AM

Production notes

AM, the fifth studio album by Arctic Monkeys, was recorded primarily at Sage & Sound Recording Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, with additional sessions at Rancho De La Luna in Joshua Tree, California, and Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. The album was produced by James Ford, who had collaborated with the band since their third album Humbug, alongside co-production from Ross Orton. Recording took place from late 2012 into 2013, with the album released on September 9, 2013 through Domino Records. The production was notably influenced by hip-hop and R&B, with frontman Alex Turner citing Dr. Dre and Black Sabbath as key inspirations, resulting in a heavy, riff-driven sound built around downtuned guitars, layered vocal harmonies reminiscent of 1960s doo-wop, and prominent use of drum loops and samples blended with live instrumentation. The album marked a significant sonic departure from the desert rock leanings of Humbug and Suck It and See, achieving massive commercial and critical success that solidified Arctic Monkeys' status as one of the defining rock bands of their generation.