ARCTIC MONKEYS - MONKEYS BEAT THE BEATLES

Newcomers ARCTIC MONKEYS have beaten THE BEATLES in a poll of the best ever British albums compiled by UK music weekly New Musical Express (NME), even though their debut disc was only released on Monday (23JAN06).

The I BET YOU LOOK GOOD ON THE DANCEFLOOR rockers, who have topped the UK singles chart with their first two releases, came in fifth with their debut album WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY I AM, THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT - four places higher than The Beatles' 1966 release REVOLVER.

Indie band THE STONE ROSES topped the chart with their eponymous 1989 debut LP, while THE SMITHS' THE QUEEN IS DEAD and DEFINITELY MAYBE by OASIS took second and third positions respectively.

The SEX PISTOLS controversial 1977 offering NEVER MIND THE B**LOCKS was ranked the fourth best British album.

The top ten as decided by the NME is as follows:

1. THE STONE ROSES - THE STONE ROSES

2. THE SMITHS - THE QUEEN IS DEAD

3. OASIS - DEFINITELY MAYBE

4. SEX PISTOLS - NEVER MIND THE B**LOCKS

5. ARCTIC MONKEYS - WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY I AM, THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT

6. BLUR - MODERN LIFE IS RUBBISH

7. PULP - DIFFERENT CLASS

8. THE CLASH - LONDON CALLING

9. THE BEATLES - REVOLVER

10. THE LIBERTINES - UP THE BRACKET.