Arctic Monkeys Albums Tier List: All 7 Ranked
Seven albums, four distinct eras, one band that's never made the same record twice. From the scrappy Sheffield guitar band of 2006 to the lounge-lizard crooner of Tranquility Base, Arctic Monkeys have changed shape so many times that ranking them always sparks an argument.
We've gone through forums, reviews and years of fan debate to see where the consensus actually sits, then added our own take where people genuinely can't agree (looking at you, Humbug). Disagree with the order? That's half the fun. Rank them yourself and see how close you get.
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SS Tier: The untouchables
AM
The one that turned Arctic Monkeys into a festival-headlining, arena-filling juggernaut. 'Do I Wanna Know?' and 'R U Mine?' are riffs you can hum from memory, and the falsetto backing vocals borrowed from Queens of the Stone Age gave the whole thing a woozy, late-night swagger nothing before it had. Almost every fan poll has this at or near the top, and it's not close.
About AM
Released in 2013, the band's fifth album blended heavy riffs with R&B-influenced falsetto harmonies. It became their commercial and critical peak, driven by singles like 'Do I Wanna Know?' and 'R U Mine?'.
- Released
- 2013
- Label
- Domino
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Was the fastest-selling debut in UK chart history at the time of release, and it earned that with sheer energy. 'Fluorescent Adolescent' and 'When the Sun Goes Down' captured teenage Sheffield nightlife with a wit that felt completely new at the time. It's the sound of a band that didn't yet know they were about to become massive, which is exactly why it still feels so alive.
About Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
The debut studio album from Arctic Monkeys, released in 2006 on Domino Records. It became the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history on the back of word-of-mouth buzz and music reviews and the quality of the music itself.
- Released
- 2006
- Label
- Domino
AA Tier: Genuinely great records
Favourite Worst Nightmare
Harder, faster, meaner than the debut, and somehow it worked even better live. 'Brianstorm' kicks the door down in under three minutes, while '505' has quietly become one of the most beloved songs in their whole catalogue, a slow-burner that fans say gets better every year. The tightest, most relentless the band has ever sounded.
About Favourite Worst Nightmare
The band's second album, released in 2007, produced in part by Bernard Butler and James Ford. It won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album and cemented the band as more than a one-album buzz act.
- Released
- 2007
- Label
- Domino
Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
A lounge-pop concept record about a moon hotel was never going to please everyone, and it genuinely split the fanbase down the middle on release. Give it time, though, and Alex Turner's spoken-word, piano-led songwriting on tracks like 'Four Out of Five' reveals itself as some of his smartest work. We're firmly in the camp that thinks this album has aged better than its initial reviews suggested.
About Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino
A 2018 concept album set around a fictional hotel on the moon, swapping guitars for piano and lounge arrangements. It was one of the band's most divisive releases, dividing fans who missed the riffs from those who embraced the new direction.
- Released
- 2018
- Label
- Domino
BB Tier: Very good, just not era-defining
The Car
Lush, orchestral, unhurried, this is the sound of a band confident enough to whisper instead of shout. 'There'd Better Be a Mirrorball' is genuinely one of their most gorgeous songs, but the record asks for patience some casual fans aren't willing to give it. A grower rather than a grabber.
About The Car
Released in 2022, this seventh album leaned further into orchestral, string-laden arrangements and slower tempos. Critics generally praised it as a mature continuation of the direction Tranquility Base started.
- Released
- 2022
- Label
- Domino
Suck It and See
The most straightforwardly melodic Arctic Monkeys record, and probably the most underrated one too. 'Love Is a Laserquest' shows a softer, more romantic side of Turner's writing that the band would later push much further. It sits between two louder eras, which might be exactly why it gets overlooked.
About Suck It and See
The fourth studio album, released in 2011, leaning into more melodic, romantic songwriting than its predecessor. It's often seen as a bridge between the heavier Humbug and the more polished AM.
- Released
- 2011
- Label
- Domino
CC Tier: Divides the fanbase
Humbug
Bringing in Josh Homme to produce turned the band's sound sludgy, desert-rock heavy and a lot less immediate, and fans still argue about whether that was a bold reinvention or a detour. 'Crying Lightning' and 'Cornerstone' are genuine highlights, but the record as a whole asks a lot of patience from listeners who signed up for the debut's energy. This is the album where consensus breaks down the most, we land on it being a brave transition rather than a top-tier record in its own right.
About Humbug
Released in 2009, this third album saw Arctic Monkeys work with Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme, pushing their sound toward darker, desert-rock textures. It marked the start of the band's reinvention away from their jangly early sound.
- Released
- 2009
- Producer
- Josh Homme, James Ford
How we ranked them
We weighed critical reception at the time of release against how each album has aged with fans, how often its songs get played live and streamed now, and how much each record pushed the band somewhere new. Cultural impact mattered too, an album that changed British guitar music counts for more than one that just sounded nice. Where critics and fans split hard, we say so and explain which side we land on.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best Arctic Monkeys album?
AM is the most commonly cited best album, thanks to its run of hits and its role in making the band genuinely huge, though plenty of longtime fans argue for the debut instead.
What is the Arctic Monkeys' worst album?
Humbug tends to rank lowest in fan and critic polls, mainly because its heavier, Josh Homme-produced sound was such a sharp turn from what came before.
Is Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino a good album?
It split opinion sharply on release for ditching guitars in favor of lounge piano, but it's gained a lot of respect since, and many fans now rate it among the band's smartest work.
What order were Arctic Monkeys albums released in?
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, then Favourite Worst Nightmare, Humbug, Suck It and See, AM, Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, and The Car.
Which Arctic Monkeys album should I start with?
AM is the easiest entry point if you want the hits, but the debut is better if you want to understand where the band came from.
More rankings
Image credits
- AMCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm NotCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Favourite Worst NightmareCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Tranquility Base Hotel & CasinoCover: Wikipedia · Source
- The CarCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Suck It and SeePhoto: Domino Recording Company, Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Source
- HumbugCover: Wikipedia · Source