Reviews (page 9 of 15)
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.
listened to again strong indie rock record
I always thought Favorite Worst Nightmare was the better album. This one has the attitude but not the songs or flow. But it's still really good.
Listened to this album a ton in early high school so nostalgic factor is high. I still find it pretty fun. Groovin basslines, crashing drums and teenage angst
One of the best albums to soundtrack Britain's era of neglect and decadence. Everything's filthy and crumbling and hasn't been maintained since Thatcher (RIH), so why not try to have as good of a time as possible until the wheels really fall off? This albums smells like tobacco tar and alcohol breath and feels like going on the best pub crawl of your life with your best mates. The riffs are impeccable, the hooks annoyingly sticky and the entire album is tightly packed into a neat 40-minute package-- nothing sticks around too long to get on your nerves. Sometimes the Brits really are onto something when it comes to hype. A shitfaced 4/5, trying not to black out at the kebab shop at 1am.
Always good
Not exactly what I would consider an essential album experience, but many of these songs are absolute all-timers! The riffs throughout absolutely RIP!!! (Favorite Tracks: I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor, Mardy Bum, When The Sun Goes Down)
We runnin from the popo fo so
Very fun!
Classic garage revival album. Tight band already.
Album is quite good. Could deal with a little less "indie guy" sound to the vocals. - The Good The View from the Afternoon I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor Fake Tales of San Francisco Perhaps Vampires... A Certain Romance - The Suck and Skip Riot Van From the Ritz to he Rubble
white people fuck with these guys heavy, huh? not terrible, a song or three for background ambiance
Ég hlustaði ekki á þessa þegar hún var ný, miðöldrunin hófst snemma, en ég kann að meta þetta. Hresst gítarsound, mikið unnið með offbeatin og söngurinn sleppur til. Jájá. Gaman.
Слишком легкий альбом. Но приятное прям инди-инди начала 00-х алкоальбом: vino verde, которое пьешь на улице в жару
Still hits so incredibly hard! The sound of this album is fantastic and the songwriting while a bit rough in places is overall fantastic and witty. Performances are electric and the whole thing just rips. Best tracks: when the sun goes down, riot van, I bet you look good on the dance floor
i have listened to some of those songs before and some of the ones I didn't listen to i liked. my favorites are when the sun goes down, i bet you look good on the dancefloor, and mardy bum.
This a strong record with gritty songs and frenetic guitar. This is a band you wish you saw in a bar basement.
Seems like they were a lot bigger in Britain then here. Kind of a Strokes or White Stripes sound. I'd listen again. "Look Good on the Dancefloor" is pretty catchy.
I really like this album. British version of that mid 2000s rock. Biggest knock I have against the Arctic Monkeys is that everything they've done (that I've heard) sounds pretty much the same, BUT, this is the first time they did it that way and I like it.
I am a fan, and listened to this when it came out. My complaint is now what it was then, which is they have a tendency to produce some real knockout, top notch songs, and then a handful of mediocre songs, which makes it difficult to appreciate them fully in the context of a full album. I think "A Certain Romance" is my favorite.
great rock album. fav tracks are: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor Mardy Bum When The Sun Goes Down From The Ritz To The Rubble
I dig the Arctic Monkeys. I liked this and I think I would like this even more if I gave it a few more listens.
tony hawk PS soundtrack vibes
4/5 I wish I was born in the UK so that I could have know this album when I was a teenager/ YA and have memories and memorized this album. I really enjoyed it and want to get to know it better. Really good sounding vocals, and guitar with levels and variety and all the social commentary of punk without the screaminess.
Es u disco normal de esta especie de indie rock, pero británico, muy similar al de blur, pero sin lo diferencial. Las letras y los estribos son más pegadizos en diferentes medidas que los de los white stripes, pero Artic Monkeys hay que destacar que sabe como sacar provecho de la repetición y sabe como sacar provecho de las copias. Un disco de rock indie, garage, under, progressive, brit pop-rock, post punk, normal. Lo bueno de este disco es que no todas las canciones suenan igual, por ende es una specto más que positivo. Le voy a dar un 7/10 porque volvería a este disco a ver que dicen puntualmente todas sus letras.
The view from the afternoon- oh this is really good actually, clever lyricism and great rock sound 👍 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor- A british staple 👍 Fake tales of San Francisco- some cute lyrics here, but I’m not really a fan of chorus/outro repetition Dancing Shoes- The riff here is so catchy, and amazing instrumental break.. love 👍 You Probably couldn’t see for the lights but you were staring straight at me- just like the title, lyrics are a bit too wordy Still Take You Home- some good old misogyny Riot Van- A slower song, the filter on the vocals is a bit more distracting here. Feels like it doesn’t have enough substance to be a full song Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured- love the drunk storytelling nature of this 👍 Mardy Bum- I’m leaning towards the gfs side :) 👍 Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..-Instrumental Break build up is cool, but babes you’re successful calm down When The Sun Goes Down- The cynicism in the lyrics is very good, chorus is a bit weak but still a good song 👍 From the Ritz to the rubble- I love the chorus on this one 👍 A Certain Romance- This track is one of the dullest on the album for me Very solid debut with clever lyrics and great guitars 4/5
I saw Arctic Monkeys at Roskilde 2007 and remember thinking they looked like children. Although it turns out that Alex Turner had just turned 20 on the album's release in January 2006, the record is a hugely impressive achievement for anyone, let alone a group of teenagers. The combination of high energy garage rock with on-point observational lyrics of northern English teenage nightlife makes a compelling combination. A great debut album and the embodiment of 'write what you know'. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor Date listened: 10/04/23
The Arctic Monkeys are so cool, I wish British people were real.. Fav : From The Ritz To The Rubble Least fav : Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured
Thought I’d like this album and I did. Preferred the second half which I feel like might be a hot take. Also thought that the lyrics were good and pretty funny. Only gripe with it is there were a couple points in the first half that were just pretty noisy for my taste. I’m sure a lot of people love that sound, just not me. The guys voice can be kinda brash sometimes too. That being said: there’s a lot more good than bad here. Heard before: take tales of SanFran(pdog version) Favorite: ritz2rubble HM: sun goes down
There are no bad tracks on this Not 5 star but pretty bloody close I’ve never been that fond of Mardy Bum though I seem to be the only one
8/10. a pesar de q le perdi un pcoo el gusto a am (era mi grupo fav como a los 13) este album holds up y es el mejor de los monos por caleta.
Good album, some good song lyrics. Might finally have started appreciating them musically. Previous attempts haven't clicked.
Easy to see how this influenced a lot of rock in the late 2000s and early 2010s on both sides of the pond. All meat, no fat! An album that hits hard and doesn't overstay its welcome. High 4 for me, but not quite a 5.
I already had 2/13 songs on liked songs: The view from the afternoon and I bet you look good on the dancefloor. I think I herad both of them at Summerwell. Very Arctic Monkeyish, not as much as AM, but it gives off a similar vibe, maybe a bit more chill, like not am such of a lovey-dovey sad boy. I also knew "when the sun goes down" but i didn't have it saved
I feel 12 again.
This was a great album. I almost gave it a 5. I went through it 3 times. Got real familiar with it. Just great music. Solid 4. TBz 1. When The Sun Goes Down 2. The View From The Afternoon 3. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor 4. Riot Van
Loved it. Such a fun album. Full of interesting, upbeat, catchy songs without being cheesy. And this isn't even the Arctic Monkeys' best album.
Unlike any of the new Arctic Monkeys stuff I've heard. Has an almost Sublime vibe?
3.5
Cool! Rad! Edgy!
I liked it.
I listened to the hell out of this record when it came out, and it holds up great. They're like a modern version of Oasis - the whole album is about what it's like as a teenage lad in Sheffield. Everything is played at a breakneck pace but still has hooks and catchy choruses. Kind of a breath of fresh air to be honest.
This record ushered in a new sound and aesthetic so it gets an extra star for that.
Nostalgic rating here
Ok
Good,album. Never will be my favourite
I was thinking about early AM vs late AM when I realized I was basically doing the American Psycho Huey Lewis bit in my head. Uh, IBYLGOTDF is good. Riot Van, yep.
El mejor de los monos del ártico y de los más icónicos del indie. Después de este fueron teniendo sus subidas y bajadas. 4.5/5
Está bueno, un álbum muy divertido de escuchar.
Rollicking and fun but sorta one-note and way, way overhyped upon release, one recalls. But good for them for their bootstrapping from Sheffield – biggest cultural export since "The Full Monty" – doing it their way and for leveraging MySpace to take it big time. But one has far less frequent need to rock in this decade so ... one thinks of Arab Strap as AMs' polar opposite (and one's preference). Yes, this is good for laughs ("you sexy swine") and to mack it out at the gym. And one can admire the classic bent to the content ("Bet you look good on the dance floor") and some of the playing (groovy bass licks on "Still Take You Home" and the nifty solo on "Mardy Bum") and of course the silly-perfect name and stellar, squeaky clean production. Their endless hooking and banging reminds one of the ol' "if all you've got is a hammer;" a bit more variety beyond woulda gone a long way (as evidenced by the likable closer, "A Certain Romance"). To wit, one has enjoyed the much mellower recent album, least Arctic Monkeys record ever, of which "Riot Van is a pleasant, though too short, harbinger.
Simpler times. Before the loungecore and strings there were razor-sharp Sheffield anthems of pubs, hooksups and misspent evenings. Fully formed straight out of the box.
A classic debut that I am less inclined to reach for most days now as their newer stuff is a lot fresher
I've heard a bit of Artic Monkeys before but hadn't really paid much attention to them. I really really enjoyed this album and need to delve further.
So I've had this album since the day it was released in the States, so I am very familiar with it. I think the Strokes comparisons are pretty apt, as it has that "sound"/"voice" of a generation going on. Iconic black and white cover art and infectious singles. How does it hold up 16 years later? Separated from the hype, I think it's still a strong rock album, but I don't have it in my top 10 or so of the decade. To me, it's always been a half step behind the classics of the decade like Is This It, Turn On The Bright Lights, and others as I felt that it was a little unbalanced at times. The singles/best songs are absolute killer, but there's a few too many weak tracks for a perfect score.
I remember distinctly hearing about the Arctic Monkey's debut through a Neil Young mailing list when it first came out and being immediately in love with it. I think I was just surfacing from being less focused on music and more on raising little ones at the time, and it was just what I needed with its urgency and brashness. Plus being from Southern California it gave a real insight into experiences that were completely unfamiliar to me. On the earlier albums especially the Arctic Monkeys displayed a talent for putting you in their moment.
One of my favorite albums from the mid 2000's. I remember listening to a bunch of bootlegs from the band in anticipation of the album release. Really brings me back to my senior year of college.
I discovered the Arctic Monkeys in college, which is when I started getting really into indie music/music blogs. This album has some nostalgia attached to it for me but I really like it.
I forgot how fun that album was, listened to it a bunch back in the day. Enjoyed my listen.
I guess I listened to this way back in college because I somehow recognized every song. Such a good album I’ve been ignoring for over a decade.
Some catchy guitar riffs, grungy vocals
Funny this popped up four days before I see AM live (for the second time). Not my favourite Arctic Monkeys record but solid, of course.
I used to listen to this album more. Some good songs. Similar nostalgia to Hot Fuss. Still pretty good overall.
I do enjoy this album. In fact I enjoyed it quite a bit, but it took about halfway through for that enjoyment to really kick in. I mean, the first song had a such good energy to it, and then the next few songs just felt like the same level of energy? Like, to the point that everything was blending together. It wasn't until about halfway through where it felt that each song knew it's proper placement a bit more. The slower pace of a couple songs, or the rapidly changing energy is something that the early parts of the album would've really benefited from, and would've in my eyes pushed it to that 5 star range. Will just have to settle for pretty good, I suppose.
this reminds me a lot of the OG Oasis stuff. Why do all british alt bands seem to be cut from the same cloth? They are super dancable. Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... is a standout track for me. If I heard this when it debuted, it would have been a 5 for me, but I'm a crusty old man now and its just a 4 this morning.
I remember the hype when this album came out, wasn’t convinced at the time but safe to say Arctic Monkeys have went on to be one of the Brest British bands over the last 20 years. I do prefer AM to this album though.
7/13, 54%
Quite a good album. Some songs make it a bit monotonous, but some are very good to make up for it.
First time listen to this one and I liked it. Good energy with quality vocals and vibrant instrumentation.
great songs, some sound similar so it’s hard to tell them apart but added them all to musick sehr sochn
This would be a 4 had I not already known Arctic Monkeys and really liked their other albums. It was well done and, on par with everyone's sentiments, Mardy Bum is a stand out. I'll probably come back, but it didn't stand out.
Stylistically this is exactly the type of music I enjoy. However, this album is not their best in my opinion and therefore does not deserve a top rating. Even though Mardy Bum is probably my favorite song by the Arctic Monkeys, the album is probably a 3/4, so I’ll say 4 stars for the sake of it.
Notes - Debut album by arctic monkeys - Indie rock/garage rock - Lots of energy, fuzz, and driving rhythm sections - Im so upset that arctic monkeys have strayed so far from this sound - I love the rawness and the anger behind it that’s missing in their newer releases - Listening to this makes me nostalgic and a bit sad even though the music doesn’t focus on that Fav - perhaps vampires is a bit strong - love the change up halfway through Least fav - you probably coukdnt see - feels like it runs out of steam halfway 4.5/5 like it more than i expected based on how i feel about modern arctic monkeys stuff
arctic monkeys are a vibe and i high key love that they are coming back. When The Sun Goes Down is on my playlist and a total vibe. 8/10 album
Love it.
Some absolute bangers on here, flows together well, social message, just great all around, a true 8/10
Great from top to bottom, I’d give it a 4.5 if I could. Doesn’t have the “it” factor of a 5 star, but it had no issues.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would
If I was 16 and drunk on cheap lager this would be the best thing ever.
I really enjoy this album. It is action packed and exciting but also soothing. I enjoy the vocals and the instruments. My only complaint is that there isn't too much variety between the song. favorite songs: The View from the Afternoon, Mardy Bum, When the Sun Goes Down, From the Ritz to the Rubble.
Rowdy lad music at its finest. Incredible energy and attitude throughout.
Classic Arctic Monkey album. I liked it but not my favorite album.
This is a great record. Lots of solid songs. These guys are my daughter's favourite band, so it's one we can enjoy together.
What can you say, British indie rock at its best
I liked this one. Sooo British sounding. The simple melodies and riffs provide a good frame for freeform, stream-of-consciousness lyrical outpourings. It got kind of fatiguing on my ears, I'm not sure I would have reached for this one in a vacuum, but I enjoyed it having been prompted to do so. One of those bands that makes me curious about the personalities and backgrounds of the members (especially that of the lead singer).
Another album that took me by surprise! I didn’t know what to expect coming in. This is the kind of record that oozes authenticity. We’ve all heard the inauthentic, canned, commercial version of this sound, but this feels like a record whose bona fides can’t be questioned. Plus, the band is so tight. And extremely British! Checks all the boxes for me.
Strong debut from the AM. Very replayable and from my home city. Its probably a 3 but I prefer it over most of my 3s so its a 4. I don't think there is a bad track on the album. Mardy Bum!
Top 3 Songs: 1 - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor (2) 2 - Still Take You Home (6) 3 - When the Sun Goes Down (11)
Massa, curto das antiga
Lol, I guess I like The Strokes better. Seriously, though, I do like the album a lot better than I thought. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor" is still a weird banger, and some of the album tracks here are relistenable. Just not as good as the Strokes' debut, although maybe a relisten to that would dissuade me of the notion.
Je passais un excellent moment en ce début d'après-midi, étant en train de réecouter l'album Foo Fighters des Foo Fighters, précédemment généré par Robert. Quand tout à coup, l'après-midi tourna au drame. Un bateau vint s'ammarer à même le balcon de mon appartement devant mon incompréhension la plus totale (il n'y a en effet pas le moindre cours d'eau rendant cette opération possible près de mon appartement). A son bord, un groupe de punks a chiens venus tout droit de l'Arctique. Ces derniers passèrent alors à l'abordage, et vinrent détruire tout mon matériel d'écoute musicale, sans la moindre explication. Une fois leur travail terminé, les punks a chiens remontèrent sur leur navire, et ouvrirent un pack de Maximator pour fêter ça.
Nice
An incredibly fun album. I generally think people get too much credit for being "first" in a space as opposed to being "best". And this is a better record than either "Franz Ferdinand" or "Silent Alarm". It's more consistent top-to-bottom, Turner is a more charismatic frontman, and they basically never take their foot off the gas. But it's pretty close, and AM quite shamelessly copied Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party's playbook, and no single track on this record is as infectiously catchy as either "Take Me Out" or "Helicopter". I don't think that's too much to hold against them - AM were the best of the 2000s UK indie rock bands, and if it weren't for other AM records (I like "Favourite Worst Nightmare" better, for the added polish and ambition) it'd be the best 2000s UK indie rock album too. I'd have given them five stars if they had opened up this style rather than closing it down. And I'd have given them five stars if they made a slightly more polished record with a little more depth of sound (which they would about a year later).
there isn't a single song on this album that I dislike, which is why I rounded this up to 4, but I swear arctic monkeys have one sound and they do NOT deviate from it. I may have liked every song off the album but I was glad I was done once it was over. Every song just feels like more of the same. 7/10
noice thought it was an edgy franz ferdinand or something
I've first listened to this album about two and a half years ago and I've always been a big fan of it. Sadly it does feel like it's kind of dying for me but there is a charm about it that is always fun to hear whenever I do stroll back into this album. Even though the album is fun throughout the whole listen, it does feel like if you only heard three songs from this album you have heard everything from this album.
KOVA! Kuunnelut useasti orkesterin yksittäisiä biisejä, mutta harvemmin levykokonaisuuksia. Tuli popitettua päivän aikana kolmesti läpi ja vielä muutaman kerran uudelleen myöhemmin. Jatkoon, edottomasti.
Vekkuli levy. Kokonaisuutena säilyi kasassa ja menoa riitti
As debut albums go, this is up there with the best of them.
A band with a sound all their own - this album was a fun listen from open to close. A tried and true new aged classic.
Didn't expect to like this much, but it's got some really sweet and funky riffs! Solid.
Great album. Always fella just shy of 5* for me (probably due to a bit of filler in the middle) but still top class and a reminder of what it was like being in your 20s in the mid-noughties.
sounds like modern clash hadnt heard any of their music before but would again
Honestly a vibe, even thought I don’t really like rock, the second half of the album was nice
This is a good solid album, but not in my top albums
Great short songs that don't outstay their welcome, and I think this will become a 5 for me upon relistens in the future but for now is a high 4
Good music, but lots of songs sounds the same
Perhaps vampires is a bit strong but... is my fav song on this album
I like a few of their later albums more than this one but it is undeniable that this is a hell of a debut album
Pretty good. Nice vocals and lyrics. Don't think any track stood out but they were all above average to me.
very nice h
Already knew quite a lot of the songs. Will listen to this again, it do be my jam.
Dig this early sound from them. Very punk, progressive sounding. Good album
Bought this when it came out - good pop punk
Finally a an interesting british indie album that actually deserves to be on the list. Rad sound capturing young nightlife attitudes and good grooves.
Pretty noisy, but better than the shite songs that got overplayed on the radio.
Well, I'm a simple man - I hear Arctic Monkeys, I feel the dopamine rush in me' bloodstream. I've known some of the tracks from the record already, but it's never occurred to me to listen to it whole. Didn't expect it to be so energetic. Feels a bit naive, but in a positive way. Some might argue that lyrics are a bit dull, but does it really matter? A really pleasant album, would consider it the essence of '00 Britpop. Highlights: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor, When The Sun Goes Down
Nisam se bas previse vezala uz album nikad al mi je njihov drugi najdrazi
Kad se ovom albumu vratim, onda ga slušam par dana. Vrhunski album.
Can't believe it's 16 year since this was released. Where has the time gone. At the time I remember all the hype. It was (and still is) a very good album, obviously cherished by hardcore fans. One slight criticism, it probably is a bit one dimensional, whereas their later albums added some variety.
Full of the swagger and grandiosity of a young new band who knew they were gonna be big
I was living in Spain when this album came out, thought it was pretty cool. A few months later I was back in north-west UK, in the car with a few mates - they put this on and they knew EVERY SINGLE WORD. Never underestimate the local cultural impact of a local band doing songs that were so relatable. 4.5
arctic monkeys have this typical alt rock style that reminds of a more sophisticated punk rock alt rock style of the 90s and older. nowadays copied by more bands but still very decent music
They set the British record for fastest-selling debut album of all times. British pop-rock that has been around before. Still great (7/10) FT: I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, A Certain Romance, From the Ritz to the Rubble
Classic album!
"Do I Wanna Know?" and "R U Mine?" are basically the only Arctic Monkeys songs I know, and every time I hear them, I think "I really need to look into these guys more." This album proves I should have followed that instinct before now. Two things struck me right off the bat. First, the less polished, almost punk-like feel to many of the songs (no surprise, since the aforementioned songs I know are from their fifth album, "AM"). Second, the fact that Alex Turner's delivery reminds me of Matt Schultz from Cage the Elephant. But Cage came after the Arctic Monkeys, so I guess it's the other way around. Either way, I think it's the varying tempo of his singing--he'llrunabunchofwordstogether andthen slow ... things ... down. Can't say why, but I dig it, and the Sheffield accent adds a little something extra to the effect. Thoroughly enjoyed this album, especially "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor." The "whoa whoa whoa dadadada..." bit in "Still Take You Home" bit could have sounded cheesy, but somehow doesn't, and "Mardy Bum" and "When the Sun Goes Down" were surprisingly playful. Not sure I can give this a 5, but I'd give it a 4.5 if I could.
I very much enjoyed. Took me right back to when I Bet You Look Good On The Dance-floor came out. I am in one particular room in the house I used to clean. Memories are funny aren’t they.
This was a real pleasant surprise. I knew the big hit "I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor," but pretty much every song on this album is really good. It's not just your standard early 200s rock-fare, maybe it's the combination of all the different styles? I dunno. The start-stop beat of that first track really hooked me in. I also liked the fake ending for "Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..." Maybe it was something I was in the mood for, but I really enjoyed this one. More than I was expecting to.
The first thing I noticed about this album is that it starts with almost the same drum fill that Porcupine Tree’s Fear of a Blank Planet ends with. Solid playing on all the tracks and their sound made me think that they were Rush fans although that’s not listed as an influence on their wiki page. I didn’t think I was going to like this at first, but each track has a good hook that draws you in and takes you along for the whole album and there were quite a few clever moments, both in the production and the writing. I never found myself wondering when it was going to end and enjoyed it even more on subsequent replays.
First listen it was kinda, yeah britpop, whatever. Second listen - this album RAWKS. Fun, good stuff. I don't find a whole album on clubbing all that deep, but I'd listen again - hence the 4.
Loved this sound. So much energy and angst.
Indie rock, punk
This is an album I know--good start. Record starts off strong but kind of tapers in terms of song strength (basically after Riot Van). The exception to that is From the Ritz to the Rubble.
★★★★☆ still love this album, start to finish
This album is possible the best entry in the British alt-rock/garage revival period of the mid 2000s. The bass is driving and the guitar is punchy. Overall there is a lot of post-punk influence in this album. The production and arrangement are phenomenal. One of my favorite qualities in music is when a song is allowed to build and scale back in a way that almost renders it suite-like. This album is full of that dynamic shift which makes the emotional payoff so much more potent. I think if I had been exposed to this music when it came out it would resonate more, but I can recognize that this album truly belongs on this list.
This is a really fun album from the Arctic Monkeys. Personally, I think it is their second best album. I would have loved to be in my prime when this music was popular. Best Songs: Bet You Look Good on the Dance Floor, From Ritz to Rubble, A Certain Romance, Mardy Bum Worst Songs: You Probably Couldn't See For the Lights..., Dancing Shoes
I was a bit down on these at the time but this is a good album. Quite sneery in a very 2005 way but I like that.
Best Song: From The Ritz To The Rubble. Something about the rapid-fire lyrics of the intro really sticks with me. Paired with the layered vocals, this sounds like a perfect song to hear live. Worst Song: You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me. Not a bad song, but the inclusion of other vocals really just reminds you how great Alex Turner's vocals are. Overall: A classic album that I'd already listened to extensively before this. As a Canadian, that commitment to the accent sounds incredibly attractive and endearing. The music behind it rocks too, creating this fun and cheeky album that feels like an icon for post-2000s indie rock.
Pretty fun, energetic, and inventive. Couldn't really relate to some of the lyrics but even in those cases the music was worth listening to. Overall it was a great ride.
Despite the Do I Wanna Know cover by Chvrches being one of my favourite songs ever, I've never really listened to much Artic Monkeys. I can see why this album was a breakthrough. Mucho awesome O.
The Arctic Monkeys entered the garage rock revival of the 2000's right around the peak, so they had a lot to gain from their debut album with a honed attack of tight drums, jittery guitar, and a driving bassline to hold it all down. Most notable of the Arctic Monkey's sound is vocalist Alex Turner's accent, which makes Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not feel like a natural sequel to the britpop of the 90's (the band has cited Oasis as an influence; quelle suprise). One of the impressive things about this record is how danceable it is. Not only is it filled with energy and fun grooves, but it explicitly makes references to dance. "Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984", "Get on your dancing shoes", references to clubs and drinking. This is an album for a night out on the town. You can even see it on the album cover, with the glazed over eyes, enjoying a drunk cigarette. Between the blaring dance tracks are the occasional slow, tender songs that break things up. Ultimately this album plays out like a Saturday night, ending as the sun rises on a Sunday morning and the boys stumble home having worn themselves out. Well-paced, but still maintains the fun factor throughout. This is a widely successful by many metrics. It moved units, was praised by critics, and landed several awards including a grammy (but the grammys are a sham anyway). Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not is worth your time. Take a glimpse into english nightlife in the 2000's.
fav track: red light indicates doors are secured
This album is fun as fuck. 4.5
Classic of my youth
Hi- Fake Tales of San Francisco, Dancing Shoes, Still Take You Home, Riot Van, From the Ritz to the Rubble There was a time in the mid-90's when your "Alternative" band might not fit into the scene unless they had a nonsensical name like Screaming Trees or Harvey Danger or Manic Street Preachers. Arctic Monkeys recognizes this and goes right to work to evoke what made that era fun. The View from the Afternoon trolls you into thinking the song ends, just to come back full-force, perhaps a preview that Arctic Monkeys have no compunction about subverting expectations. Dancing Shoes is poppy, bouncy little ditty. Still Take You Home opens with serious crunchy driving rhythm that sort of kinda goes "loljk" and turns back into thrashy, silly fun. Riot Van is a lush, relaxing breath of fresh air in the middle of the set. From the Ritz... has a furious tone and is layered with excellent progressions and does a nice job of setting us for the final act, A Certain Romance, which has a nice ska/reggae rhythm and feels like a nice closing act for all the controlled chaos that preceded it.
What a fun, energetic album. Incredible debut, especially considering the band were pretty much just kids.
If that's the case, what a horrible album. No catchy songs, not one song that's got me dancing and smiling.
When I first heard Arctic Monkeys way back when, the lack of melody made it hard to get in to. Now I love this album. Pace, rock guitar, and a singer who is sometimes yelling.
Fun album, the accent sounds like George Formby at times, but generally a good guitar pop record with loads of fun lyrics and great riffs. Wasn't life changing for me personally, but there's nothing to complain about.
Day 10: Artic Monkeys is a band I've listened to a couple times before, I enjoy there music when I'm in the mood for it. They have catchy tunes, decent lyrics you can follow. There music may not be ground breaking for me but I would definitely say it's good. This album did not disappoint, Couple songs that are already in playlists of mine were fun to listen to and the ones I hadn't heard before were still good. Overall an easy album to listen to. Favourite Track: Mardy Bum, I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
One of a very few albums I've bought for myself. Loud, messy, laddish, I love it. Highlights: Dancing Shoes, Still Take You Home.
De va helt cheeling
High energy, catchy, fun stuff. Best so far of the post-2000 albums I've reviewed on here. Fave Songs: You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me, From the Ritz to the Rubble, A Certain Romance, Mardy Bum, When the Sun Goes Down, Riot Van, Fake Tales of San Francisco
Punk rock, from their early days. Really good.
Whip-smart debut, this.
I enjoyed returning to this album with all its quirks!
Excellent album. So much energy
This has a bit more filler in the middle than I remembered but when it slaps it slaps and oh boy does it slap
A great album tied to a horrible time in my life. The scenes, personalities, and dilemmas described in each song are the stuff of younger year legend and the backing tracks are pumped full with the same vim and ornery playfulness. Each song is impossibly better than the one before. I miss the memories, but I’m glad I’m past them!
1001 Albums Generator Day 1 "We were in a dressing room next to the Arctic Monkeys. This time most of us had ventured out to see some bands, leaving just Mikey's sister and Ian curled up in separate corners of the dressing room trying to sleep. Mikey's sister had just managed to doze off when a champagne bottle flew over the partition wall and smashed on the ground dangerously close to her head. Ian, not yet asleep, witnessed this, grabbed the bottle from the floor and stormed over to give the excitable children from the Arctic Monkeys a piece of his mind. I returned to the dressing room a few minutes later to find Ian kicking their dressing room door in while wielding the shattered bottle as a weapon and shouting, 'which one of you little cunts threw this?!!! Own up!!! Oi! Trophy Head, was it you? You are not fucking with the Kaiser Chiefs now. I'm going to kill you.'" - Eddie Argos, 'I Formed A Band' This album came out when I was 16, and I loved it. It was miles ahead of all the other bands doing similar things back then. They had an amazing rhythm section, lyrics with actual wit and flow and details chosen for effect rather than mindlessly accumulated. I'd gone off them a bit by the time Humbug came out, and they've turned into trophy-headed little cunts, but their music has mostly kept to a fairly high standard while trying different things. They've done a pretty good job of making rock music that draws on music from the last 20-ish years without being reliant on backing tracks, and I think that's the bare minimum any band should be doing, but as that isn't the case I applaud them for it. The moments that hold up best on this one are the funkiest, lightest on their feet and the most vulnerable, where the jokes are self-protective. The lumbering heaviness that briefly dominated their sound was already present in places, and those have always been the bits I like the least. The weakest song for me has always been Perhaps Vampires, which certainly isn't a plodder, but it's played with a ferocity that steamrollers the groove. I guess they were quite into The Jam at the time. A Certain Romance turns into one of the best songs, but starts out as Ocean Colour Scene. From the Ritz to the Rubble, on the other hand, is all about rhythm and space. Elsewhere we were talking about recent talky bands, and while Yard Act seem to be getting compared with The Fall, I think they have more in common with this album. They come across like decent and funny people from what I've read, too, so it's a shame they're just not in the same league. I don't know if I'd call this a classic, but it's still my favourite of theirs and one I'd rank above a lot of albums which do get put in that category. It was a real pleasure to listen to it for the first time in a few years.
Hadn't heard this before. They manage to do quite a lot in under three minutes that the songs running over three minutes somehow feel a lot longer than they are. Quite liked this.
It's banger after banger, the peak of Arctic Monkeys, what an iconic sound and how quickly it whips you back to a certain time. Incredible story-telling, I can remember finding the songs fascinating as they gave me a window into a different kind of life when I was like 14/15. Now however, there is a tinge of misogyny which I hadn't picked up on at the time songs like "Still take you home" can be hard to listen to now when you're properly listening to the words and everything. Still love you though Monkeys.
I found listening to this album a bit of a strange experience because it feels like these songs are so securely anchored in a particular time that to listen to them, like, seriously on my own was odd. It was a bit dated, like some serious misogyny going on there that I was not aware of at the time, but the bangers are still absolute bangers and I really like the down to earth way that the artic monkeys sing about things.
Well what an album. Artic Monkeys are just so iconic, I don't think they can be classed as landfill indie (like similar bands of their era). I love the story telling in their songs
One of my favorite albums when I started getting into music around age 13.
Fun and energetic! Not a fan of AM but this is the best album by them I've heard. I will definitely relisten more times. Favorite tracks: * The View From The Afternoon * From The Ritz To The Rubble * A Certain Romance
Pretty pretty good
This album was a lot of fun. I’d listen again
Initially did not dig it at all, but a very solid debut indeed
4.5, really impressed, but not enough for 5
Un dels grans clàssics del rock de la primera década del segle. En un moment en què NME encara era mitjà de gran rellevància a l'hora de modelar l'opinió pública a Europa, els van empènyer amb força fins i tot abans de sortir aquest primer disc. Molt molt de hype, merescut només fins a cert punt, com han demostrat ells mateixos, millorant al llarg de la seva discografia. Això sí, alguns dels himnes que aquí es troben, espurnes brillants de juventut i espontaneïtat, mereixen tot el reconeixement