Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
by Arctic Monkeys
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Feb 21, 2006
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 907 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 763 out of 907
  2. Mixed: 64 out of 907
  3. Negative: 80 out of 907

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  1. MattM
    Feb 27, 2006
    10
    This is one of the greatist albums of my time. Alex turner although only 19 has an amazing way of mixing goofy lyrics like"bop like a robot from 1984" and amazing lyrics like "There is no love, no Montagues or Capulets". This band also makes many interesting beats a feat that not many bands today can do. This band had to live up to an enormous ammount of hype and many people dont think This is one of the greatist albums of my time. Alex turner although only 19 has an amazing way of mixing goofy lyrics like"bop like a robot from 1984" and amazing lyrics like "There is no love, no Montagues or Capulets". This band also makes many interesting beats a feat that not many bands today can do. This band had to live up to an enormous ammount of hype and many people dont think they did. Its hard to live up to something like that and in every way they did.… Expand
  2. AlecG
    Feb 27, 2006
    4
    It gets a 4 because it's.. listenable. People who I've heard say "they're the next Beatles" don't seem to understand what made the Beatles so good.
  3. tommyph
    Feb 27, 2006
    10
    Brilliant lyrics.
  4. ---GS---
    Feb 27, 2006
    10
    The best record of 2006 so far. Really great music!
  5. JoeH
    Feb 27, 2006
    9
    Upon first hearing the album i did not realise how great it actually is, this album definitely grows on you and then infects you with its catchy riffs and very clever and humerous lyrics. For an album full of high points the pinnacle for me is When the Sun goes down. The only song which lets the album down is Riot Van, But this fails to change my opinion that The Arctic Monkeys are the Upon first hearing the album i did not realise how great it actually is, this album definitely grows on you and then infects you with its catchy riffs and very clever and humerous lyrics. For an album full of high points the pinnacle for me is When the Sun goes down. The only song which lets the album down is Riot Van, But this fails to change my opinion that The Arctic Monkeys are the best new band around!… Expand
  6. WerdBomb
    Feb 26, 2006
    7
    Solid and entertaining. But shades of a hollow core, it's too early to get too excited. Actually nothing really new, just a damn fine crystallization of the proclivities of past 5 years or so.
  7. AdamL.
    Feb 25, 2006
    2
    NME's heralding this as one of the best albums you'll ever hear. Rolling Stone's calling them the new Oasis. Play "Definitely Maybe" next to this and join my hysterical laughter.
  8. GeorgeC
    Feb 25, 2006
    7
    There's a couple of great under 3:00 songs.....and it's fresh.....but it's not London Calling or even close to the brilliance of Let is Bleed....
  9. GarethM
    Feb 25, 2006
    9
    This is proof that Americans just don't "get" british culture, the fact is we have the greatest music scene in the world and Arctic Monkeys top it off. Forget the hype, listen to the music. What Alex Turner and his band have managed to do is make songs that tell you more about true british culture than anything else. Creative people who come from the North will always get a backlash This is proof that Americans just don't "get" british culture, the fact is we have the greatest music scene in the world and Arctic Monkeys top it off. Forget the hype, listen to the music. What Alex Turner and his band have managed to do is make songs that tell you more about true british culture than anything else. Creative people who come from the North will always get a backlash of biterness for being intelligent but that just goes with our territory. The reason the monkeys are so popular is that they are anything but pretentious, with simple catchy tunes but punctuated with clever lyrics that capture the current culture, oh, and the vocals are fantastic. Listen to "From The Ritz to the Rubble" or "A Certain Romance", The Arctic Monkeys ARE England, take it or leave it.… Expand
  10. robd
    Feb 24, 2006
    10
    i dont see how you cant like this album, honestly. It is probably the best cd i own. No not of recent time its up there with dark side of the moon.
  11. adamw
    Feb 24, 2006
    9
    Brilliant, energetic and engaging album. Love the opener and a certain romance. Hard to find a poor track.
  12. DavidH
    Feb 24, 2006
    10
    one of best albums i have, and i have a 60GB ipod :-).
  13. RobertR
    Feb 24, 2006
    4
    I remember putting on the CD and I remember taking it off, but I don't remember anything in-between. Pleasurable but utterly forgettable.
  14. joec
    Feb 24, 2006
    10
    best lyrics since morrisey and great hooky riffs. simple classic!
  15. Constant
    Feb 24, 2006
    3
    Come on people, don't fall in for the hype, ask yourself would you really buy this album without having read about it? This is only very immature rock, with really weak lyrics delivered with a Midlands accent (though this can sound exotic & charming to American ears, go figure). It does certainly please 20-year old girls with half a musical culture. I can't blame them for that, Come on people, don't fall in for the hype, ask yourself would you really buy this album without having read about it? This is only very immature rock, with really weak lyrics delivered with a Midlands accent (though this can sound exotic & charming to American ears, go figure). It does certainly please 20-year old girls with half a musical culture. I can't blame them for that, only there's so much better around... get over yourself.… Expand
  16. RaulG
    Feb 23, 2006
    7
    I dig the album....The hype these guys are getting is a lil bit much...decent album from a cool band....hardly the second coming of Christ however....
  17. TylerD
    Feb 23, 2006
    0
    Horribly pretentious album
  18. JudStacer
    Feb 23, 2006
    3
    The only SArctic Monkeys do well is imitate all Brit rock groups before them. I'm actually quite depressed I bought the record -- it's so boring. A group of 20-year-olds got lucky with an internet phenomenon.
  19. andrewt
    Feb 23, 2006
    8
    Always a good sign of a good new album - strongly divergent views - a very strong album - imperfect buit then again, Never Mind the Bollocks was not a perfect album - I think it has balls - This is a modern punk band and it ain't meant to be pretty....
  20. silvergellar
    Feb 23, 2006
    0
    Awful. Just plain awful. All been done before with Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine and Pop Will Eat Itself, both who are fantastic. Arctic Monkeys are niot gonna save Bristish music, they are gonna finish it off!! No more!!
  21. shawnsavage
    Feb 23, 2006
    10
    Great album...
  22. MikeK
    Feb 23, 2006
    6
    Decent. But WAY overpraised. The album has a lot of sameness to it that gets very repetitive after a listen or two. Not bad, just not the second coming. I predict a critical backlash in about, oh, 4 months.
  23. Chris
    Feb 23, 2006
    9
    Fuckin' great rock'n'roll record!!
  24. LewisG
    Feb 23, 2006
    10
    Excellent album which speaks the spot on truth about teenage chavs in england. A masterpiece
  25. houseborders
    Feb 22, 2006
    10
    i Love it!
  26. johnroberts
    Feb 22, 2006
    10
    i have listened to it 7 times through and i bought it yesterday. IT ROCKS!
  27. StevePar
    Feb 22, 2006
    6
    Thinking it was all hype, I listened to this album only to prove that it sucks, so I can tell people who rave about it to shut up. Turns out it wasnt all that bad. Some of the songs are a bit repetitive, but there are some decent songs in here. I would give it more points if they had stronger vocals. 6.5.
  28. danielb
    Feb 22, 2006
    3
    A confused debut. An even more confusing reception. I think The UK is playing a joke on us.
  29. Zimbo74
    Feb 22, 2006
    7
    Its a pretty good album not the saviour of music some people are making it out to be but good nonetheless.
  30. oliez
    Feb 22, 2006
    1
    What a rubbish, boring piece of shit. Anyone giving a rating over 4 probably hasn't even listened to it.
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best Album of 2006
2
#2 Most Discussed Album of 2006
12
#12 Most Shared Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. BBC collective
    90
    It’s exciting stuff, simple yet deadly effective.
    Read full review
  2. Dot Music
    90
    Such is the depth and quality of Turner's songwriting, it plays like a best of.
    Read full review
  3. musicOMH.com
    90
    It's not a totally perfect record, for which we should be thankful - remember what happened to The Stone Roses after they'd released their flawless debut? - but it is an excellent first album, and gives notice that Alex Turner is already one of this country's best lyricists.
    Read full review
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