For those who are long enough in the tooth to remember the Arctic Monkeys‘ mesmeric and era-defining debut album, the fact that January 2026 will mark two decades since the release of the seminal album will be a bitter reminder that time waits for nobody.
While the band themselves have transformed and entered an entirely new era, some fans believe Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I’m Not is their magnum opus. As the album turns 20, how has it aged, and does it still stand the test of time, given how defining it was for noughties culture in the UK?
Tapping Into The Digital Market
So many of us get our music directly via streaming sites like Spotify or YouTube in the modern era. However, back in 2006, there was still an enormous market for CDs, vinyl, and even downloading songs via iTunes. The Arctic Monkeys were pioneers in this field, recording their music, burning it onto CDs, and selling it at their gigs.
Despite the new sound that the band has embarked upon since Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, it was the DIY nature of the first album that was a microcosm of the way the world of entertainment was developing at the time.
Back then, entertainment was becoming more digital, but it wasn’t all around us like it is now. With specific areas, like the casino gaming world and niche areas like online baccarat, it pushed into new ideas, but did not have the level of audience or investment that we see today. Those who play online baccarat for real money will be able to attest to this. The mid-noughties were a different time for entertainment, baccarat, gaming, and music.
Nowadays, we only need to have a quick glance at social media, as you can see in the link below, to get a glimpse of how companies leverage it to their advantage with their marketing. Now it is the norm. In 2006, however, it was a market that was still finding its feet, and the Arctic’s debut album perfectly captured that.
A Twenty-Year Timeline
The direction the band has taken since 2018 has not been to many people’s taste, and you would struggle to find an Arctic Monkeys fan who was around for the debut album who has anything positive to say about The Car and Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino.
The Car, which was released in 2022, encapsulates where the band seems to be; they’ve been together for over 20 years now, and the lethargy of their current sound is a stark contrast to the electric debut album, which screamed out of the speakers and defined UK culture almost overnight.
It still remains the fastest-selling debut album by a band in UK chart history. While it would be ridiculous to expect a band to stay the same for 25 years and churn out the same album repeatedly, it is a disappointing direction, despite the diehard Arctic Monkeys fans who try to proclaim the last two albums are amongst their favorites and are misunderstood.
It all started with “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor”, which recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its UK release, and with it, the doors of rock music burst open for an adoring wave of new fans.
Every song on the album bottled up the angst and apathy of the noughties, when going into town on the ale was a new experience, an album that roars along at 110mph without giving you a second to think.
The Future For The Arctic Monkeys
Few UK bands have had the longevity or the success across the pond that the Arctic Monkeys have had. However, a large chunk of this success has stemmed from their 2013 classic AM, and since then, the band has been slowly releasing new albums, and the two they have released have been met with a tepid response from many fans, with critics opting for a slightly more favorable response.
The Arctic Monkeys have become such an essential staple in UK music; they were arguably the last of the great rock bands. It feels like a total betrayal now to shrug off the band, given the legacy they left with their magical first two albums, but especially their debut.
Wherever you stand as an Arctic Monkeys fan, go back and enjoy their catalog here.
The Indy Review 