Top 12 Arctic Monkeys Songs

The Arctic Monkeys.

The very name has the power to incite dozens of feelings for every "indie," "British-wave," "alternative rock" fan. With over a decade and six official albums under their belt, this a group with a large discography and no plan on slowing down. These dudes from Sheffield continuously prove themselves to be versatile and adaptive.

I'm always looking for an excuse to talk about The Arctic Monkeys, and now the time has finally come for me to compile a list of the very best Arctic Monkeys songs to date (a task that will prove to be a lot harder than I thought). Keep in mind before reading the list that every single Arctic Monkeys song could potentially be here. I have compiled this list through my own experience and musical knowledge and not popularity.

12. "Mardy Bum"

"Mardy Bum" is one of the standout songs on their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. When listening to this song, I feel the unapologetically British vibe that skyrocketed this group to fame. The mellow guitar and simple vocal style make it an easy listen while still being identifiably an Arctic Monkeys song.

"I see your frown and it's like looking down the barrel of a gun, and it goes off."

11. "No Buses"

One of the songs on the 2006 EP Who The F*** Are Arctic Monkeys, "No Buses" presents itself as intensely catchy. From the repetitive yet simple guitar to the fast rhythmic instrument introduced in the chorus, this song is just a simple earworm. Being one of the older songs on the list, "No Buses" is perfection in its simplest form, no overdramatization or wild instrumentation, just simplicity.

"Oh, and she thinks she's the one but she's just one in twenty-four."

10. "Reckless Serenade"

The quintessential song about being enthralled by another debuted on their fourth album, Suck It and See. Although the opinions are pretty split on this album, many agree that it wasn't one of The Arctic Monkeys' strongest albums. "Reckless Serenade" still stands out amongst the rest of the tracks on the album as being one of the songs that helped transition the Monkeys from their more garage rock days into their alternative future.

"I've been tryna figure out exactly what it is I need, called up to listen to the voice of reason and got his answering machine."

9. "Fluorescent Adolescent"

Released on their 2007 album Favorite Worst Nightmare, "Fluorescent Adolescent" is very much their cheekiest song. The lyrics highlight youth and party life while dealing with the inevitable, getting older. This song will always be a staple amongst Arctic Monkeys fans everywhere.

"Likes her gentlemen not to be gentle, was it a mecca dauber or a betting pencil?"

8. "Balaclava"

Another entry on the list from Favorite Worst Nightmare and I think that says a lot about me. This song is the most lyrically complex so far. Every single line in the song can be interpreted differently and might just have been written that way. "Balaclava" is the perfect example of an interesting song from its poetic lyrics to its overwhelming bass.

"The confidence is the balaclava, I'm sure you'll baffle them good. With the ending wreak of salty cheeks and runny makeup alone."

7. "Secret Door"

One of my personal favorite songs, "Secret Door" brings everything to the table. Another album with mixed reviews, some people argue that Humbug (2009) is the worst Arctic Monkeys album, while others fight that it is a masterpiece. While I don't directly agree with either, I do find myself leaning closer to the latter, and that is because of "Secret Door." This song is atmospheric and manages to transport you to some other world within the first few seconds. The echo and distance in Alex's voice allow for dissociation. The instrumentation is more on the simple side compared to some of the more textured songs, but that does not make it lackluster one bit. Moral of the story is that I love this song and it truly does function as a bridge between eras. The Arctic Monkeys will definitely revisit this phase on later projects.

"The secret door swings behind us, she's saying nothing, she's just giggling along. Even if they were to find us, I wouldn't notice, I'm completely occupied."

6. "Four Out of Five"

The newest song on this thus far, "Four Out of Five" is on their 2018 album Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino. After a five year hiatus, the build-up for the album was off the charts. "Four out of Five" is a song that does not disappoint. Dynamically intriguing from start to finish, it is a song that evolves so subtly that many don't even notice. With every chorus, Alex sings about it all getting "gentrified," and with every chorus, the song becomes cleaner. The quality of production and harmonies grow with the text.

"It's all getting gentrified. I put a taqueria on the moon, It got rave reviews, four stars out of five."

5. "Riot Van"

Another song about youth on the Arctic Monkeys debut album. "Riot Van" proves how well the Monkeys function with a simple texture. This song has only two-three things going on at once, which give more time to focus on the lyrics. "Riot Van" stands out so well on an album with so many masterpieces for this reason. The lyrics are youthful and naive with the right amount of quirkiness to make them work.

"And please stop talking cause they won't find us if you do, oh those silly boys in blue."

4. "Cornerstone"

The second song from their 2009 album Humbug, "Cornerstone" is truly in a class of its own. While this song is dynamically simple, it preys on listeners' ears with its wonderful storytelling. Cornerstone functions as a juxtaposition between the major key instrumentation and the broody narrative that is the topic. This song is the epitome of what the humbug era felt like and continues to be known as.

"She was close, close enough to be your ghost."

3. "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High"

One of the most interesting songs on the AM album, in my opinion. "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" deserves to have an entire article for itself in which every single intricate detail can be pulled apart and analyzed. To keep it simple and sweet, this song exhibits growth from beginning to end. Growth is such a simple thing, but it's the most important component in a piece like this. As the song continues, the texture is built and added on to, and as each part makes their presence known, we become accustomed to it only for it all to be stripped back towards the end. This is why I believe listening to it is an experience and why it is in the top three.

"Left you multiple missed calls and to my message, you reply 'Why'd you only call me when you're high?"

2. "505"

"505." I don't even know where to begin with this song. Every Arctic Monkeys fan has run into a video compilation of THAT part in "505" at least once in their lives. The fact that these videos exist in and of itself should already let you know the importance of this song. "505" is pretty simple instrumentally, of course until THAT infamous part. The lyrics contain slight innuendos, but overall this is a love song. It might be a twisted and toxic love, but still a love song nonetheless, and that is reflected in the dynamics of it all. The lyrical and tonal build up after the instrumental break is reflective of the relationship. "505" is an easy listen whether that is the official album version or any live compilation you can find. This song is just as important to 2013 Tumblr feeds as it is to the Arctic Monkeys discography.

"I'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck or I did last time I checked."

1. "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor"

Our number one song is from their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. Originally one of the singles on a demo that the band used to give out for free at their early gigs, "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor" is more than just an Arctic Monkeys song. This song is the Arctic Monkeys. It is the music they originally fell in love with. It is everything that made them want to create music in the first place. This song is and always will be a classic amongst Arctic Monkeys fans. Although the young boys that wrote this song have grown and changed a lot since then, this song is still reflective of it all. It is unapologetically Rock, unapologetically British, and unapologetically them. This song is a staple and has lasted throughout all of the eras and phases.

"I bet that you look good on the dancefloor. I don't know if you're looking for romance or, I don't know what you're looking for."