Today marks Alex Turner's 30th birthday, and to celebrate we've chosen 9 of the Arctic Monkeys frontman's best tunes.

He's come a long way from the baggy-jeaned, spotty-faced youngster that we saw in Whelan's in 2005; over the last decade, he's collaborated with everyone from Queens of the Stone Age to Dizzee Rascal, Mini Mansions and of course, as a member of The Last Shadow Puppets.

With that in mind, here are the best clutch of tracks – in our humble opinion – from the back catalogue of one of the best lyricists in contemporary rock music.

 

 

FLUORESCENT ADOLESCENT (from 2007's 'Favourite Worst Nightmare')

“You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your nightdress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis”

**

DO I WANNA KNOW? (from 2013's 'A.M.')

“So have you got the guts?
Been wondering if your heart's still open, and if so I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down and pucker up
I'm sorry to interrupt, it's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you” 

**

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN (from 2006's 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not')

“And I've seen him with girls of the night
He told Roxanne to put on her red light
They're all infected but he'll be alright
'Cause he's a scumbag, don't you know”

**

A CERTAIN ROMANCE (from 2006's 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not')

“Oh they might wear classic Reeboks
Or knackered Converse
Or tracky bottoms tucked in socks
But all of that's what the point is not
The point is that there ain't no romance around there” 

**

MY PROPELLER (from 2009's 'Humbug')

“It's a necessary evil
No cause for emergency
Borrowed the beak off a bald eagle
Oh, momentary synergy”

**

SNAP OUT OF IT (from 2013's 'A.M.')

“If that watch don't continue to swing or the fat lady fancies having a sing
I'll be here waiting ever so patiently for you to
Snap out of it”

**

SHE'S THUNDERSTORMS (from 2011's 'Suck It and See')

“I've been feeling foolish
You should try it
She came and substituted
The peace and quiet for
Acrobatic blood flow
Concertina cheating heart beat
Rapid fire”

**

STANDING NEXT TO ME (from The Last Shadow Puppets' 'The Age of the Understatement', 2008)

“Want her, have her
Two years have gone now
But I can't relate
To the neverending games that you play” 

**

PILEDRIVER WALTZ (from 2011's solo 'Submarine' EP, later re-recorded by Arctic Monkeys)

“You look like you've been for breakfast
At the heartbreak hotel
And sat in the back booth
By the pamphlets and the literature on how to lose
Your waitress was miserable
And so was your food
If you're gonna try and walk on water
Make sure you wear your comfortable shoes”