Every Arctic Monkeys Album Ranked

‘Anticipation has a habit to set you up, for disappointment.’ This first line tells you all you need to know about Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not's contrarian spirit (if the title weren’t clue enough). Turner has his guard up high as the Monkeys begin wading into the music industry for the first time. He’s quick to point a finger or undercut a moment of sentimentality, keen to show that he’s always watching and won’t be taken for a fool.

What makes the album stand the test of time are the moments of tenderness that do seep through amongst the steely observations. The band had just begun and you can hear the naivety and originality of musicians who are brushing up against the limit of their capabilities (with the exception of the incandescent drumming from Matt Helders). Guitar tones are perhaps too distorted, power chords get a hammering throughout, the playing is imbued with the frenetic energy of kids that can’t quite believe their luck but daren’t say anything that might break the spell.

Despite this musical naivety, the lyrics couldn't be more insightful. Alex Turner's old head on young shoulders bemoans the tirelessly cyclical nature of British youth, nightlife and relationships. He's seemingly above it all before reminding us that he's often at the centre of these miss-adventures he so fervently deconstructs, a poignant thread that runs throughout and completes the album.