Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not was the debut studio album of English rock band Arctic Monkeys. It was released on January 23, 2006, in the United Kingdom, four years after their formation. The project was preceded by the two singles: “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” and “When the Sun Goes Down.” They were both re-recorded tracks from their debut EP, Five Minutes with Arctic Monkeys. The indie rock project has been largely seen as one of the best in the band’s discography, while boasting only a 41-minute track list.

Formation / Lead Up

Since their formation in 2002 and the lead up to the release of Whatever, the band had begun distributing free demos at their shows. This led to a handful of the tracks on Whatever being released for free years prior to official release. This did, however, lead the band to garner the attention and demand needed to begin the construction of the final album. The first single, “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” was released in October of 2005, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart.

“When the Sun Goes Down” was released in January 2006, and it also debuted at number one on the charts. The album was originally slated to be released on January 30th; however, the band moved it up a week due to popular demand. Upon release, Whatever became the fastest selling debut album in British history, selling around 120,000 copies. Since the release, the album has been 7x Platinum in the UK and was certified platinum by the RIAA in the USA.

Song Structure

All 13 tracks feature uniqueness in some form or another. Many of the tracks features different styles in the bridges, often slowing the song down and leading back into a fast tempo. Also, Whatever features a handful of different instrumental breaks, highlighting the wonderful playing of the band. “A Certain Romance” has an 80 second instrumental intro, on top of an instrumental outro and break. This emphasizes the drumming of Matt Helders and the tremendous work of guitarist Jamie Cook.

A handful of the songs hold longer verses, with unique structures as well. “From the Ritz to the Rubble” is an excellent example of a terrific long verse that works in context. The biggest structural detail noticed upon listening is on “Dancing Shoes.” Verse one is repeated twice: first in the beginning but also closing the song out. The repetition is an emphasis of the cycle talked about in the track as a whole. Another great transition comes on “Fake Tales of San Francisco,” which has a seamless maneuver from the chorus to the verses.

Vocals

The band’s vocal performance is nothing to not analyze as anything apart from great. Lead singer, Alex, does a phenomenal job matching the tempo and volume of the instrumentals. Furthermore, the background vocals added throughout Whatever provide a much-needed difference in style. Specifically, in “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor,” the group’s background vocals add to a different depth on the track.

While the project is detailed in the sense of being a rock album, Whatever does feature slower tracks. While these tracks are few, the vocal performances in these tracks also match the needed energy. “Riot Van,” arguably the slowest track on the album, features one of the best performances by Alex on the whole album.

Personal Stories

Most of the songs on Whatever detail a life of clubbing and going after women, however, few tracks have personal meanings. “… Staring Straight at Me” features one of the most personal stories. It talks about Alex’s favorite band and their lead singer, of whom he grew to have feelings for. Songs, such as, “Fake Tales of San Francisco” do not have true personal meaning, however, it appears that the band is explaining they are not going to tell any fake stories or “tales” of the US.

“Riot Van” features the most down-to-earth story behind it. The band sings about how they ultimately do not care about the wealth or fame. Their purpose of forming the band was to have a good time, or to get a good laugh. Finally, “Perhaps Vampires is a Bit Strong But…” features themes of proving all the band’s doubters wrong.

Nights Out

As for the rest of the tracks, they all feature common themes of nightlife. Specifically, a majority of Whatever talks about going out and desiring women. While in many instances here they do not succeed, it seems that the cycle continues. Furthermore, they detail many instances of not attempting to get a girl, in which they end up regretting the decision. Whether these stories are true stories from the band’s life or not, it is what ultimately fills out the rest of the project.

Conclusion

Whatever was simply a debut album for the indie rock band, Arctic Monkeys. It has since been dubbed as one of the best debut studio albums in history, as this put the band in the forefront for years. Seen also as one of the best in their discography, Whatever features a little bit of everything for fans of the band. All in all, it certainly is a detailed and fantastic listen for anyone desiring many facets of music.

Song Rankings:

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