There are those that would have you believe the Arctic Monkeys’ debut album, Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not, is a life changing experience. Hailed and hyped as “our generation’s most important band”, the Arctic Monkeys clearly have an unfair amount of expectations to live up to. For a band to live up to the insane praise the British media lavished upon the Monkeys, based entirely on some demos floating around the internet no less, they’d have to be so innovative and fresh that the world hadn’t seen anything like them before. “Our generation’s most important band” should at the very least be new.

Well, frankly Mr. Shankly the Arctic Monkeys are not innovative. In fact they aren’t even close to creating a sound that should be considered important. They simply regurgitate the British and American indie rock we’ve been hearing continually since Oasis’ Definitely Maybe and throw in some strong Strokes and Clash influences to spice things up. I won’t deny that they show a knack for catchy melodies and strong hooks, but everything they do has been done before. Perhaps they are rekindling a crunchy, punk rock romping that has been lost in the new wave dance craze most British bands have been over utilizing, but it’s still all been done. Not literally, but for such a hyped up juggernaut of a band you’d think they’d at least have a remarkably distinguishable sound.

If you’re able to move past the hype though, a feat few will accomplish, you’ll probably enjoy this album a lot more. Thinking of it as an incredible success story, dwarfing even that of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! (The amount of the unexpected success, not necessarily the music), with some solid music is a lot more just and accurate description than rock and roll savior. I take the title of the album, Whatever People Say I am, That’s What I’m not, quite literally. People say the Arctic Monkeys are the greatest thing since masturbation, but very little about them sets them apart from other bands that were hailed as such and failed to live up expectations.

As I’ve already said though, if you take an objective look at the Monkeys debut you’ll most likely be very pleased. I’d compare it to Franz Ferdinand or the Strokes’ debut albums in terms of worthwhile breaths of fresh air, but not monumental music.

The boys from Britain score big time right off the bat with the opening The View From the Afternoon, the undeniably captivating hit I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor, and the pace-changing Fake Tales of San Francisco. All three feature simple, yet bouncy riffs along with pounding drums and choppy guitars. If you don’t feel the need to bang your head around during any of these three songs you’re seriously devoid of all rhythm and love of music. Or the Arctic Monkeys just aren’t your style.

The problem with the rest of the album is that it’s pretty much the same style the rest of the way out. This could be fine, but most of the other songs don’t quite match up to the first three and therefore leave you feeling somewhat empty.

To make matters even worse when the band does try and delve into music that doesn’t sound like the soundtrack to a scene of rioting and partying they fall very short. Riot Van is a quiet introspective look at, I think, someone getting arrested but the song never goes anywhere. When it ends after two plus minutes you’re left wondering if you missed something. I kept waiting for the song to explode into the seemingly inevitable fist pumping chorus, but it never happened.

To give the Arctic Monkeys some credit in that regard they do correct the mistake of Riot Van on When the Sun Goes Down. Sun Goes Down starts with the same, clearly forced, emotion but then erupts into the hook laden rocker you’ve come to expect. In fact it ends up being one of the better songs on the album.

If somehow you haven’t already heard of the Arctic Monkeys I recommend checking them out without ever reading another word about them. If you have already heard the hype I suggest checking them out with a weary approach. Don’t expect this album to be in your stereo for the next six months straight and never grow old. It’s decent but it’s certainly not our generation’s most important band. Perhaps the Arctic Monkeys will live up to that claim later in their careers, but I highly doubt it. That’s a label no band, especially one as unimaginative and repetitive as the Monkeys, should be expected to achieve.

Song Rankings

$=Great Song
Download= Good Song
Skip= Average Filler
Garbage= Terrible Track

1. The View From the Afternoon- Download
2. I Bet That You Look Good on The Dance Floor- $
3. Fake Tales of San Francisco- Download
4. Dancing Shoes- Skip
5. You Probably Couldn’t See For the Lights But You Were Looking Straight At Me- Download
6. Still Take You Home- Skip
7. Riot Van- Garbage
8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secure- Download
9. Mardy Bum- $
10. Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But…-Skip
11. When the Sun Goes Down- $
12. From the Ritz to the Rubble- Download
13. A Certain Romance- Skip


Mid Year 2006 top 16


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Exercising

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