portrayal of working-class youth culture. The album’s title is a reference to a quote from the 1960 film Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, which depicts the life of a rebellious factory worker in Nottingham. The film’s influence can be seen in the album’s lyrical themes, which revolve around nightlife, romance, and social commentary from the perspective of young Northerners. The album’s lyrics are full of vivid details, slang, and humor, creating a realistic and relatable portrait of the band’s experiences and observations. The album’s music is influenced by various genres, such as indie rock, garage rock, post-punk revival, punk rock, and alternative rock. The band’s sound is characterized by fast tempos, catchy riffs, and raw vocals. The album’s production, handled by Jim Abbiss and Alan Smyth, is crisp and clear, but also retains a sense of urgency and spontaneity. The album features re-recorded versions of the band’s earlier songs, such as “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “When the Sun Goes Down”, which were previously released as singles and became UK number-ones. The album’s highlights include the opening track “The View from the Afternoon”, which sets the tone for the album with its explosive drums and guitar hooks; the anthemic “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor”, which showcases the band’s charisma and confidence; the sarcastic “Fake Tales of San Francisco”, which mocks the pretentiousness of some bands and scenesters; the groovy “Dancing Shoes”, which describes the awkwardness and excitement of flirting at a club; the tender “Mardy Bum”, which reveals a softer side of the band’s relationship troubles; the dark and gritty “When the Sun Goes Down”, which exposes the reality of prostitution and violence in the streets; the frantic “From the Ritz to the Rubble”, which narrates a chaotic night out that ends in a brawl; and the closing track “A Certain Romance”, which sums up the album’s attitude and sentiment with its nostalgic and defiant chorus. Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is a brilliant debut album that captures the essence of a generation and a culture. It is a testament to the band’s talent, originality, and relevance, and a milestone for British indie music.

4,3

Mostly straightforward, fresh and high-energy and likably cheeky, if not especially innovative. One likes how they close out songs, the guitar chime on opener and the smoothly fading chords on “Fake Tales,” as if if life goes on, and the sharply truncated ending on”Red Light.” Key lyric: “I am talking gibberish.” There are ample good moments and grace notes, like the doo-wop chorus on “Still Take You Home.” “Riot Van” is good melancholy fun and a bit reminiscent of Replacements’ “Nightclub Jitters.” “Mardy Bum” is quite good too — AMs can clearly do highly competent pop hooks – and might have had a bright future as a different sort of band. The end the album crisply, too, with something sounds like they have a good shot to mature in a bit more serious vein. Like so many records of this ear, one or two fewer cuts might have strengthened the overall quality. Maybe they were once overhyped, but their above-average career means that Green Day might the American Arctic Monkeys (rather than vice-versa).

To me this album sounded like funk rock and I’m here for it!

I know I've listened to an Arctic Monkeys album before, but I don't remember if it was this one or AM. Either way, I remember not really caring for it, and I was not super enthused to listen to this today. After listening to this though, I can understand why it's so highly regarded and why it's on this list. When I think of rock music in the aughts, I think of the myriad of stuff that was getting tons of airplay on Clear Channel alternative rock stations: Three Days Grace, Nickelback, Godsmack, Buckcherry, etc. I don't speak for everyone, but for me, I think that stuff mostly sucked, so to hear this album is pretty refreshing. Arctic Monkeys showcase some serious guitar rock skills on this album. Nearly every song is a solid jam, full of driving rhythms, tight drum playing, and some funky bass lines. The slower songs work really well too, and give the album some added depth and versatility. I'm not the biggest fan of the vocals, but the lyrics bring the English club and pub scene to life with great detail and tone. This was a fun album to listen to, and while it's not the type of album that I'd typically gravitate to, I think it's really solid, and it definitely belongs on this list. On my tastes alone, I'd probably give this a solid three stars, but on it's own merits and influence, I think it deserves four stars.

Positivt överraskad, aldrig riktigt lyssnat på dem innan

As punchy and refreshing now as when it came out.

Pretty good album. I love this band and they always slay.

4.5/5. An amazing start to one of the more dynamic rock bands of the 2000s-2010s. They are a little rough around the edges, but songs like Mardy Bum and I bet you look good on the dance floor are fantastic.

Solid rock album with a few stand out catchy tunes.

It is good enough. I like it.

The Arctic Monkeys have always been on the outskirts of my musicals taste. I like some of their songs, but this left me a little wanting as all of the songs kind of bleed together.

It's a great first album, but listening to it now, I felt the same as when I listened to it when it first came out. There's a bit of filler, there's some high points, there's some dull parts, it's not perfect, but there's loads of energy. I can imagine seeing this band play live in a small venue and the atmosphere would be superb. Listening to a studio recording, some of that raw energy is distilled away a little. Not worthy of 5 stars, but a strong 4 stars.

Good old Arctic Monkeys

Classic alternative rock, I see why they're so popular. Pretty angsty, kind of punky, very English.

I am familiar with their album “AM”, but not this one. Overall I liked it quite a bit and think it would be on near equal footing of AM which I really enjoy.

The View From The Afternoon: 3/5 I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor: 4/5 Fake Tales Of San Francisco: 4/5 Dancing Shoes: 4/5 You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight at Me: 3/5 Still Take You Home: 3/5 Riot Van: 4/5 Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured: 3/5 Mardy Bum: 4/5 Perhaps Vampire Is a Bit Strong But...: 4/5 When The Sun Goes Down: 4/5 From The Ritz To The Rubble: 4/5 A Certain Romance: 4/5

8.4

3/4

Bangers. Liked this a lot more than their output from the last ten years.

Some great tracks but they all sound pretty similar. Luckily that similar sound is good.

Fun album to listen to. The riff in the first song made me expect hard rock but it got a lot softer. They have a unique sound that is different from most English bands although I can’t say what it is. 7/10

I liked this for the most part but there wasn't too much that stood out at me. I'd be interested to hear more of their stuff after this but I won't revisit the album too much. Still a great listen and enjoyable for the time I played it though. 7/10

It’s fun.

Very nice vibe

I really like Arctic Monkeys, and while this is a really solid album it doesn't hit the heights of Favourite Worst Nightmare and AM for me. It has the foundational sound and style that will make those later albums great, but just doesn't quite get there. Standout tracks for me are I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Red Light Indicates Doors are Secure, Mardy Bum, From the Ritz to the Rabble, and A Certain Romance.

Impressive; great rhythms

I never got into them before but always wanted to… thanks to this music club now I can call myself a fan of the arctic moneys. Rock/alternative from UK? ✅ From the late 90s to 2010s? ✅ Do they have a sound that’s undeniably their own?? Mmm debatable, but I’d give them another listen for sure After I finished this album , my Spotify recommended The Smiths and I’ve hooked ever since , so there’s that 🤷🏻‍♂️

Really enjoyed this album. Definitely some songs to add from this one

Arctic Monkeys are in my top 200 bands and I own their music already so they as an artist are no surprise to me. As a whole this album does an amazing job being both raw and polished at once. Some of these riffs feel inspired by James Bond and Old Monster TV Shows. I will definitely listen to this album front to back again. Worth noting it's not my favorite album by the Arctic Monkeys. I love the vocal sound, style and lyrics. Bass tone throughout the whole album is groovy and dope, but especially on "From the Ritz to the Rubble." The drumming, guitars, bass and vocals are just super solid from start to finish on this album. Equal parts hard-rocking, grooving, and soft. Masters of dynamics. The Intro of the first track, "The View from the Afternoon," could almost be confused for the intro to a hardcore knuckle-dragging banger. Playlist Worthy: "From the Ritz to the Rubble", "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor", "Dancing Shoes", "Riot Van", "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured", "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..." Grooviest Track: "Fake Tales of San Francisco", "Still Take You Home", "Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured" Weakest Track: "You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me" but it's still good.

I liked this one a lot! Very fun to listen to.

I certainly know the most famous songs that were played on the radio from this album. This is great workout and running music. Always did like the Arctic Monkeys for that. Not necessarily an album I would just sit down and listen to for enjoyment though.

Great vocals.

God this is a FUN album if you're really looking to slamdance at the local disco. If the Ramones had gone ska (and Johnny had learned some actual riffs) -- you'd land somewhere in this neighborhood. Unexpected banger: Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured

This is my first album so far that got better on successive listens. At first a thought “there was a time in my life when this would have been a solid 4 for me” but was going to give it a 3. Ended up looping it all day and it really grew on me. Still Take You Home is a highlight.

May be on of AM best albums, all slammers, good melodies and lyrics. 3.8

This album wasn’t on the original list?

frisky

A shotgun to the FACE, a cacophonic chorus of controlled chaos, but always unpinned by the sneakiest of harmonies. A hell of a debut. Favorite track: From the Ritz to the Rubble

Favs: 1. Riot Van 2. When the suns goes down 3.Mardy Bum

A réécouter mais sympa. Un peu vieilli.

This is a tough one for me. I hated it when it first came out, then got right into it about 10 years ago and loved it, but now I’m not that bothered. I think I just listened to it a lot a while ago and it lost its shine. Sounds very of the time. Again though, I think TV shows of the time overplaying them also helps age a band (looking at you, Gavin and Stacey). Objectively, it’s excellent. Very much an album from the heart delivered in a very ‘real’ way. And it’s crammed with student classics. The entire record is probably considered a classic now, and rightly so. Subjectively, it doesn’t have the same appeal for me as it did, and it’s occasionally a bit tedius. But thats purely through overlistening. My fault.

Even though this came out in 06 it brings me back to high school, I guess since that’s when everyone started listening to them. A slightly more rambunctious Black Keys. It’s a really solid album but not as good as AM so I question its place here. A Certain Romance is the standout.

I think this is a really solid modern indie rock album. I can listen to it a lot and not get bored. I don’t know if there’s anything groundbreaking to make it a five star album, but I do really like it.

Good guitar driven, very British rock and roll. Successors to Oasis with a harder edge.

I had a lot of fun listening to this one. It’s full of furious and fun rock and roll. I do think some of it started to sound similar, which was fine but does stop it from getting the full 5 from me. AM would get the fine.

Solid, unagitated (little punk influence) but quite varied

What a fun, energetic album. Incredible debut, especially considering the band were pretty much just kids. I was a teenager when this came out so it feels nostalgic as well.

Not bad at all

muuch better than i expected.. Pretty fun. There are much better new wave punk-ish records

Loved it. Very familiar territory for me but a band I've slept on for a long time.

Am I biased towards things I listened to a lot at some point? yeah

I liked their hit singles, but never listened to an album of theirs, so thank you again for this app! A nice, original indie sound. Love it.

Very solid English punk album

Great energy, something that I think their newer music could use. I recently figured out a lyric in The View From The Afternoon, i always heard “tonight they’ll be a ruckus, yeah” as “tonight they’ll be a rooking chair” like that’s how British people say rocking chair. Music is great

I find it funny how the titles of songs/album look more like paragraphs than actual titles. Mardy bum is such a banger and the album is great overall but not their best

This album makes me want to chain-smoke a pack of American Spirit blues and get shit-faced on whiskey so bottom shelve that the liquor store worker has to fully bend over to even see where it is.

Overall Rating: 80/100 Overall Thoughts: - intense high energy rock that touches on garage rock, post-punk, hardcore punk, afrobeat, and reggae - easy to see the influence that was made on a number of other artists - does a good job of maintaining a specific sound without becoming boring - abrupt switches in style are jarring but keep the listener invested to the album

This was a really fun album. I didn't really want to like it, but I really did.

I came into this already knowing 1/3 of the songs very well, vaguely knowing 1/3 of the songs, and then never having heard the final 1/3. It was my first time getting into the lyrics of any of these tracks (aside from Mardy Bum + Riot Van). Happy to report that almost every one of the songs ranges from really good to great! Overall a cohesive and well done album from start to finish - there were a few weaker tracks sprinkled in but by the time the album's over you've forgotten them already. It doesn't quite reach the highest highs of Favorite Worst Nightmare in my opinion but it's still a very solid album (and a crazy good debut imo!) Really great: I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Fake Tales of San Francisco, Riot Van, Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured, Mardy Bum, A Certain Romance Great: The View From the Afternoon, When the Sun Goes Down, From the Ritz to the Rubble Solid: Dancing Shoes, You Probably Couldn't..., Still Take You Home, Perhaps Vampires...

Hate to admit it but kinda liked it

Hits like a nostalgia train

I don’t remember owning this album but I know all the songs and have heard it a decent amount somehow. Clever lyrics, great riffs… this album should be further up my street than it is. I like it but I wouldn’t choose to stick it on. I think this is another example of what I’m going to call “The Whigfield Effect”. I was 30 when this came out and felt old already. So, whilst I was happy that “the kids” had some decent music, it didn’t feel like my music. On the other hand, I love the Strokes and We Are Scientists’ first albums which came out around the same time, so I don’t know, I guess that doesn’t make sense. The upshot is, I’m giving this a good score even though I wouldn’t listen to it myself! By the way, my favourite Artic Monkeys’ song is “Brian Storm” because it is approaching metal intensity.

This is an great debut album. A testament to write about what you know. Why is Sheffield such a fertile ground for so much good music? Is Mardy Bum a worthy successor to Chas and Dave’s Ain’t No Pleasing You?

another gem from the past. I read about Arctic Monkeys from the "Moloko" magazine, published in Kyiv. it was a brief moment when I hung out with the cool older kids who listened to indie rock. and Artic Monkeys became my favourite band for a brief moment. very danceable, high energy but different from, say, Rolling Stones, a bit colder and more punk, more '00ish.

Re si. Como cualquier buen primer disco de una buena banda, es una receta que siempre funciona bien

Great first album and listened to when I was growing up. Enjoyed listening to their earlier work again.

banger after banger after banger

i did love this more so because of the nostalgia and feeling it gave me listening to it after all this time, but there’s genuinely such good raw britishness that transported me to a place and time and just makes my imagination run wild, arctic monkeys are seen as great for a reason, they really are.

Pfwaa kes monkeys c'est trop bien Good vibes Young and free mindset Young lads having pints and making cool songs about their simple young lads life

Never heard an arctic monkeys song before this, as I've only recently become a huge fan of britpop/postmod/punk. Gotta say this holds up. Kinks,Clash,ManicStreatPreachers,Blur, these guys....

Solid bops, great lyrics, fun album all around.

Good rock. The end.

Good high paced

a classic. 3.5 but i'll round up to be kind :-)

This album encapsulates an specific moment in the 00s. It is the connection between what happened during the first half of the decade (strokes, Franz Ferdinand, white stripes) and what was about to come. The production is solid, the guitars sharp, and the harmonies over the place. A set of songs that will have your foot tapping for over 40 minutes.

Yeah ok fine this rocks. Somehow both of and ahead of its time, I really love their lead singer's timbre and rhythmic playfulness. I know I'll need to go back and look up some lyrics because I'm sure they're sharp, I just have a hard time catching them sometimes

Absolute nostslgia trip for me. These guys were one of the first bands I ever saw live, and I pretty much learned to drum playing along to this album. Hard for me to not give this 5 but I don't think it quite reaches that height. Every song on here is great, banger after banger, but there's not a ton of variety in the end. If you enjoy that 2000s indie rock sound, this really is the best that era has to offer.

Classic Indie album! I remember discovering them when their debut came out and was totally blown away. This, in my opinion is where their strength lies, not in the more melancholic later works. 8 out of 10

Kinda slaps tho

Nice album. I underrate this

Brazen debut that speaks volumes of what is yet to come. The birth if chip shop rock n roll. Turner has more to say than there are notes in his songs.

Nothing that really stood out to me, but overall not bad.

fun, self aware, and makes me want to move. love it

8.5/10 Like every track Highlights: The View from the Afternoon When the Sun Goes Down Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured From Ritz to the Rubble

🧡

I thought it was great at the time and it's still a good listen, but considering it kicked open the doors for Pigeon Detectives, Fratellis, Scouting for Girls etc etc etc I have to wonder if it was worth it. (Being a bit facetious above. They were always a cut above all the chancers that came afterwards. Glad they've cracked on as well, trying to follow up a debut as hyped as this must have been a nightmare)

Not overly complicated but still great. Don't think it deserves the hate it gets. Fun and catchy songs.

I've listened to this before!

Decent alternative/garage/rock/punk album.

Some goofy drum beats.

solid the view from the afternoon i bet you look good on the dancefloor fake tales of san francisco dancing shoes red light indicates doors are secured mardy bum when the sun goes down a certain romance

A friend shared this album with me at a time when I thought interesting new music was dead or dying. I ended up playing it repeatedly and branching out into Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, Fratellis, etc. This one though stands out more than the rest. Something about the homespun sound, the rough-and-tumble nightlife vibe conveyed by the lyrics, and decent tightness of the band really worked.

Really good album that I didn’t know existed. A lot more rock than I expected from the Arctic Monkeys!

2006. Pretty cool blues/jazz rock/grunge.

This album is such a cornerstone (harhar) of Arctic Monkeys and really set the stage for the music they would go on to release. While a handful of songs fall into the trap of being repetitious, there are gems in here that have been solid staples in my music rotation for almost a decade that I still have not gotten tired of. Upon relistening, there are a lot of really fun and simplistic basslines that have got me interested in learning how to play. Fun and high energy, highlights include I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, Mardy Bum, When the Sun Goes Down, and a Certain Romance 7.5/10

Dance Floor, Still Take You Home, Dancing Shoes

Really love the drums and bass on this one, same with the guitar. It definitely has a 2000s rock feel to it, but I'm also getting some 70s dance-punk vibes. At some points, the guitar playing reminds me of Andy Gill's from Gang of Four. This is like if Franz Ferdinand, the Strokes, and Gang of Four all fused together.

Best wel lekker, paar erg bekende nummers, tussen 3 en 4

I liked it, reminds me of being an angsty young person. Get on your dancing shoes you sexy little swine 🐷 I know you pretend to stand by us. I know you’re certain we’ll fail.

Dancing Shoes und when the Sun Goes Down sind die Fav Songs Das Album ist krass Ich hätte aus dem Bauch 8 von 10 gesagt aber glaube ist n grower Sehr Energiegeladen War geil Und vor allem sehr britisch

T 7/10 R 8/10

4 Man, what a solid debut. As someone who's always found AM kind of underwhelming, the energy and personality of this album feels like a showcase of what drew people to these guys in the first place. In some ways it almost feels like a companion piece to Is This It in that both are critically acclaimed, genre-defining debut albums from 2000s indie rock bands that would go on to have incredibly successful careers in the years to follow, but whereas The Strokes wear more of a garage rock influence on their sleeves, The Arctic Monkeys seem to take more from classic British punk. And if you know me, you know that’s almost always a key to my heart. This album comes out of the gate swinging with an absolute banger in The View From the Afternoon, the kind of opening track that makes it quickly clear you’re in for a ride ahead. And that same energy keeps up with what’s probably the best track on the album (and arguably of the band’s career) in I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. It’s incredibly catchy despite its frenetic energy, and goofy lyrics like “Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984” add to its charm. Unfortunately, the energy to the album starts to die down with Riot Van, and while I would like to appreciate the change-up, the slower stuff just didn’t grab me as much. The back half of the album is much more littered with those kinds of songs than the front, but I do feel like it starts picking up steam again towards the end and closes on a strong note. That all to say, there’s truly nothing bad or an unfun moment to be found here, and I really liked how everything seemed tied thematically around the 20-something clubbing and nightlife experience - doesn’t seem that we’re so different than our fellow tea-and-crumpet eaters after all. Good album through and through, and it has me intrigued to listen to more of these guys’ backlog. Side note, just have to call out, at the time of this writing, these guys are the #48 most listened to artist on Spotify in the entire world. Does that blow anyone else’s minds? For reference, Beyonce is #49. Must be our friends across the pond keeping these guys’ numbers high - keep doing the Lord’s work, chaps.

Brilliant

Really enjoy the first albums of Arctic Monkeys. Just raw fun energy of some rash English boys.

Never listened to these guys…8 understand how they blew up. Definitely a very future sound for the time.

3.75

Modern classic

not bad, better than expected

Could see how this would be a refreshing take at the time of release in the rock genre. Maybe wasn't weird feeling it fully on the day. Interesting lyrics that need another listen.

It's good, but I don't love it. A bit too "cheeky". Oddly nostalgic listening to it, for a time that I'm not very nostalgic about (yet).

High energy, engaging rhythmically, sucks you in, more white stripe-ish than I expected. Like dude’s voice.

Absolute classic from one of my favourite bands of all time!

Peak Arctic Monkeys

A great album, brilliant and genuine lyrics enhanced by the accent. And it rocks. Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor is one of my favourite tracks ever

Some great jams. It's a 4.5 for me. Arctic Monkey's were so good out of the gate. If we get some other albums there are some 5 stars ahead

This is just straight up old fashioned rock. Alex Turner is a rockstar.

Fun and accessible but also interesting. Obviously they’re trying to be cool but they do have talent to back it up Great, great drum work, especially considering the genre

Love this album!

Awesome. I used to bump this on my ipod mini.

I haven't listened to them much before but I really enjoyed this album!

Damn, pretty good stuff

Mardy Bum was on so many of my custom mix CDs in high school. How else was I supposed to impress girls? 4/5

Everyone makes a big deal about these guys… Kind of reminds me of that early 2000’s garage rock revival… The Hives… Franz Ferdinand… a little White Stripes / Strokes but more and British. I liked this kind of music a lot around 2001 - 2005, but they kind of missed me since this came out in 2006. I do have to say this is a very good exhibit of the style. I wish I knew the songs better. Biggest surprise: Mardy Bum. I do wish this was less hot... it's very 2006 compressed. A 4/5 for me, though. Will listen again.

feels a bit dated and repetitive, but each track is a classic in it's own right. Solid album

Good album. To me it's mostly punk-rock, which is my favorite genre.

Energetic, knowingly rebellious British rock with a knack for great melodies? Count me in.

Some songs are similar. But liked it in general!

Very good 00s garage rock, some songs are crispy, some less but every single song on that album is at least semi-enjoyable. 4 stars

Listened Before? N This was pretty good. Listened multiple times. I think I'll add this one to the rotation for a bit. Added to Library? Y Songs added to Playlist: I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor

better than i was expecting having only heard 505!!

Day 1

Britisk 00’er indierock, catchy

When this album came out it sounded fresh and new - now it’s a tattoo of the era - it defines a chunk of the sound of the decade it resides in but it’s still is a good record… well balanced and paced - some good bangers - but maybe because it’s in the awkward time where it’s not old enough to be back in fashion and not new enough to not sound tired, it just does not feel like a timeless record

Peak Monkeys? Discuss.

I feel like when I listened to this in the mid-2000's it rewired my brain. Now though... like it's good, but it's too punk for my day to day honestly.

So many awesome tracks. Has been in rotation for me since ‘06.

cannot get it out of my head that one of the b-sides for i bet that you look good on the dancefloor is called Chun Li Flying Bird Kick and is an instrumental. thats not what the move is called. also fun fact for quite a while a certain romance would play whenever i was finished listening to is this it for way too long so it was one of my top songs on last.fm for a month or so even though i never went out of my way to listen to it a single time Favorite Tracks: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But..., A Certain Romance 4/5

Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: it’s hard not to enjoy this one, quintessential indie record of the 21st century and for me, this is peak AM, solid run of tracks and their vast backing guitars/sounds Favourite song: Track 8 - Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured

Very good album. I was obsessed w/ Favourite Worst Nightmare, and this doesn't quite reach those heights, but it's not super far off. 4/5

Honestly, much better then I expected. I was aware that many people thought this was Arctic Monkey’s best, and while the only project I heard from them was the very mainstream and successful AM, I really enjoyed this. The songs pop off and stay constantly good with some left hooks that help give this project staying power. Not Bad at All! 9/10

People are vampires ruins it

This is such a fun album, light and catchy with a decent amount of depth too.

Gud

this album was cool, though the songs started to run together for me after the first handful of tracks. definitely a good debut for any band though I don't really have any nostalgia for it personally. also, I never really looked closely at the album cover until now. obviously I knew this was not the case, but in my mind I just always assumed the guy smoking a cigarette on the cover was adam sandler. apparently I'm not alone in thinking this. do with that information what you will. favorites: I bet you look good on the dancefloor, when the sun goes down

well, this was a pleasant surprise. i have heard of this band, of course, but had never listened to one note of this band. until today. this album kicked ass. the band plays tight. the bass guitarist is prominent throughout, which i love. i can’t say enough good things about this album. great mix of faster and slower songs. just an all around good rock and roll record. highlights: “the view from the afternoon”, “perhaps vampires is a bit strong but…”, “from the ritz to the rubble”.

This is a great album. English hard rock with done humor sprinkled in.

Fun danceable rock.

I bloody love this album. No need for me to listen today. I listen enough.

great guitar sound.

Raucous Brit punk rock and roll.

A great debut from the Arctic Monkeys. Revitalised the British indie scene with their catchy tunes and funky hooks. 8.5/10

Very nice debut album and always glad to see that great rock is not a thing of the past

Could be out of the affect from JOJO... I'm quite alright with this type of rock

Reminds me of things I like but I'm not in the mood today. Possibly a different day I'd love it. Actually, wait, you know what? It grew on me.