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

Absolutely essential listening. This perfectly encapsulates British youth culture in the early 2000s and beyond, delivering nothing but bangers.

The best thing they ever made probably. The Strokes if they were less cool but had more energy. I do not go back to this very often, but when I do it's always a good time.

A great debut album for the boys from Sheffield. Love the catchy songs and kitchen sink lyrics. 4

Kæmpe album!

Kæmpe debut. Kæmpe album.

That was my favourite album as a teenager. Pure energy.

- I’ve already saved most of the songs on this album, but on relisten the songs are a bit cringe and unremarkable - so I guess it’s one of my least favorite Arctic monkeys albums - mardy bum has immaculate vibes tho - back half of the album is much better - hmm listening to it again, the first is also not bad…

Great

The View From The Afternoon is one hell of an opener.

The guitar sound seems cliche, but I'm listening in 2026 and not when this was released. I think the sound of the guitar reminds me of Franz Ferdinand, but I might be just thinking of 2000's era radio friendly rock guitar. I didn't really find any song great, but they weren't terrible.

Stylish but a bit of indie dross. Fun listen.

Overflowing with the frenetic energy of youth. This is pure rock and roll.

4/5

#484 I was very much into this when it came out and I don’t listen to it much these days but returning to this was enjoyable, it really captured that moment in time very well. I didn’t really stick at the Arctic Monkeys beyond the first couple of albums but this is definitely the right album for the list. My familiarity with it in some ways counts against it, especially some of the singles that have had a lot of airplay down the years making it feel less novel. Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Mardy Bum; A Certain Romance Rating: 8/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

banger

fun album, good voice, its a vibe

YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH. The best AM album is still their debut (and that's saying something). All-round greatness, no notes. Nicholson does an absolutely terrific job on the bass here, and the tone is terrific - it glances sideways at other indie post-punk of its time (you can hear a lot of Franz Ferdinand here) but with that genuinely adolescent, angry 90s sensibility that faded away in the flood of radio-friendly pop-punk and nu-metal tripe of its era. Make no mistake - the Arctic Monkeys are clever players who beat the shit out of their instruments here. And it's still eminently danceable. Arctic Monkeys might be a white-collar's idea of what edgy music sounds like but it's music written by people with underage tattoos they regret. It positively bleeds the kind of brash, short-school-tie, confident coolness that people who wear black leather jackets think belongs to black leather jackets. And unlike those grey-haired mid-life-crises, this album has actually aged remarkably well. I'm still a sucker for that mid-2000s trend of long-ass titles too. It's a good bit that was lucky enough to burn out before it got too stale. Fav tracks: I Bet You Look Good..., Still Take You Home, Perhaps Vampires..., From The Ritz To The Rubble

First listen is solid, Fake tales of SF was probably my favorite so far but will listen again now While they aren’t my favorite band, they do have a nice raw sound that still lives up.

YESSSSSS The View from the Afternoon→9/10 I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor→10/10 Fake Tales of San Francisco→10/10 Dancing Shoes→10/10 You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight at Me→9/10 Still Take You Home→10/10 Riot Van→9.5/10 Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured→10/10 Mardy Bum→10/10 Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But...→9/10 When the Sun Goes Down→10/10 From the Ritz to the Rubble→10/10 A Certain Romance→10/10 best→ A Certain Romance worst→ Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But... overrated→ The View from the Afternoon underrated→ Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured overall→94/100 MUST HEAR Damn, so this‘s what we call a “no-skip album.” It’s got a solid structure and everything and it was way polished for a debut album. I really wish this masterpiece were the popular one instead of that AM one.

Classic alt rock record, captures de 00's vibe, danceble and disruptive, rebel and careless. Enjoyed every tune. Alex Turner's voice talks for a whole generation.

So, for the first time since 2021, the 1001 albums book got updated today. It added 13 new albums in which I have next to no interest in listening to at face value. I’d love to be proven wrong on my initial glance at who all got added, but it leads perfectly into yet another grievance I have with the book in general. They added several albums that literally just released this year. Albums that are unproven, not necessary in the slightest to listen to before you die, and will in all likelihood be forgotten about in short time. And yet, this is the only Arctic Monkeys album on the entire list. AM is nowhere to be found. One of my favorite albums of all time. Now, let me not sugar coat it, I freaking LOVE this album, so let me segue into actually talking about it. It’s still a 5, unequivocally and is better than a grand majority of the other albums on this list. It’s also the debut album for the Arctic Monkeys, and every song is perfect. I’m so obsessed with Alex Turner and his iconic voice, he’s one of those singers who I would easily be able to pick out of a crowd because they’re so unique and simply sound amazing. In a sea of a million English bands trying to sound like the Beatles over the course of this project, this is such a breathe of fresh air. It’s always fun rolling one of the albums you’ve been waiting for, and this is one of those albums for me. The song that got me into the band in the first place, “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”, is going to have to be my favorite song on the album. It’s so catchy, and the opening guitar riff and heavy drum banging are just so metal. Everything mashes together so well in that song, it’s an automatic “never skip” song that I’m always going to be in the mood to listen to. I was going to paste some of the lyrics of that song that always get stuck in my head, but I couldn’t decide on one specifically, so I’ll just say that they’re all good. The Arctic Monkeys are their own genre, and I love them for it. Incredible debut album, perhaps one of the best of all time, and just an incredibly solid album from top to bottom in general. This is a certified 5 star album and I will not tolerate any Arctic Monkeys slander in this household. I still wish they added AM, as that album very well be in my Top 10 all time, but I’m still unbelievably happy we at least get Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not all the same. It’s such a freaking banger.

Nice, very upbeat very catchy.

I like a few songs out of nostalgia, but the whole album is just okay over all.

In 2006 I absolutely hated "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" and was angry at how often I was subjected to the song, this band, and this general vibe. I've pretty much ignored them ever since. Anyway, today it's good shit, and Arctic Monkeys are a consistently creative, restless band. I dig it.

A classic 2000s album, now turning 20 years old. What a strong collection of songs that launched an entire career. My favs are the singles but all of them were very good.

Bekende single, de rest daardoor ook herkenbaar

An sich ein Album, das mir gefallen sollte und es ist auch ganz gut, hatte aber für mich keine Höhen und Tiefen. Mir ist nichts besonders hervorgestochen.

This was a pretty good album! Admittedly, I listened to maybe half of it in the morning, proceeded to completely forget about it, and then returned to it at EOD. The tracks had a good energy to them, they have the same feel as the MVP Baseball 2005 soundtrack, which is a good sign. 4/5, would bop No song really stood out on its own, but I think "Mardi Bum" was my favorite.

I listened this album before while on my search new songs alongside with Humbug(which is one my favorite albums, it's phenomenal). This is a great album very fun to listen to, very arctic monkeys lol

Start: 10.12 16/10/2026 1. The View From The Afternoon Favourite line: I want to see all of the things that we've already seen Rating: 3/5 Notes: Chorus beste stukje 2. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor Favourite line: Just banging tunes and DJ sets and Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness Rating: 5/5 Notes: BANGER 3. Fake Tales Of San Francisco Favourite line: And all the weekend rockstars are in the toilets Practicing their lines Rating: 3.5/5 Notes: Voel hem wel 4. Dancing Shoes Favourite line: And some might exchange a glance But keep pretendin' to dance Rating: 4.5/5 Notes: Ja dit is ook gwn weer een banger. 5. You Probably Couldn’t See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me Favourite line: And if it weren't this dark, you'd see how red my face has gone, yeah Rating: 4.5/5 Notes: Love de titel al, lyrics is ook nice. 6. Still Take You Home Favourite line: Oh, 'cause everybody's looking You've got control of everyone's eyes, includin' mine Rating: 3.5/5 Notes: Intro is heel nice, rest ook 7. Riot Van Favourite line: We didn't do that much wrong Still ran away though for the laugh, just for the laugh Rating: 4.5/5 Notes: oke slow song opeens, wel nice beetje in het midden. Instrumental break is perfect. 8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured Favourite line: He could have just told us no, though He didn't have to be rude Rating: 3/5 Notes: Wel lekker liedje, maar niet super bijzonder of zo 9. Mardy Bum Favourite line: Pullin' that silent disappointment face The one that I can't bear Rating: 5/5 Notes: Ja, weer een banger, instrumentaal goed, lyrics zijn goed, gewoon perfect eigenlijk. 10. Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But... Favourite line: Thinkin' 'bout things But not actually doing the things Rating: 5/5 Notes: intro notes zijn al geweldig; die basgitaar is perfect (vooral ook in het instrumentale deel aan het einde). De drums door het nummer heen zijn ook top. Lyrics en betekenis geweldig. 11. When The Sun Goes Down Favourite line: Can see it in his eyes, yeah, that he's got a nasty plan Rating: 4/5 Notes: Wat rustiger na de vorige, en daarna up tempo is top. 12. From the Ritz to the Rubble Favourite line: I said a thousand million things that I could never say this mornin' Rating: 3/5 Notes: Weet niet heel goed, love wel de ladadada aan het einde 13. A Certain Romance Favourite line: And it don't take no Sherlock Holmes To see it's a little different around here Rating: 5/5 Notes: omg de gitaarsolo na de heftige drums, geweldig nummer. Love verse 3 en de outro Favourite track: heel moeilijk, maar ik denk toch A Certain Romance Overall rating: 4/5

Important indie record and the only good one by this band

6/10

Still good 4.3/5

Heard and love a few of the hits, but never the whole album. Starts with a bang with View from the Afternoon and Dancefloor. Then you have Fake Tales and Dancing Shoes, so the album does NOT let up. It's one of those albums that so defines the band that played it that it has almost become a "best of" album. Hooks abound everywhere throughout this album, really gets caught in the noggin. Album is absolutely immense! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This album sounds like pre-gaming in my early 20s. I’ve got nothing but love for this era, but not one I’m likely to return to until I’m showing it to my son when he reaches 15 or so…

5,5

modern classic rock cool english vibes this is just an objectively great album worth listening to loudly

This album is great, but I definitely think “Favourite Worst Nighthmare” or “AM” should be on the list too or in place of this one. 4.5/5

8.9 really strong back half

I think I'd only previously heard songs off of AM, and was not a huge fan. This is so much better. Way more energy, love it.

wow

actually really good i fw the vibes, nothing particularly stuck out but still going to give 4/5 i think

Reipasta ja energistä musisointia ja tykkään myös miten vahvalla brittiaksentilla Alex Turner laulaa. 2000-lukulainen indie rock ei aina innosta, mutta tämä Arctic Monkeysin debyytti on oikein pätevä julkaisu.

So I know the Arctic Monkeys are a popular British rock band from 20-some years ago, but until now had never managed to hear them enough to form an opinion. While the first song on this album didn’t quite grab me, it started growing on me several tracks in. What I could catch of the lyrics on lots of these songs were good, reflecting a kind of gritty, sometimes grim kind of partying atmosphere, which felt honest. And the more punk-infused tracks were fun (“You Probably Couldn’t See…,” e.g.). So overall, I liked this. I’d say fave tracks were “Riot Van” and “Perhaps Vampires…,” especially with the crazy drumming at the end of the latter song. The long song titles were particularly amusing. I’ll listen to this again. Another album on the project that I went in not expecting much from, but ended up enjoying.

Mira amor, al arquitecto le caes bien 😂

So good

Love

its a bloody good debut you have to admit

Good overall, prefer AM

Very average album. Just ok.

Better but not great

This was a good album with an interesting sound. Not that I was blown away by it, especially the first half which I found to be somewhat repetitive. The back half of this record was much better though, especially tracks like Maddy Bum (well written) and my two favorite tracks on the album, When the Sun Goes Down and From the Ritz to the Rubble. Towards the end of this, I was digging what they were offering, so I went back and listened to it again and found I was liking it more and more. 4-stars. Original and cool.

don't know why i never got into these guys. this is a perfectly great rock album

Cool. First and final Arctic Monkeys. I've previously listened to "The Age of the Understatement" by The Last Shadow Puppets which, if I'm remembering correctly, was lead by the frontman of this group. However, unlike this album, The Age of the Understatement was pulled from later editions of the book with what I consider to be good reason. I honestly don't remember a single thing about that album outside of vaguely recollecting its grandiose atmosphere. I've probably heard an Arctic Monkeys song or two through the radio, though this might as well be my first time listening to them since I've never sought out their discography before. I do, however, know that these guys were integral to the development of indie rock throughout the mid-to-late 2000s and early 2010s, so I might as well give my seal of approval to this album from the outset. Also worthy of mention is that I removed The Age of the Understatement in my review of that album and replaced it with "...whatever the next best Arctic Monkeys album is." which, after briefly perusing Google, appears to be "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Anyways, PLAY THAT THEYANGGGGG. Shoulda known this was a garage rock album. Fortunately, this album isn't comprised of the horrific, sputtering, blown out guitars which are characteristic of the genre. Rather, there's actually some depth to the instrumentation of this album, complete with some commendably subdued, yet confident vocal performances. The obvious highlight of this album are the crunchy, reverberating guitars, which have just enough treble to shake these song without being overwhelming the music or ruining my enjoyment. The swirling, explosive percussion is an equally good fit for this album. Where this album falters for me has more to do with my natural interest in this genre. I just ain't a garage rocker, what can I say? As a result, many of these songs blended together and only barely held onto my attention, which made for an album that was fatiguing to listen to despite its short runtime. There were admittedly some decent cuts on this album (notably "Riot Van"), though I don't feel compelled to return to this album anytime soon. Book time. "...the Arctic Monkeys had the biggest impact on British music since Oasis snarled their way to No. 1 a decade previously." Arctic Monkeys got their start by handing out demo CDs to fans at their early shows, which were then reposted to MySpace in what the book describes as "...harnessing the site's immense promotional power for the first time." The lyrics are centered around observations of everyday life. Wikipedia says that both of the singles from this album topped the UK charts. By the time Arctic Monkeys' debuted, they had attracted massive attention from audiences, journalists and the music industry. To this day, the album remains the fastest-selling debut album in the UK. In the US, the album is the second-fastest selling debut to be released by an independent label. The album is widely praised for its youthful energy and is credited with revitalising the UK indie scene. It won a BRIT Award and the 2006 Mercury Prize along with being nominated for a Grammy. Critics loved it, with the album receiving enduring acclaim in the years following release in addition to making a few best-of lists. I don't know why I even did all of this research. I'm in this album's corner and I 100% cosign this inclusion.

4/5. One of the best indie debuts of the 2000’s, this thing just rips right from the start of opener “the view from the afternoon.” The songs are all simple but have such an energy and oomph to them that they just hit whether that be the bounce of “Dancing Shoes” or the banger “from the ritz to the rubble.” The guitar parts on this album are also all just so fun, the stuff that makes you want to pick your instrument up again. It’s such a good debut that at least in my opinion the band hasn’t topped it even 20 years later.

This one? Why, they have better albums.

Trop ressemblant

I think for me the album is a 6.5 or 7/10. The middle section of the album wasn't clicking for me, and i was struggling to get used to the voice, but the first and last couple songs were very good and pushed it up for me. Idk arctic monkeys genre, but it is one I haven't listened to before, so it is hard to get used to as I've usually only listened mainly to rap & rnb, and I was struggling to get any of the lyrics (bad quality airpods), but the vocals on specific songs I really enjoyed, and the beats were a standout throughout and were amazing throughout the album. Top 3: 1 - When the sun goes down (10/10 vocals and beat). 2 - From the ritz to the rubble (The building up in the last minute was great). 3 - The view from the afternoon (First song and got me anticipated and excited for the remaining songs, as the vocals and beat were energetic and sounded amazing).

I had only heard arctic monkeys big later hits, which were just ok, so I did not expect the rawness of this album. Really powerful garage rock, with some glimpses of where they would go next with "Riot Van". I think they lost the raw feel going forward, but I really loved it here. Like a british strokes or Jack White

Sounds like a lot of bands that came before them, but good that they're keeping it alive.

3.75. AM is my favorite Artic Monkeys album but this album is up there.

in 2022 i was so upset over not getting arctic monkeys tickets that i stopped listening to them for a few years but i've recovered now 👍 this was great

Short fast loud.

Was unfamiliar with this group previously, but enjoyed it quite a bit.

20 years ago, when this album represented the next big thing, it somehow passed under my radars. Now, given my age and background, I can't really relate to the Saturday night (mis-)adventures of a bunch of English teenagers. But I can certainly sympathize with their working class spontaneity, hunger and energy. Which is reflected in their music: tight, fun, energetic and sustained by skilled musicianship and clever songwriting.

- I feel like I should enjoy Arctic Monkeys. Instead, I just feel nothing when I listen to them. All of the craft on display is fine, even good, but nothing strikes me as particularly novel or interesting or passionate. Maybe because I am not British? Just give me some oomph. - Like the sound the most when they actually change up the pace and embrace a slower tempo, which is rare. So "Riot Van" and the start of "When The Sun Goes Down."

🐒🐒🐒🐒

2006 indie rock, sheffield accent, concept british nightlife I bet you look good on the dancefloor When the sun goes down Certain romance

Still a cracker of an album.

Just not my kind if music.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Near Perfect - The View From The Afternoon is brimming with energy. Alex Turner's sharp lyrics and rapid delivery sounds so fresh and engaging and the band is incredibly tight. Dancefloor might be overplayed but it is a great tune. Fake Tales is also fantastic. It rocks very hard and has some classic Turner witty lyrics. The next few tracks also keep up an incredible standard. Still Take You Home is a brilliant song with the guitar solo being one of my favourite moments on the album. Riot Van is first time the ferocious pace and intensity drop for a minute and it works beautifully. Red Lights gets us back to the whirl of a night out with a great bit of storytelling. Vampires is phenomenal, especially the bit where it drops out and then kicks in with the distant shout. When The Sun Goes Down is also brilliant. Ritz To Rubble is amazing and A Certain Romance finishes off an absolute stunner of a debut album. It's wild to think that they were just kids when they made this.

They are truly Arctic... and Monkeys.

10/10

Decent enough listen. Not a ton of individual songs that I loved. Definitely have to be in a certain mood for these guys and ready to listen to one of their projects, not just a couple of their songs. Likes: Riot Van, Mardy Bum, Ritz to the Rubble Rating: 6.6/10

Strong contender for my favorite album of the past 20 years.

Наверное, тоже четыре или три балла. Приятно более современное звучание но в конце концов я устала от этого

I would say 3.5. I liked it, it just felt one-dimensional to me

If an album feels like it actually is 1/10th of its actual length, it's a straight 5/5 for me.

Best Track - "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"

It was fine. Sounds pretty spot on for the mid 2000s. Does it need to be on the list though? No.

Not bad music but lots of songs about dancing and the club scene. The uptempo music works for the album but by the end all of the songs sounded the same. I liked the listen but won’t be going back to it.

Not sure how this band fooled everyone. This is boring, repetitive, uninspired generic OOs rock without any discernible uniqueness or character.

I liked this way more than expected. Nearly entirely new to me. Not the typical 00s garage rock, bit more nuanced and smooth. Clever lyrics, minimalist sound, not a great voice but distinctive and intersting. Oddly enough Riot Van was one of my favorite songs on the album. Fun story, simple classic sound. Not sure why I'm so amused and entertained by it, but I am. I actually listened to the album a few times to be sure i really did enjoy it as much as I thought i did. Turns out I enjoyed more with each listen. Great discovery.

I loooove AM, specifically van dit album: IBYLGOTD, Riot Van, From The Ritz To The Rubble, When The Sun Goes Down, A Certain Romance

Okay, so I only know of the wavey Arctic Monkeys album, but this one was pretty nice as well. It's pretty much the same throughout, but it's listenable, which is great. I would say that it is overall very nice even.

8 - GOOD

Alright

This was the sound of the mid-00s. No matter the person, almost everyone knew or loved the Arctic monkeys.

Such as good album. Banger after banger. Proper nostalgia. Surprised also not to see AM, Humbug, Favourite Worst Nightmare on here. There are no weak tracks on here, and the sound feels proper raw. Just wish a lot of there recent albums were on this level.

This is decent but would probably feel a lot cooler if I was a teenager when it came out. I like the Arctic Monkeys, but I think a lot of their stuff sounds pretty much the same. Favorite track: Let's go with "From the Ritz to the Rubble"

It's the sound of every montage chase scene from the 2000s era coming-of-age comedies. I'm not sure if that qualifies as a good thing or not. I don't hate it, but I also don't care if I ever hear it again.

I had heard much about the Arctic Monkeys but had never heard them. This was a pleasant surprise. Based on this album, I'm a fan. At least, I'm anxious to listen to their other material, because the music is tight, the lyrics literate, and I sense the confidence in what they're playing. I will listen to this again.

I was excited for today’s album having bought this when it came out and enjoyed it a lot. However, listening to it in its entirety in my mid-thirties has not been the same experience. Can’t deny it’s an insane debut album and the writing is clever - mundane events become hilarious anecdotes, and I feel like being both witty and honest is a quality you don’t hear in a lot of song lyrics today. However, listening now i can’t get past some of the misogynistic lines, which sucks. On this listen I found the upbeat tunes a bit samey - like slight alterations of the same thing. Possibly a symptom of listening to them a lot, but just don’t feel the tunes hit as hard as they used to (or maybe I’m just getting old). Overall I think it is a good album from this time and a cracking debut - I think that’s why it made this list, but not sure it’s a “classic”. Highlights: Cracking album opener! Love the complexity of all the musical parts - you can listen to each section individually and it stands strong alone, yet still works brilliantly together as one. Lowlights: 99% of the album just describes a night out on a northern high street in the 2000s, and looking back (as a northerner) in my mid-thirties it just sounds bloody grim 😂 Top tunes: The view from the afternoon, Red light indicates doors are secured Rating: 2.5

Cracking opener, starts with high energy. There are some absolute tunes on this album (Fake Tales of San Francisco, Red Light Means Doors are Secure(d) — listened to these as a teenager) but when you listen to them all together back to back as the album I don’t think they shine quite as much. The album has a cohesive sound but perhaps a bit samey. Or maybe it’s because the version I listened to had RLMDAS 3 times in a row and PVIABSB… twice in a row. Either way; 3.5/5 - just shy of very good

It was outstanding

I wish he could still write like this. All bangers if a little raw

Ashamed to say I’d not listened to this album in full for a long time (where are all the CD players?) but this is surely why we have the challenge- anyone hearing for the first time has got to go WOW! Track after track of original, dynamic, witty, catchy and well-observed tunes. Full of characters and experiences- coppers, bouncers, taxi drivers, chavs, ‘Top Shop Princesses’, drunken idiots and mates. References to vampires, many nights out on the pull in mighty hometown Sheffield and even Frank Spencer. Classic lines- ‘you’re not from New York City, you’re from Rotherham!’, ‘The proof that love’s not only blind but deaf’ Also the record that brought the meaning of Yorkshire word ‘mardy’ to the wider world. Still sounds fresh after 20 years. Outstanding 4.95/5

First time listening rather than catching the songs on the radio. Strong, consistent quality. Vocal style not to my taste (sorry Yorkshire folks) but a good listen regardless. I had high expectations based on reputation and they were met. I do not think I would get on well with the person in the album art.

Certainly my favourite band of all time and probably my fav album. Such a brilliant reflection of teenage life in the 00s, and I love all the Sheffield references. Alex Turner’s lyrics are genius as is the music. I struggle to believe that it was written by a group of teenagers. The individual songs are incredible and there isn’t a single track on the album that I skip. If only there more recent music was this good!

It’s impossible not to dance when you hear ‘I Bet You Would Look Good on the Dancefloor’. Classic indie rock with a Yorkshire twist making it unbeatable. Mardy Bum is one of my favourite songs of all time because we can all relate to when ‘you’ve got the face on’. Also shout out to the introduction of ‘When the Sun Goes Down’ which is iconic! ‘Up up and away’ a brilliant debut album but not my favourite Arctic Monkeys. A fabulous 4.5 from me - it has some of my absolute favourites but also a few songs I’m not fussed about.