6. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Of all the UK urban storytellers listed so far, none found themselves as hungrily accepted as the Sheffield-born Arctic Monkeys. While Jamie T and Lily Allen lacked some authenticity due to their privileged roots, and The Streets found it necessary to dress everyday life in Guy Ritchie-esque drama, the Monkeys' debut LP had the inescapable feeling of reality. Alex Turner's lyrics are the prime reason for this; he sings of "cuddles in the kitchen", bullying nightclub bouncers, and faux-American posers from Rotherham, instantly endearing his band to thousands of working class youngsters across the nation. The band's classic rock setup is similarly refreshing, inspiring a whole new generation of garage bands in the process. Decade Defining Track: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor
