Oh Sheffield So Much to Answer for…

I wanted to do a post about the Arctic Monkeys as many of you know they are a huge part of my record collection and musical journey.
The band themselves have gone through a number of iterations and stages. Each album showcased a change and whilst some were more radical than others.

It’s safe to say that the Arctic Monkeys haven’t made the same album twice.
2006 was when the band first broke through with 13 songs that launched them to stratospheric heights. ‘Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not’ became the fastest selling debut album ever! As well spawning two number one singles ‘I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ and ‘When the Sun Goes Down.’ The Arctic Monkeys had arrived and they were here to stay.

The so called difficult second album didn’t seem to phase the band and ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ was released a year later in 2007, it picked up where the first album left off. Whereas the previous record had followed a concept (a night out) the follow up was just a collection of brilliant songs, including fan favourites ‘Brianstorm’ and ‘505’. This sound had made fans fall in love with the band and even earned them a spot headlining Glastonbury! Two albums in.

2009 saw a change for the Arctic Monkeys. ‘Humbug’ was a real left turn and moved away from the sound that made many fans fall in love with the band, it was a darker and much grittier album. Many fans felt confused, they had moved away from the sound that got them to the stage. Alex Turner simply had grown up and the fame and fortune that came with being a rockstar started to come. In many respects ‘Humbug’ is the most interesting record that the band have ever made, it’s also in my opinion the most important.

‘Suck It & See’ was released two years later and its a much less darker affair than ‘Humbug’. The album has some brilliant pop songs on it. ‘That’s Where Your Wrong’ and ‘The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala’ are probably the closest things we will get to an Alex Turner pop song. This album also set the foundations for what would arrive two years later.

‘AM’ the bands 5th album was released in 2013 and the impact it had could quite possibly rival the bands debut. It was huge. A new influx of fans arrived including many from my generation. Anthems like ‘R U Mine’ and ‘Do I Wanna Know’ became Arctic Monkeys classics within there own right. They also managed to become universally accepted songs amongst the general population. This album also led to the band headlining Glastonbury for the second time. The impact of ‘AM’ cannot be underestimated it’s one of the most important records of the 2010’s.

Fans would need to wait 5 years for the next effort from the band, and those who wanted ‘AM2’ well they were disappointed. What we got instead was ‘Tranquillity Base Hotel And Casino’ another concept album, about a hotel on the moon for ageing rock stars. If Humbug was a left turn, this record was Alex Turner completely ripping up the rule book. It’s unlike anything we’d ever heard from the band before. It’s a very marmite album. You either love it or you hate it. I’m in the former camp. However I understand those who dislike the album. The band through a huge curveball and I think there was a part of them that wanted to see how fans dealt with it.

2022 saw Arctic Monkeys release 'The Car' if fans were expecting a return to their roots, they were likely disappointed. It picked up where Tranquility Base had left off, but also saw the band showcase their skills again. Songs like 'Body Paint' allow Matt Helders to really express himself, and atmospheric strings. Orchestrated by Jamie Cook litter the record. 

In summary, the Arctic Monkeys are one of my favourite bands, I genuinely love all of there albums. Each one is a different listen. At the moment I’m enjoying the early stuff about nights out, drinking, fights in taxi ranks and small town escapism. However there is some days where I love to hear the tales of rockstars on the moon. And others where I want to listen to the tales of ‘Arabella’. Where some bands would have stood still. Let’s be honest the success they got from a blistering debut could have meant the Arctic Monkeys carried on making music like that, instead they evolved and changed.
Only very few greats do that… Love them or hate them, one thing you cannot do is discredit them.

They have become one of the most important bands ever. In terms of what they have done musically, they are up there with The Beatles, Bowie, Bob Dylan, Fleetwood Mac. Whatever they do from this point in, people will be with them. What they have done previously has given them creative licence to go anywhere. I admire that about them, they are not a band who want to stand still, and now they are writing some of their best songs. Lyrically Tranquilty Base Hotel & Casino and The Car are some of the bands best work.

And for those of you who don’t like the new stuff, that old stuff hasn’t gone away, it’s still there. Those great songs that made us fall in love with these Sheffield lads are still available, and many of them have become part of the furniture.

When they come around again. We all go giddy, they still have that pulling power. A stadium tour for an album that had mixed reception from fans sold out instantly. ‘The Car’ will soon back in the garage, and we will all await for the next Monkeys record with bated breath. Wondering where they’ll go next on this journey. 

Thank you for reading x