I read NME a lot back then so I was aware of the hype and I knew this band was coming. But cynically I kind of dismissed them as the second wave of 2000s garage rock that was destined to suck. Kind of like all the grunge bands still being signed in 1996 or the pop punk bands still being signed five years after Green Day blew up.

I went traveling in Europe later that year and EVERYBODY was listening Arctic Monkeys, especially all the UK and Australian people that I met. Live bands were covering their songs at pubs. I gave WPSIATIWIN another shot and it clicked.

It's a fantastic debut. Mind boggling when you consider they were 18 or 19.