Arctic Monkeys Albums Ranked

First of all I'd like to say I'm a massive Arctic Monkeys fan. I remember downloading "Dance Floor" from Limewire (remember that?) as news spread about this cool new band from Sheffield playing music in a way we'd never heard before and it really did feel like that, one of those generationally bands that only come around once in a while. Damon Albarn recently said that AM are the last great rock band and I do think he has a point here as I'm struggling to think of any band since that has had such a profound effect on the industry? Here I rank all seven of their albums and my reasoning. If you enjoy this read please take a look at my other posts and share this blog on your socials. 

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7) Suck It And See - 2011 James Ford

Whatever record came bottom of my list I'm sure there will be some who disagree and I fully understand because really AM haven't made a bad  record have they? For me Suck It And See is the one I just really don't connect with. This was the start of their gun slinging western/rocker days with their leather jackets, brylcreem haircuts and motorbikes. I just feel like sandwiched in-between Humbug and AM this record is a bit out there on it's own and I don't really feel that they've taken any sort of direction with it. My favourite song from this era was actually a B side called Evil Twin featuring Richard Hawley and I was lucky enough to see this performed live in London's O2 arena. Piledriver Waltz and Library Pictures are the two songs I lean towards when listening to this record and although not my favourite it still holds up today almost fifteen years later.   

6) Tranquillity Base Hotel & Casino - 2018 James Ford & Alex Turner

The absolute marmite of Arctic Monkeys records. Five years after AM the guys turned up with this kind of concept album that I think even the band themselves knew was defiantly out there and different. There were no singles releases before the album dropped which in this day and age was unheard of adding to the air of mystery around it's release. I have friends, big AM fans who can't stand this record whereas I'm very much on the fence. Some days I'll adore the immersive experience that the record brings taking you on this journey to the moon and this hotel casino and other days it's not a bit of me. The whole thing is very Kubrick-esque especially if you watch the music videos they released and I remember seeing a "making the album" documentary on YouTube where Alex is wearing a Clockwork Orange t shirt so it's say to safe he was really in that kind of headspace when making the record. Should it of been a Alex solo record? Yes possibly but I think as a band if they didn't make this then we wouldn't of got The Car and I maintain the best thing about Arctic Monkeys is that they aren't afraid to push boundaries, explore new horizons and for me that's exactly what I want in a band. American Sports and Four Out Of Five are my favourites from this refreshingly unique album that really did push Arctic Monkeys in yet another artistic direction.      

5) Favourite Worst Nightmare - 2007 James Ford & Mike Crossey

The difficult second album proved to be not so difficult for the Arctic Monkeys. Although commercially not as successful the band cemented themselves as indie kings with pretty much a like for like record from their debut in turns of musicianship and snappy lyrics. Part of me believes they made this album to prove WPSIATWIN wasn't a fluke and another part of me thinks it's because they didn't want to alienate some of their fans too soon which is what album three, Humbug did. Fred Perry polos emblazoned Brianstorm was the perfect single to kick off the new record and while Fluorescent Adolescent and Teddy Picker deserve honourable mentions 505 is the stand out track on this record. Supported by Miles Kane on guitar I believe this is their strongest ending to a album (yes that includes A Certain Romance) and showed a slightly heavier darker side to the band that was perhaps a sign for things to come. Old Yellow Bricks isn't bad either, it would make a great name for a blog...

4) The Car - 2022 James Ford

The Car, the bands latest instalment and their only record not to make the UK Number 1 album slot on the week of it's release (who gives a shit about the charts anyway?) Those hoping of a return to the AM rock n roll era were again disappointed as the guys released first single There'd Better Be A Mirrorball a slow melodic track featuring violins and reflective Turner lyrics doesn't quite set the pacing of the album but it defiantly isn't leather jackets and motorbikes more comfy shoes and summertime walks. Again friends of mine were unimpressed whereas I'm a big fan of the record. I think it shows true evolution of the band musically with songs like I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am and Jet Skis On The Moat. Granted there's a lull towards the end but the first six or seven tracks are superb with Sculptures Of Anything Goes right up there with some of my top AM songs, I'm so glad they open their set with it now. It brings a bellowing sense of almost dread and could easily be part of a movie score. For me this record was inspiring, artistic and exciting which leaves me intrigued to see what the guys do next.      

3) Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not - 2006 Jim Abbiss

The debut album. The one which (at the moment) everyone remembers them for. The one which sold hundreds of thousands of records within the first week. The one which I really, really, struggle to listen to these days! Back in 2006 this album was like the bible for me. I'd play it every day, I'd learn the lyrics I was so into them as a band I just couldn't get enough. I was sixteen then and I'm thirty three now and personally this record just isn't what it was for me which is probably why it's only third on the list. Again, drunken conversations with my friends they can't understand why I feel this way and my answer is always the same, I'm just not sixteen anymore. Do I care about tracky bottoms tucked in socks? Not really. Of course I admire the the lyrics, as said in the preamble this record had a hell of a impact within the music industry some comparing Turners lyrics to Shakespeare but as I've grown older I've learned to appreciated the finer things when listening to music like production etc and this isn't the best which I think the band have previously admitted. This is the only record of theirs not produced by James Ford and it does tell, but perhaps I'm being too harsh here as WPSIATWIN is a stone cold classic that will without doubt will be forever remembered in the same vein as Definitely Maybe and The Stone Roses as amazing debut LP's from British Bands. Going through the track listing it's difficult to pick a bad song and although this isn't my go to album anymore it still holds a special place in my heart and takes me back to a special time in my life. 

2) AM - 2013 James Ford  & Ross Orton

This album was huge in every sense of the word. I remember the night they headlined Glastonbury, the anticipation of the set was enormous and as they entered the stage and the lights went out you could hear a pin drop before Jamie Cook belted out the opening chords to Do I Wanna Know, absolute magic! I believe this is commercially their biggest album and it was kind of a pinnacle for them as a band, the Arctic Monkeys had grown up and become rock superstars. R U Mine was released ages before the LP came out and it was notably a different style to their previous record Suck It And See with a heavier tone and that track really did set the bar for what was to come. I always say this record is one song away from being perfect. I cannot stand I Want It All! What the hell is it doing there? It's rubbish. No1 Party Anthem is absolutely superb, what a title and beautifully produced song where John Copper Clarkes poem I Wanna Be Yours is brought to life enigmatically by Turner. Other tracks Arabella and Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High bring almost a hint of RnB to the record while Fireside is the bands first use of a drum machine. A fantastic album by a band really at the top of their game at a time in their career where they just wanted to be rock stars. 

    

1) Humbug - 2009 Josh Homme & James Ford 

Humbug is my NUMBER ONE rated Arctic Monkeys album. I know some won't agree but this album done so much for the band themselves and for me personally. It opened my eyes to the different, darker side of music where not everything had to be catchy sing a long melodies and riffs. I remember upon release there being mixed reviews, even from myself who was expecting another FWN and on first listen I'm not ashamed to admit I thought what the hell is this?! The famous story is Turner lost his notebook with lyrics and ideas in for album three which in turn made him start writing again which then led to Humbug, a happy coincidence so to speak. The album grew and grew on me every listen as I came to appreciate the subtle lyrics and melodies and embraced the bands "grunge" side. I began to think why have they gone here, why have they changed then I realised they told us all along Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not the title of their debut LP they told us that this isn't really them. Those songs, the Fred Perry polos, the tracky bottoms tucked in socks isn't ALL they were and know they're starting to show us and they've continued to show us record after record since. Humbug is the only album which features the band in person on the artwork. I wonder why that is? I remember one Christmas a mate and I put the whole album on the jukebox in our local pub, it didn't go down too well! 

This record interesting produced by both Josh Homme (Queens of the Stoneage) and James Ford really marked a turning point in AM career both lyrically and musically and it amazes me that they were able to take this leap so early in their careers where it would of been so easy just to repeat past success. My Propeller, Crying Lighting, Pretty Visitors are so far removed from the Teddy Pickers and Fluorescent Adolescents of this world but the band are able to pull it off and with impeccable style and charisma and confidence. Dance Little Liar and Cornerstone (still a live classic) are my favourite tracks from this coming of age master piece of a album from  my favourite band the Arctic Monkeys...