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10 Bands Like Arctic Monkeys For Fans Of Alternative Rock

October 3, 2022
Bands like arctic monkeys

The rock band, The Arctic Monkeys have become the UK’s most popular and culturally relevant band in the last decade. If you are an absolute fan of their style of music, then check out this list of bands like Arctic Monkeys that you might enjoy listening to. 

Arctic Monkeys originally consisted of Jaime’ Cookie’ Cook (Guitar), Matt Helders (Drums, vocals), Andy Nicholson (bass guitar), and lead member Alex Turner (vocals and guitar). Andy Nicholson left the group in 2006 and was replaced with Nick O’Malley (bass). Arctic Monkeys has remarkably risen as an indie band, thanks to their growing and loyal fanbase and internet buzz.

The band’s album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006) reached the top position on the international single charts and became one of the fastest-selling debut albums of all time in the UK. Arctic Monkeys is known for their multi-genre styles of music, from indie rock, and garage rock to post-punk revival, guitar pop, and hard rock. One of their most distinct sounds to bring them fame comes from Alex Turner’s intricate and rapidly delivered lyrics, which are sung in a strong Sheffield accent. 

List of Bands Like Arctic Monkeys

  1. The Kooks
  2. The Vaccines
  3. The Last Shadow Puppets
  4. Oasis
  5. The Killers
  6. The Neighbourhood
  7. Kings of Leon
  8. Tame Impala
  9. The Strokes
  10. The 1975

1. The Kooks

The Kooks are an English rock band from Brighton, formed in 2004. The band consists of Luke Pritchard (vocalist/rhythm guitarist), Hugh Harris (lead guitarist/synthesiser/bass), and Alexis Nunez (Drums). The Kooks released their first official album, Inside In / Inside Out in 2006. The band experiments in several genres but their primary influence is the 1960s British Invasion movement (Pop and Rock became popular in the United States), and the Post-punk revival (A genre of indie rock emerging in the 2000s). 

The Kooks are known for their indie-rock sounds and emotive lyrics while keeping the typical rock routine. ‘Naive’ and ‘She Moves In Her Own Way’ are their most crowd-pleasing songs. The indie guitar riffs of The Kooks are similar to Arctic Monkey, only softer. If you want to hear more bands like Arctic Monkeys then The Kooks should be a perfect fit. 

2. The Vaccines

The Vaccines were formed in 2010 in West London. The members of the band are Justin Hayward-Young (lead vocals, guitar), Freddie Cowan (lead guitar, vocals), Árni Árnason (bass, vocals), and Pete Robertson (drums, vocals). After Pete Robert’s departure, Timothy Lanham (keyboardist ) and Yoann Intonti (drummer) were added as permanent members of The Vaccines. 

The Vaccines have opened several shows for Arctic Monkeys and showcase a close similarity in the musical tone. The textures and intensity of the album What Did You Expect from the Vaccines (2011) by The Vaccines are said to be heavily influenced by Arctic Monkeys‘ first album Beneath the Boardwalk (2004). The Vaccines has an overlapping fan base and should be worth your expectations if you want to listen to bands like Arctic Monkeys.  

3. The Last Shadow Puppets

The Last Shadow Puppets is a supergroup formed between the successful artists Alex Turner (Arctic Monkeys), Miles Kane (The Rascals), James Ford (Simian) and Zach Dawes (Mini Mansions). The supergroup released its debut album in 2008 called Age of Understatement. 

The Last Shadow Puppets’ group collaboration also extended to Arctic Monkeys; Miles Kane plays the guitar in the song 505. The Last Shadow puppets’ Baroque pop and chamber pop music is gritty and engaging. If you are obsessed with bands similar to Arctic Monkeys and love Alex Turner then you should surely listen to the band The Last Shadow Puppets.

Also Read: Bands like MGMT

4. Oasis

Oasis is a popular English rock/guitar pop band formed in 1991. Originally the band was known as The Rain and initially consisted of 4 members; Liam Gallagher (lead vocals, tambourine), Paul Arthurs (guitar), Paul McGuigan (bass guitar) and Tony McCarroll (drums) and later Noel, Liam’s older brother joined as lead guitarist and vocalist. Oasis‘ Wonderwall (1995) is one of the highest-selling songs of all time.

Arctic Monkeys‘ Alex Turner often talked about how Oasis hugely influenced his band. So much so that Alex and Matt Helders dressed up as their favourite band Oasis to perform in their school assembly. Oasis broke up in 2009 but their great lyrics continue to inspire listeners worldwide and their unique style is recognizable everywhere. Want to listen to bands like Arctic Monkeys? then you have to listen to their inspiration and iconic band Oasis.

5. The Killers

The first American band on this list, The Killers is a rock band formed in Las Vegas in 2001. The band consists of Dave Keuning (lead guitarist and backing vocals) and Brandon Flowers ( lead vocals, keyboards and bass), Mark Stoermer (bass, rhythm guitar, backing vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr (drums, percussion). Fans have compared the band to The Arctic Monkeys for its similar indie vibe. 

The Killers derived their name from a logo from a fictional band from the music video of the song ‘Crystal’ by New Order. The band was a part of the post-punk revival movement. Similar to Arctic Monkeys, they were influenced by the styles of the 1980s and 1990s. Some of their most well-known songs are ‘Mr Brightside’ and ‘Somebody Told Me’. If you want to listen to more bands like Arctic Monkeys you might enjoy listening to The Killers. 

6. The Neighbourhood

The Neighbourhood formed in 2011, the American band uses the British spelling of ‘Neighbourhood’ since the American ‘Neighborhood’ was taken. The band consists of Rutherford, Jeremy Freedman, Zach Abels, Mikey Margott and Brandon Alexander Fried. Jeremy said The Beatles and British pop inspired them. The Neighbourhood never thought their music would be a part of the Alternative-rock style when they first started making music. 

The Neighbourhood, also known as ‘The NBHD’, quickly gained popularity upon the release of ‘Sweater Weather’ and their first EP ‘I’m Sorry’. They signed with Columbia Records and also performed at Coachella. The recent music by The NBHD explored the dark pop genre. Most fans of Arctic Monkeys are also fans of The NBHD which is why if you’re looking for similar artists like Arctic Monkeys then there’s a good chance you might also like The Neighbourhood, check them out. 

7. Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon is a rock band from Nashville, Tennessee. The American band was formed in 199 and is composed of brothers Caleb, Nathan, Jared Followill and their cousin Matthew Followill. Growing up in Oklahoma, the brothers were influenced to make southern rock and garage rock music in their early careers. Kings of Leon slowly made its way into multiple genres and defined itself in Alternative Rock.  

Kings of Leon became a massive hit in the United Kingdom following the release of singles ‘Sex on Fire’, ‘Use Somebody’ and ‘Notion’. The first 3 Albums by King of Leon peaked simultaneously in the top 5 of the UK Albums Chart. The band has won multiple prestigious awards including the Grammy for Record of the Year. You should surely check out Kings of Leon as they might be one of the best bands similar to Arctic Monkeys.

8. Tame Impala

Tame Impala is Australian multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker’s psychedelic music project. Parker writes, records, performs and produces all his music. As a touring act Tame Impala is composed of Parker, Dominic (guitar and vocals), Jay Watson ( guitar synthesiser), Cam Avery (bass, guitar and vocal) and Julien Barbagallo (drums, vocals). Their single ‘Less I Know The Better’ gained immense popularity upon release with over a billion streams on Spotify alone. 

Tame Impala’s jazzy, blue and psychedelic vibe album Lonerism received a Grammy Award nomination for the Best Alternative Music Album. Kevin Parker has spoken highly of Alex Turner and called Turner’s songwriting in another league to his songwriting. If you are searching for bands like Arctic Monkeys then you might like listening to the popular Tame Impala. 

Also Read: Bands like Nirvana

9. The Strokes

American rock band The Strokes was formed in 1998 in New York City and consists of band members Julian Casablancas, Nick Valensi and Albert Hammond Jr, Nikolai Fraiture and Fabrizio Moretti. In the 2000s, The Strokes were a leading rock band. The Strokes and The Arctic Monkeys have shared their mutual admiration over the years.

The Strokes’ Julian admitted that he always wanted to be a part of The Arctic Monkeys and also shared a post doing a parody of Arctic Monkeys’s popular 2006 album cover ‘When People Say I am, That’s What I’m Not.’ Alex Turner has also been open about his love of The Strokes and the band has covered various songs by The Strokes including ‘Is This it’ and also gave a shout-out to the band in their song ‘Star Treatment’ with the lyrics ‘I just wanted to be one of The Strokes..’ If you want to listen to music similar to Arctic Monkeys then The Strokes might be what you’re looking for. 

They don’t sound the same by any means but they’re both 2000s alternative rock bands with catchy, relatable music, so a lot of people that enjoy that style will naturally like other bands in the same genre. 

10. The 1975

The 1975 is a British pop rock band that formed in Wilmslow, Cheshire in 2002 and is presently based in Manchester. The 1975’s 2013 unique album also called ‘The 1975′ brought international stardom, it topped the charts in the UK and reached the top 30 on the Billboard 200. The band members Matthew “Matty” Healy, Adam Hann and George Daniel have been making music in the space of pop rock and received a large fan following for their musical aesthetics. If you want to hear similar artists like Arctic Monkeys or are bored and want to try some new music, The 1975 could be the right choice.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few bands and artists like Arctic Monkeys that didn’t make this list, but you can check them out if you wish: 

  1. Radiohead
  2. Twenty-One Pilots 
  3. Black Keys
  4. Cage The Elephants
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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