AnyBlogDotCom: Arctic Monkeys album by album

The Monkeys burst into public view in October 2005 with the outrageously awesome "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor". Their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not also made a strong impression, with similar brash indie tracks. The band have since gone international, and are regarded as currently one of the biggest (if not the biggest) young UK bands, though - to be fair - have not yet delivered a song the equal of "Dancefloor". They have, however, remained interesting, developing and changing their musical approach, somewhat reminiscent (though not as creatively or successfully) as Radiohead.

Wikipedia:

Arctic Monkeys are an English rock band formed in Sheffield in 2002. The group consists of Alex Turner (lead vocals, guitar), Jamie Cook (guitar, keyboards), Nick O'Malley (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Matt Helders (drums, backing vocals). Former band member Andy Nicholson (bass guitar, backing vocals) left the band in 2006 shortly after their debut album was released.

Arctic Monkeys were heralded as one of the first bands to come to public attention via the Internet, with commentators suggesting they represented the possibility of a change in the way in which new bands are promoted and marketed.^[2] Their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006), became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history, and has been hailed as one of the greatest debut albums.^[3] It won Best British Album at the 2007 Brit Awards. The band's second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), was also acclaimed by critics and won Best British Album at the 2008 BRIT Awards. They went on to release Humbug (2009) and Suck It and See (2011).

The band's wider international fame came with the success of their critically acclaimed fifth album AM (2013), which was supported by the global hit "Do I Wanna Know?". It topped four Billboard charts and was certified platinum in the US. At the 2014 BRIT Awards, the album became their third to win British Album of the Year.^[4] Their sixth album, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018), was a major departure from the band's previous guitar-heavy work, instead being piano-oriented. It received a Best Alternative Music Album nomination at the 2019 Grammy Awards, their second to do so after Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.

In the United Kingdom, the band became the first independent-label band to debut at number one in the UK with their first five albums.^[5] The band have won seven Brit Awards; winning Best British Group and British Album of the Year three times, becoming the first band to ever "do the double" (that is, win in both categories) three times; a Mercury Prize for Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, an Ivor Novello Award, and 20 NME Awards. In addition, they have been nominated for five Grammy Awards,^[6] and received Mercury Prize nominations in 2007, 2013, and 2018.^[7] Both Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not and AM are included in NME's and different editions of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time lists.

AllMusic:

With their nervy and literate indie rock sound, Arctic Monkeys arrived in 2005 with a blast. Assisted by rave reviews and online word of mouth (they were one of the first bands to benefit from social media), the band quickly became a sensation in the United Kingdom, where they were seen as the heir apparent to the throne left vacant by Oasis and the Libertines. Buoyed by the single "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," their 2006 debut Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not briefly grabbed the title of fastest-selling album in British history. It landed on top of both the U.K. and U.S. rock album charts and took home the Mercury Prize. What set the group apart was Alex Turner, a singer/songwriter with a biting wit and grasp of English vernacular (not dissimilar to Paul Weller, the godfather of modern British rock). However, driven by their maverick creative spirit, Arctic Monkeys have proven highly unpredictable, reworking classic rock traditions on 2007's Favourite Worst Nightmare and beefing up their guitars with the assistance of Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme on 2009's Humbug. Eventually, they also laced in some of the louche lounge aspects of Turner's swinging side project the Last Shadow Puppets, as on 2013's AM, 2018's arty Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino, and 2022's The Car, but by that point, the band were a staple throughout the world: a respected, adventurous, and successful group who could easily be called Britain's biggest band of the early 21st century.

Recordings

Beneath The Boardwalk (2004)

Demos given away by the band at concerts. There was no official title - the name "Beneath The Boardwalk" was given by one fan when sharing the demos online, because he'd been given a CD at a venue called The Boardwalk.

The track list itself is a source of ambiguity as there is no official version of the collection. The collection was added to as more demos emerged from CDs given out for free by the band after gigs. Some variations of the collection included rare live performances.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"A Certain Romance"	5:24
2.	"Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts"	2:52
3.	"Choo Choo"	3:08
4.	"Cigarette Smoke"	2:56
5.	"Dancing Shoes"	2:25
6.	"Fake Tales of San Francisco"	3:04
7.	"Knock a Door Run"	4:27
8.	"Mardy Bum"	2:53
9.	"On the Run From the MI5"	1:43
10.	"Riot Van"	2:15
11.	"Scummy"	3:22
12.	"Still Take You Home"	3:09
13.	"Wavin' Bye to the Train or the Bus"	3:03
14.	"Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"	2:52
15.	"Stickin' to the Floor"	2:00
16.	"Space Invaders"	2:42
17.	"Curtains Closed"	2:10
18.	"Ravey Ravey Ravey Club (live)"	2:04

"I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"
Oct 2005

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)

Official debut album. Awesome.

Released	23 January 2006
Recorded	June–September 2005
Studio	The Chapel, South Thoresby 2 Fly, Sheffield^[a]
Genre	Indie rock garage rock revival post-punk revival punk rock alternative rock post-Britpop
Length	40:56
Label	Domino
Producer	Jim Abbiss^[a]

All tracks are written by Alex Turner, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The View from the Afternoon"		3:38
2.	"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"		2:53
3.	"Fake Tales of San Francisco"		2:57
4.	"Dancing Shoes"		2:21
5.	"You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights but You Were Staring Straight at Me"		2:10
6.	"Still Take You Home"	Alex Turner, Jamie Cook	2:53
7.	"Riot Van"		2:14
8.	"Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured"		2:23
9.	"Mardy Bum"		2:55
10.	"Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But..."		4:28
11.	"When the Sun Goes Down"		3:20
12.	"From the Ritz to the Rubble"		3:13
13.	"A Certain Romance"		5:31

Alex Turner – lead and backing vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, percussion
Jamie Cook – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals
Andy Nicholson – bass guitar, backing vocals
Matt Helders – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 10

Score: 9

"Brianstorm"

Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)

The tricky second album. Well, it's more considered, more melodic, more thoughtful, more clever, etc. But the first worked because of its raw and gleeful energy - because Turner and the band were coming out of a place of being unknown with the only way being up. It was cheeky, audacious, brave, wonderful, and damn near perfect. This album is a follow up - with expectations. There is some development, but not quite enough. It's a good album, and would have had its own impact if it was the debut, but nowhere near as big as the debut.

Released	23 April 2007
Recorded	December 2006
Studio	Miloco Garden, London Eastcote, London Motor Museum, Liverpool Konk, London
Genre	Post-punk revival indie rock garage rock post-Britpop
Length	37:18
Label	Domino
Producer	James Ford Mike Crossey

All tracks are written by Alex Turner, except where noted^[33].

*Favourite Worst Nightmare* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Brianstorm"		2:52
2.	"Teddy Picker"		2:40
3.	"D Is for Dangerous"		2:14
4.	"Balaclava"	Alex Turner Nick O'Malley	2:47
5.	"Fluorescent Adolescent"	Alex Turner Johanna Bennett	2:53
6.	"Only Ones Who Know"		3:01
7.	"Do Me a Favour"		3:25
8.	"This House Is a Circus"		3:09
9.	"If You Were There, Beware"		4:34
10.	"The Bad Thing"		2:23
11.	"Old Yellow Bricks"	Alex Turner Jon McClure	3:07
12.	"505"		4:13

Alex Turner – lead vocals; guitar (1–11), keyboards (12)
Jamie Cook – guitar (1–5, 7–12); backing vocals (1)
Matt Helders – drums (1–5, 7–12), backing vocals (1–5, 8, 10–11)
Nick O'Malley – bass guitar; backing vocals (1, 3–5, 8, 10)

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 9

Score: 6 1/2

At the Apollo (2008)

Live DVD and CD album (with a different setlist).

Released	3 November 2008
Recorded	17 December 2007
Venue	Manchester Apollo
Genre	Indie rock garage rock revival
Length	35:59
Label	Domino

DVD Manchester Apollo 17 Dec 2007

"Brianstorm"
"This House Is a Circus"
"Teddy Picker"
"I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"
"Dancing Shoes"
"From the Ritz to the Rubble"
"Fake Tales of San Francisco"
"When the Sun Goes Down"
"Nettles"
"D Is for Dangerous"
"Leave Before the Lights Come On"
"Fluorescent Adolescent"
"Still Take You Home"
"Da Frame 2R"
"Plastic Tramp" (with Miles Kane)
"505" (with Miles Kane)
"Do Me a Favour"
"A Certain Romance"
"The View from the Afternoon"
"If You Were There, Beware"

Bonus tracks

"Balaclava"
"Bad Woman" (guest vocal Richard Hawley)

CD
Live In Texas - 7 June 2006

Side 1

Riot Van
The View From The Afternoon
Still Take You Home
You Probably Couldn't See For The Lights But You Were Staring Straight At Me
Cigarette Smoker Fiona

Side 2

Perhaps Vampires Is A Bit Strong But...
Dancing Shoes
I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
When The Sun Goes Down
A Certain Romance

Alex Turner – lead vocals, guitar
Jamie Cook – guitar, backing vocals
Nick O'Malley – bass guitar, backing vocals
Matt Helders – drums, backing vocals

Humbug (2009)

Released	19 August 2009
Recorded	November 2008 – April 2009
Studio	Pink Duck (Burbank) Rancho De La Luna (Joshua Tree) Mission Sound (New York City)
Genre	Psychedelic rock hard rock stoner rock desert rock indie rock garage rock
Length	39:15
Label	Domino
Producer	Josh Homme James Ford

All tracks are written by Alex Turner.^[47]

No.	Title	Producer	Length
1.	"My Propeller"	James Ford	3:27
2.	"Crying Lightning"	Josh Homme	3:43
3.	"Dangerous Animals"	Homme	3:30
4.	"Secret Door"	Ford	3:43
5.	"Potion Approaching"	Homme	3:32
6.	"Fire and the Thud"	Homme	3:57
7.	"Cornerstone"	Ford	3:17
8.	"Dance Little Liar"	Homme	4:43
9.	"Pretty Visitors"	Homme	3:40
10.	"The Jeweller's Hands"	Homme	5:43

Alex Turner – lead vocals; backing vocals (3–6, 8–10), guitar; keyboards (3–4, 6, 8–10)
Jamie Cook – guitar
Nick O'Malley – bass guitar; backing vocals (1–6, 8–10)
Matt Helders – drums, percussion; backing vocals (1, 4–6, 8)

Wikipedia

AllMusic: 7

Score:

Suck It and See (2011)

A bit of Smiths at the start. And some Manic Street Preachers. A moderate but pleasant album.

Released	6 June 2011
Recorded	January–February 2011
Studio	Sound City, Los Angeles
Genre	Guitar pop indie rock indie pop psychedelic pop
Length	40:04
Label	Domino
Producer	James Ford

All tracks are written by Alex Turner, except where noted^[55].

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"She's Thunderstorms"		3:54
2.	"Black Treacle"		3:35
3.	"Brick by Brick"	Turner Matt Helders	2:59
4.	"The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala"		3:00
5.	"Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair"		3:03
6.	"Library Pictures"		2:22
7.	"All My Own Stunts"		3:52
8.	"Reckless Serenade"		2:42
9.	"Piledriver Waltz"		3:23
10.	"Love Is a Laserquest"		3:11
11.	"Suck It and See"		3:45
12.	"That's Where You're Wrong"		4:16

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score: 5

AM (2013)

It's OK.

Released	9 September 2013
Recorded	August 2012 – June 2013^[1]
Studio	Sage & Sound in Los Angeles Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree Vox in Los Angeles (keys)
Genre	Indie rock psychedelic rock blues rock
Length	41:38
Label	Domino
Producer	James Ford Ross Orton

All lyrics are written by Alex Turner, except where noted; all music is composed by Arctic Monkeys.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Do I Wanna Know?"		4:31
2.	"R U Mine?"	Turner, Nick O'Malley	3:21
3.	"One for the Road"		3:26
4.	"Arabella"		3:27
5.	"I Want It All"		3:04
6.	"No.1 Party Anthem"		4:03
7.	"Mad Sounds"	Turner, Alan Smyth	3:35
8.	"Fireside"		3:01
9.	"Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?"		2:41
10.	"Snap Out of It"		3:12
11.	"Knee Socks"		4:17
12.	"I Wanna Be Yours"	Turner, John Cooper Clarke	3:04

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score: 5

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino (2018)

Atmospheric and melodic, with a sound and feel of later Bowie. Interesting. Feels more like a Turner solo album than an Arctic Monkeys album.

Released	11 May 2018
Recorded	2016–2018
Studio	La Frette, Paris Vox, Los Angeles Unknown studios in London Lunar Surface, Los Angeles
Genre	Psychedelic pop lounge pop s pace pop glam rock
Length	40:51
Label	Domino
Producer	James Ford Alex Turner

All tracks are written by Alex Turner.

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Star Treatment"	5:54
2.	"One Point Perspective"	3:28
3.	"American Sports"	2:38
4.	"Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino"	3:31
5.	"Golden Trunks"	2:53
6.	"Four Out of Five"	5:12
7.	"The World's First Ever Monster Truck Front Flip"	3:00
8.	"Science Fiction"	3:05
9.	"She Looks Like Fun"	3:02
10.	"Batphone"	4:31
11.	"The Ultracheese"	3:37

Wikipedia

AllMusic:

Score: 7

The Car (2022)

It's been around 17 years since the Monkeys burst onto the scene with "Dancefloor". They've come a long way since then (or, rather, Turner has come a long way, as he is the Monkeys), though for most people they have not developed positively on from their debut album, nor even matched it. The tracks on this album are interesting, but as with the previous album this feels like a solo album. The influence here appears to be Scott Walker, and the general feel is of the baroque pop of the late Sixties. Yeah, the lounge lizard style is attractive, but this is not the excitement or promise of Whatever, and so there is a sense of continuing disappointment that Turner is exploring dead ends, no matter how interesting and pleasant these diversions are.

Released	21 October 2022
Recorded	2021 – July 2022
Studio	Butley Priory, Suffolk RAK Studios, London La Frette, Paris
Length	37:18
Label	Domino
Producer	James Ford

All tracks are written by Alex Turner except where noted. All music is composed by Arctic Monkeys.

*The Car* track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"There'd Better Be a Mirrorball"		4:25
2.	"I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am"		3:11
3.	"Sculptures of Anything Goes"	Turner Jamie Cook	3:59
4.	"Jet Skis on the Moat"	Turner Tom Rowley	3:17
5.	"Body Paint"		4:50
6.	"The Car"		3:18
7.	"Big Ideas"		3:57
8.	"Hello You"		4:04
9.	"Mr Schwartz"	Turner Rowley	3:30
10.	"Perfect Sense"		2:47