Arctic Monkeys is a British rock band from Sheffield, England formed in 2002 and composed of singer/songwriter and guitarist Alex Turner, lead guitarist Jamie Cook, bassist Nick O’Malley, and drummer Matt Helders. The band quickly rose to fame following the release of their debut record, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006. Throughout the years, Arctic Monkeys have never been afraid to change up their style and experiment with new genres and instruments. Records in their discography such as Humbug follow a more sludgy and psychedelic format, while AM is heavily influenced by modern R&B and hip hop. Overall, Arctic Monkeys left an indelible mark on music through their bold changes in style and immaculate timing.

THE VERY BEGINNING

Arctic Monkeys’ first EP, Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys, was released in 2005. The EP features two tracks, a recording of “Fake Tales of San Francisco”, and a B-side titled “From the Ritz to the Rubble.” The songs are stripped down and raw, with the instrumentation being played live and consisting entirely of two guitars, a bass, and a drum set recorded in a room with Alex’s vocals sung over the mix. Overall, the EP is quite rudimentary and establishes the band’s style. The band grew in popularity and quickly sold many CDs, eventually getting signed to the record label Domino.

DIRTY DANCEFLOORS AND DREAMS OF NAUGHTINESS

Following the release of Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys and several live gigs, the Monkeys attracted attention in North England. They quickly released a single titled “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” a head-spinningly fast-paced song with guitar solos and intense drumming. Alex sings about a girl he sees every day and wonders how she will look if he takes her out. Youthful romance is a common theme throughout early Arctic Monkeys songs, along with themes of partying and long nights out.

Arctic Monkeys released their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in 2006, which became the fastest-selling debut record in the UK. The album can be stylized as an indie punk rock record with lyrics on the life of clubbing in Northern England. Songs such as “The View From The Afternoon” feature adventurous guitar interplay between Alex and Jamie, and the lyrics are about continuously trying (and failing) to get a girl at a bar at night. The tracks from Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys and the single “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” are included on the record. The tracks have been polished more, although musically and lyrically they remain the same. Songs such as “Still Take You Home” and “Dancing Shoes” are strictly about young love and trying to make a move on someone who may not necessarily share the same feelings. The distorted guitars featured throughout the album are contrasted by the softer jangly tones of “Riot Van” and “Mardy Bum,” with the former about partying without a care in the world and the latter about a man and his “mardy” girlfriend (the word mardy is Yorkshire slang meaning sulky.) Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is the only record to have featured Andy Nicholson, the former bassist of the band who left shortly after the album’s release. 

The album was released during a rock revival scene in the UK and the US during the 2000s, along with other records like Is This It by The Strokes (2001), Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol (2002), Franz Ferdinand by Franz Ferdinand (2002), A Fever to Tell by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2003), Hot Fuss by The Killers (2004), and Silent Alarm by Bloc Party (2005). Arctic Monkeys especially drew influence from The Strokes, replicating their raw, distorted sound and their fashion. Although Arctic Monkeys were late to release their debut, their work stood out from other indie bands due to their thick accents and aggressive guitar tone unmatched by other bands of the time. Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not propelled the “landfill indie” movement consisting of guitar-based alternative rock bands mimicking the style of Arctic Monkeys and previous bands. The album established Arctic Monkeys as one of the most daring and bold bands in the early 2000s, and the Monkeys were quick to follow it up with an effort to improve their unique style.