Everything Arctic Monkeys Week - Albums Ranked

The Arctic Monkeys are a beloved band that have put out a total of 6 studio albums over 12 years, each of which have topped the UK charts. This is my rating from worst to best of each album, and we all have our own opinions so I'd love to hear what everyone's favourites are. Now, let's begin with no. 6...

6

Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino (2018)

Their most recent and most divisive album, 'Tranquility Base' is a lounge-rock and piano driven LP that has been criticised heavily by fans for its lack of guitars. Personally I enjoy the vast majority of this album, particularly the title track and also the epic single 'Four Out of Five'. It may be their weakest project but its definitely still rewarding in my opinion. 7/10

5

Humbug (2009)

I have always found that the Arctic Monkeys third album has always lacked something for me... Of course, the lead single 'Crying Lightning' is a stupendous achievement for the band, and 'Dance Little Liar' is another brilliant song but besides that there just isn't enough interesting or fresh content for me in this album to excite me. Yes, it shows a more mature and clean version of the sounds they had on their first two albums, a great quality that for me saves the album. 8/10

4

Suck It And See (2011)

Generally fans of the band reject the psychedelic influences and tendencies of this album, whilst I hold onto it like a precious artefact. It retains the clever lyrics and perhaps improves the songwriting from previous albums and the guitar riffs and drum patterns are just as alive, just more focused, cleaner and less raw. Their are many highlights: the opener 'She's Thunderstorms', lead single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair', as well as all the other singles and the tracks 'Library Pictures', 'All My Own Stunts' and 'Reckless Serenade'. This is an album I can confidently say that I love. 8.5/10

3

Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007)

I imagine that putting this at number 3 will offend lots of people. I too love the focused energy, brilliant hooks and catchy riffs, especially on songs like 'Brainstorm', 'Fluorescent Adolescent' and 'The Yellow Road'. The only thing that keeps me from placing this higher is that the albums above it are superior. 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is certainly one of my favourite albums ever; it's guitars and drums and lyrics and instrumentation and energy, they're all undeniably awesome. Overall it is an extremely fun album, one to come back to over and over and over again. 9/10.


2

AM (2013)

The album that broke the Arctic Monkeys into the US mainstream. The album that incorporates hip-hop drum beats and sees the band go in a new and exciting direction; 'AM' is a divisive album for fans of the band, yet for me it's always been a highlight of their discography that includes some of their very best lyricism and songwriting as well as a proficient amount of guitars and grooves throughout. The lead single 'R U Mine?' has got to be one of their most catchy songs with some excellent riffs and energy, and then there's the international hit single 'Do I Wanna Know?', a pulsating song with fantastic grooves, beats and lyrics. I like every song on this album, especially 'Fireside', 'Knee Socks' and the single 'Snap Out of It'. Even the lower moments on the album like 'One For The Road' and 'No. 1 Party Anthem' are enjoyable, just a bit bland and uninteresting (especially the latter). 'AM' excells, entertains and entraps me. It's a cynosure album, 9/10.

1

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

Their debut and most highly regarded album. The amount of fun here is immeasurable, it'll always be a fantastic, raw and amusingly blunt LP with some incredible choruses, thoroughly entertaining lyrics and engaging energy from start to finish. This is the album that has two UK no. 1 singles with the classic 'I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor' and the brilliant 'When The Sun Goes Down'. This is the album that has 'Mardy Bum', 'Riot Van' and my personal favourite Arctic Monkeys song: 'A Certain Romance'. This is the album that defined the band, that introduced them in all their splendid roughness and imperfections and somehow that's what makes this so perfect. The riffs are just amazing, the drums explosive and Alex Turner's vocals raw and emotional. This is my favourite Arctic Monkeys album and for very good reasons it's a 9.5/10.