Sheffield's mightiest heroes have had a cracker of a year. Their sixth studio album 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' was released to critical acclaim, before they embarked on a mammoth US and European festival crawl including headline slots at NOS Alive, Primavera and TRNSMT. Next up, the four piece will be heading out on their first UK arena tour since 2014, which predictably sold out in minutes. If anyone can sort us a ticket for one of the many London shows, we're not fussy which.
To celebrate the new tour, we thought we'd take a deep dive into one of our generation's most successful bands, ranking their increasingly diverse back catalogue from worst to best.
6. Favourite Worst Nightmare
It's not a shit record by any stretch of the imagination (it's fair to say Arctic Monkeys don't have any of those), but 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is definitely the band's weakest. The follow up to their record breaking debut, 'FWN' had it's fair share of bangers but doesn't quite hold up as a single body of work.
Opening track 'Brianstorm' was an instant classic, with Matt Helders' performance potentially his best as an Arctic Monkey. 'Teddy Picker', 'The Bad Thing' and 'Old Yellow Bricks' are also brilliant, harking back to the first album's sound everyone so desperately wanted more of. But, unfortunately, the album comes across very 'samey samey'.
A favourite of the Inbetweener's generation, with 'Fluorescent Adolescent' sound-tracking many an episode, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is great in many ways, but doesn't stand the test of time as well as other Monkeys' offerings.
5. Suck It and See
'Suck It and See' is Arctic Monkeys going heavy, as their fourth album ditched the simple riffs for something with a lot more attitude. Here, the band shake the immature sound that could be heard on 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' and (arguably) even their electrifying debut.
Lead single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' saw the band progress from the darker sounds of the experimental 'Humbug' album to a fully formed stadium rock outfit. The ridiculous lyrics and bombastic production were the perfect introduction to their new sound.
Tracks like 'Library Pictures' and 'Brick By Brick' brought further grit, while 'Love is a Laserquest' and Turner's 'Piledriver Waltz' (previously heard on his 'Submarine Original Soundtrack') showed a more tender side, which would continue to grow through future albums.
'Suck It and See' is Arctic Monkeys going heavy, as their fourth album ditched the simple riffs for something with a lot more attitude. Here, the band shake the immature sound that could be heard on 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' and (arguably) even their electrifying debut.
Lead single 'Don't Sit Down 'Cause I've Moved Your Chair' saw the band progress from the darker sounds of the experimental 'Humbug' album to a fully formed stadium rock outfit. The ridiculous lyrics and bombastic production were the perfect introduction to their new sound.
Tracks like 'Library Pictures' and 'Brick By Brick' brought further grit, while 'Love is a Laserquest' and Turner's 'Piledriver Waltz' (previously heard on his 'Submarine Original Soundtrack') showed a more tender side, which would continue to grow through future albums.
4. Humbug
Seen as a bridge album before 'Suck It and See', third album 'Humbug' took many fans by surprise. The direction they took didn't go down too well with everybody, most notably the indie-cindy-lad-rock demographic.
Produced by Josh Homme and longtime collaborator James Ford, 'Humbug' saw Arctic Monkeys explore a more experimental side, while still embracing the catchy riffs fans knew and loved. And though the move wasn't universally appreciated, slowing down the tempo drew attention to some exceptional song writing.
You can't talk about 'Humbug' without 'Crying Lightning' - the lead single is up there as one of the band's best ever. And the beautiful 'Conrnerstone' has now become a mainstay of their incredible live performances. Despite gems like this however, there are some quite forgettable tracks - and Turner's vocal melodies can leave a lot to be desired.
Although it's clear the band are finding their feet in this new style, "Humbug' gives us the first glimpse of magic yet to come. This album took four young lads from Sheffield in a new, experimental direction that would eventually evolve to near perfection. And for that we're eternally grateful.
Seen as a bridge album before 'Suck It and See', third album 'Humbug' took many fans by surprise. The direction they took didn't go down too well with everybody, most notably the indie-cindy-lad-rock demographic.
Produced by Josh Homme and longtime collaborator James Ford, 'Humbug' saw Arctic Monkeys explore a more experimental side, while still embracing the catchy riffs fans knew and loved. And though the move wasn't universally appreciated, slowing down the tempo drew attention to some exceptional song writing.
You can't talk about 'Humbug' without 'Crying Lightning' - the lead single is up there as one of the band's best ever. And the beautiful 'Conrnerstone' has now become a mainstay of their incredible live performances. Despite gems like this however, there are some quite forgettable tracks - and Turner's vocal melodies can leave a lot to be desired.
Although it's clear the band are finding their feet in this new style, "Humbug' gives us the first glimpse of magic yet to come. This album took four young lads from Sheffield in a new, experimental direction that would eventually evolve to near perfection. And for that we're eternally grateful.
3. AM
On their fourth album, Arctic Monkeys went stratospheric. Breaking all kinds of records and garnering critical acclaim, 'AM' embraced groove and oozed cool. Alex Turner donned a new teddy boy haircut, a sharp suit and an incredibly odd accent to deliver tracks full of infectious melodies and grungy riffs.
Bringing another change in direction, 'AM' embraced elements of disco and even hip hop, and Matt Helders' drum patterns took a simpler turn (apart from on the rousing lead single 'R U Mine?'). Josh Homme's influence is once again all over this record with falsetto vocals and deep, heavy bass riffs throughout.
On AM, the band are their most playful musically. 'Snap Out of It' is a perfect pop masterpiece and the incredible 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' is a testament to James Ford's perfect production. The overall sound is what makes this album score so highly, and something the band would come to perfect in their most recent release.
On their fourth album, Arctic Monkeys went stratospheric. Breaking all kinds of records and garnering critical acclaim, 'AM' embraced groove and oozed cool. Alex Turner donned a new teddy boy haircut, a sharp suit and an incredibly odd accent to deliver tracks full of infectious melodies and grungy riffs.
Bringing another change in direction, 'AM' embraced elements of disco and even hip hop, and Matt Helders' drum patterns took a simpler turn (apart from on the rousing lead single 'R U Mine?'). Josh Homme's influence is once again all over this record with falsetto vocals and deep, heavy bass riffs throughout.
On AM, the band are their most playful musically. 'Snap Out of It' is a perfect pop masterpiece and the incredible 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?' is a testament to James Ford's perfect production. The overall sound is what makes this album score so highly, and something the band would come to perfect in their most recent release.
2. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Probably one of the most famous debut albums of the last thirty years, 'Whatever People Say I Am...' injected life into a very stale British rock scene. A product of self promotion on MySpace, the band's rough, topical and highly relatable music became the soundtrack of life for thousands of kids up and down the country. At the time, the album was the fastest selling debut album in British history selling an impressive 120,000 copies in it's first week.
Songs like 'Fake Tales of San Francisco', 'Still Take You Home', and 'When the Sun Goes Down' transcended social groups and inspired kids from all backgrounds to pick up a guitar and start a band. Looking back now, the impact this album had was incredible and something amazing to be a part of.
Packed full of charm and Yorkshire wit, 'Whatever People Say I Am..." made people sit up and start believing the hype.
1. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
The band blew 2018 apart with the release of their sixth studio album 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino', and once again turned a lot of their fan base against them. 'Where are the guitars?!', people cried. 'It's so self indulgent!' was another common complaint. And even on this very blog, we only gave it an average 7/10. Oh how wrong we were.
This album has grown in our humble opinion to be easily the best thing Turner and co. have done. Yes, it's lyrically bonkers. Yes, it sometimes feels like a Bowie cast-off. But 'Tranquility Base...' is the perfect illustration of why bands need to change and adapt to stay relevant. The lads are no longer spotty teens queuing to get into clubs in Sheffield, but grown men living it up in LA headlining every festival in the world.
'What do you mean you've never seen Blade Runner?' is a line that will stick forever and the riff seconds after is one of the best moments on an album full of amazing moments. The guitar solo on 'She Looks Like Fun' and the slight break at the end of 'Four Out of Five' are just a few of many touches of class throughout this record.
Who would've predicted back in 2006 that Arctic Monkeys would one day be singing about space hotels over psychedelic instrumentations? Not us. And for that, we love them. 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' is hopefully just the start of an even more exciting, more interesting, and more challenging Arctic Monkeys, who'll keep surprising us for years to come.
Probably one of the most famous debut albums of the last thirty years, 'Whatever People Say I Am...' injected life into a very stale British rock scene. A product of self promotion on MySpace, the band's rough, topical and highly relatable music became the soundtrack of life for thousands of kids up and down the country. At the time, the album was the fastest selling debut album in British history selling an impressive 120,000 copies in it's first week.
Songs like 'Fake Tales of San Francisco', 'Still Take You Home', and 'When the Sun Goes Down' transcended social groups and inspired kids from all backgrounds to pick up a guitar and start a band. Looking back now, the impact this album had was incredible and something amazing to be a part of.
Packed full of charm and Yorkshire wit, 'Whatever People Say I Am..." made people sit up and start believing the hype.
1. Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
The band blew 2018 apart with the release of their sixth studio album 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino', and once again turned a lot of their fan base against them. 'Where are the guitars?!', people cried. 'It's so self indulgent!' was another common complaint. And even on this very blog, we only gave it an average 7/10. Oh how wrong we were.
This album has grown in our humble opinion to be easily the best thing Turner and co. have done. Yes, it's lyrically bonkers. Yes, it sometimes feels like a Bowie cast-off. But 'Tranquility Base...' is the perfect illustration of why bands need to change and adapt to stay relevant. The lads are no longer spotty teens queuing to get into clubs in Sheffield, but grown men living it up in LA headlining every festival in the world.
'What do you mean you've never seen Blade Runner?' is a line that will stick forever and the riff seconds after is one of the best moments on an album full of amazing moments. The guitar solo on 'She Looks Like Fun' and the slight break at the end of 'Four Out of Five' are just a few of many touches of class throughout this record.
Who would've predicted back in 2006 that Arctic Monkeys would one day be singing about space hotels over psychedelic instrumentations? Not us. And for that, we love them. 'Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino' is hopefully just the start of an even more exciting, more interesting, and more challenging Arctic Monkeys, who'll keep surprising us for years to come.
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