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

by Arctic Monkeys

Overview

Sheffield, England, foursome Arctic Monkeys started 2005 as relative unknowns but -- thanks to some catchy songs, an impressive live show, and a rabid, Internet-savvy fan base -- became a music industry phenomenon by year's end. Their first two singles debuted at No. 1 on the British charts, as did this album, which is officially the fastest-selling debut in British recording history. It's a bit hard to hear the music for the hyperbole at this point, though if you can cut through the ballyhoo it's easy to see what at least some of the fuss is about. Musically, Arctic Monkeys' shambolic, melodic rock isn't so different from any number of other contemporary bands who spent the last five years listening to the Strokes and the Libertines (and maybe the Jam). But frontman Alex Turner is a keen observer whose lyrical barbs are tossed off with attitude and a thick northern accent, and his songs paint a more vivid portrait of what it's like to be young, male, and British in 2006 than a year's subscription to FHM, Loaded, and the NME ever could. Vignettes include a look at the intricacies and frustrations of the mating game ("I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor," "Dancing Shoes") and dealings with both meathead bouncers at clubs ("From the Ritz to the Rubble") and small-town cops ("Riot Van"). Turner saves most of his ire for the music industry. "Fake Tales of San Francisco" and "Maybe Vampires Is a Bit Strong" eviscerate the build-them-up-to-knock-them-down nature of the music press, as well as the readers who hang on every headline. One imagines Turner would likely be the first to say, "Don't believe the hype" -- check the album title -- even if the Arctic Monkeys' music says otherwise.

Product Details

Release Date:	02/21/2006
Label:	Domino
UPC:	0801390008627
catalogNumber:	86
Rank:	14393

Tracks

1. The View from the Afternoon
2. I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor
3. Fake Tales of San Francisco
4. Dancing Shoes
5. You Probably Couldn't See for the Lights But You Were Staring Straight
6. Still Take You Home
7. Riot Van
8. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured
9. Mardy Bum
10. Perhaps Vampires Is a Bit Strong But...
11. When the Sun Goes Down
12. From the Ritz to the Rubble
13. A Certain Romance

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Arctic Monkeys   Primary Artist
Alex Turner   Guitar,Vocals
Andy Nicholson   Bass Guitar
Matt Helders   Drums
Jamie Cook   Guitar

Technical Credits

Jim Abbiss   Producer,Engineer,Audio Production
Alan Smyth   Producer,Engineer,Audio Production
Ewan Davies   Engineer
Arctic Monkeys   Composer
Alex Turner   Composer
Andreas Bayr   Engineer
Alexandra Wolkowicz   Cover Photo

Editorial Reviews

Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I Am Not, the debut album from the Arctic Monkeys, captures the band mashing up the Strokes and the Libertines at will, jamming too many angular riffs into too short of a space, tearing through the songs as quickly as possible. But where the Strokes camouflaged their songwriting skills with a laconic, take-it-or-leave-it sexiness, and the Libertines mythologized England with a junkie poeticism, the Artic Monkeys have made an album for the Information Overload Age: nearly every track here is overloaded with riffs and words, and just when it's about to sort itself out, it stops short. This doesn't make them or their debut bad, just surprisingly predictable: they're competent, lacking enough imagination or restlessness to do anything other than the expected.

All Music Guide - Mark Deming

If only the music weren't so thrilling, there would probably be a serious backlash afoot.

New York Times - Kelefa Sanneh

The good news: In the case of this unpretentiously artful punk band, the reality nearly meets the hype.... A start-to-finish rush of invigorating riffs and pointed narratives that heightens with repeated exposure.

Rolling Stone - Barry Walters

The band's confidence belies their rookie status. Combine that poise with top chops and you have a quartet even better than the hype.

New York Post - Dan Aquilante

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