With a huge back catalogue of immensely good music, it’s no wonder that some Arctic Monkeys tunes fall under the radar – here’s a list of some of their best, and equally most underrated songs.
The Bakery
Featured on the ‘Fluorescent Adolescent’ EP, With sweet riffs that echo the sharp notes of its more popular cousin, it’s guaranteed to leave you feeling warm and toasty.
Don’t Forget Whose Legs You’re On
Fuzzy guitar, subtle piano and a vibe that almost likens to ‘One Point Perspective’, the ‘My Propeller’ B-side sounds somewhat before its time. Perhaps the early beginnings of Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino?
Riot Van
Featuring on the band’s debut album, ‘Riot Van’ is very much a fan-favourite, yet it’s often overlooked. With chimes of underage drinking and general mischief, the sugar-coated melody intertwines seamlessly with Turner’s voice, creating a tune that very much deserves more recognition.
Piledriver Waltz
Suck It And See is one of the Arctic Monkeys most underrated albums – with tracks such as ‘Black Treacle’, ‘Reckless Serenade’, and ‘Don’t Sit Down Cause I’ve Moved Your Chair’; it’s lyrically and musically one of Turner’s best products. ‘Piledriver Waltz’ is on the soundtrack to the film ‘Submarine’, and conjuring images of Americana style indie romance movies, it’s easy to see why it was featured.
Despair In The Departure Lounge
Reminiscent of their early influencers The Strokes, ‘Despair In The Departure Lounge’ comes from the band’s first EP. The gentle riffs, and relatable lyrics echoing of loneliness illustrate just why Arctic Monkeys were popular from the offset of their career.
Bigger Boys and Stolen Sweethearts
Featuring as a B-side to ‘I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor’, the song once again showcases how Turner had exceptional lyrical ability from a young age, telling tales of lost lovers and heartbreak, “Bigger boys and stolen sweethearts, Oh, I’m better off without her anyway, I said I wasn’t sad to see her go, Yeah, but I’m only pretending, you know”.
Evil Twin
A ‘Suck It and See’ B-side that could’ve easily made the album cut, ‘Evil Twin’ even has an official video. With loud riffs and powerful vocals, the song could be used as a perfect transition between the band’s 4th and 5th studio albums.
Secret Door
Witnessing a change in sound from fast-paced indie anthems to something of a slower stride, ‘Humbug’ is another vastly underrated Arctic Monkeys album. The swaying melody of ‘Secret Door’ drifts seamlessly between quick verses and leisurely choruses, yet never seems to get the recognition it deserves.
You’re So Dark
A B-side to ‘One For The Road’, with flawlessly good backing vocals and an irresistible melody, you could even argue it’s better than its counterpart…
Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You
With intricate guitar riffs, faultless harmonies, and a heavy bassline that could liken to that of ‘Do I Wanna Know” – it’s almost criminal that this song didn’t make it on to ‘A.M’. One of the bands best songs – yet by far the most underrated of them all.
Listen to all the above and more on the playlist here:
LDOI 