Album Details

• Artist: Arctic Monkeys
• Album: Favorite Worst Nightmare
• Label: Domino
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: mschmitt on 2007-05-09

Media

It really is hard to believe this is only the Arctic Monkey’s second album. With the monumental heaps of hype thrown upon these South Yorkshire boys, I was thoroughly tired of them before even placing Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not in my CD player. However hard NME may push the Arctic Monkeys as some sort of second coming, their music could never live up to the amassed publicity and buzz that preceded it (not to say Whatever People Say I Am was bad, it just fell short of preconceived notions). Now take it one degree further: add in the infamous sophomore-release complex. An unexpected, wildly popular debut is one thing, but backing that up with another fully digestible and well-liked release is tricky work. Did the Arctic Monkeys pull it off?

Yes…with a but, and a warning.

Favourite Worst Nightmare is more explosive than their debut from the word go. “Brainstorm” is a bitterly fast-paced guitar-laced dance-floor hyphen-fest, only pausing to grant Alex Turner and your ears a well-deserved breath before plummeting back into a indie-pop guitar thrashing. Back are tales of dance-floor romances youthful exploits, and (sort-of) farfetched dreams (“The kids all dream of making it / Whatever that means”). Tracks in general feel stronger and more abrasive. “Teddy Picker” has a very definite roller-coaster beat that interlaces much stronger Franz Ferdinand-like dance rhythms into the classic British pop-rock Whatever People Say I Am was riddled with. Yet again too, the songs are loaded to the brim and further with riddling lyrics, overwhelming instrumentals, and a rushing attitude that leaves one out of breath.

After a few introductory tracks, perhaps intending to prove that the Arctic Monkeys have lost none of their pop (of which “D Is For Dangerous” is included, a snappy scathing attack on “Favourite worst nightmares”), the Monkeys move into slower territory with “Fluorescent Adolescent” and the Shins-like “Only One Who Knows.” Just like the increased dance-influence, Favourite Worst Nightmare also includes such allusions to The Shins’ Wincing the Night Away (see “Phantom Limbs) which shows some welcome development in the Arctic Monkeys’ sound. These slower patches are only a bump in the road of guitar-filled thrillers such as “If You Were There, Beware” and “This House Is A Circus,” before ending with the damnably catchy bass of “Old Yellow Bricks.”

Favourite Worst Nightmare sounds enough like Whatever People Say I Am to still be the Arctic Monkeys everyone crooned over, but contains new punches as well—most of which redubs the group as even catchier than before. This could be dangerous, just as their triumphant debut was blasted out of the water with over-hyped praise, so too may this be killed in the minds of many before ever reaching their CD players and iPods. “Brainstorm” and “Old Yellow Bricks” are wonderful tracks to wrap your ears around and hit the dance-floor with—but not if the radio is cranking them 24/7.

The Arctic Monkeys out-do themselves in Favourite Worst Nightmare, will the media?

User Reviews and Comments

Review:

on 2011-02-13 placebo_junkie Said:

The Arctic Monkeys second full-length album, featuring twelve songs, expands on the talent that was flung at listeners in their first album. Keeping with their musical style, many of the songs on this album are quick, driving walls of sound. However, the boys have also thrown in some slower, ballad-type songs, giving the album a more well-rounded feel. The music is seamless and tight, and very creative, making it equally easy to listen to and cutting edge. Guitar and bass each shine at different points, backed by superb, zealous drumming, which somehow manages to blend deeply into the music and be in your face at the same time. Over this are the exceptional lyrics of lead singer Alex Turner, who, if you can get past his thick accent, is quite a talented lyricist, mixing serious and fun themes.

The album opens with Brianstorm- not Brainstorm, oh, no, its about Brian, whoever he is- which will blast you out of your seat, and continues in that vein for several songs, including standout tunes Balaclava, and Fluorescent Adolescent, which have a fast, catchy feel. Then, it slips into a slower phase with The Only Ones Who Know, before it starts to crank back up with Do Me a Favour. The album slips a little from wonderfulness towards the end, and the only truly fantastic song after Do Me a Favor is The Bad Thing. The other songs are still good, though, and you can still listen them without wanting to change the track, so, by and large, I feel that Favourite Worst Nightmare is an exceptional album.

Rating: 8/10

Review:

on 2007-05-10 dscanland Said:

Two awesome reviews! Thanks Mike and sub! I think I will actually check this one out. I stayed away from Whatever People Say I Am just due to the hype. I'm bad like that.
Not Rated

Review:

on 2007-04-18 sublogic Said:

Do you know how there were countless Rap/Rock artists and groups in the mid to late 90’s? Then, Linkin Park strolls along w/ Hybrid Theory, sells a bazillion albums, and proceeds to win Grammys and fans all over the world. Some might say they’re no talent hacks that were at the right place at the right time. I, however think they found out how to use the formula laid down in pieces by those that came before them:

An Underrated Lyrical Ability (+) A Passion That Follows Them From The Album To The Stage (/) Band Members That Love Their Fans (=) $UCCE$$

I see much of the same when it comes to the Arctic Monkeys. The Strokes, The Libertines, and Franz Ferdinand have pumped out a sound the last few years, that they’ve have sculpted into back-to-back LPs’ that have rocketed them to the fore-front of the indie scene.

There are a lot of “music guys” that don’t really want to put an excessive amount of stock into a first single. They’ve spent so much of their adolescent lives being fooled by hit singles in mainstream music, that they’ve made a conscious descision later in life to wait to hear the album before you make any brash or sweeping commentary on an artist or album.

I heard “Brainstorm” a couple weeks ago and knew the album was going to be great. The initial offering, and first track, rumbles like a battle drum from underground. But, so does most of the rest of Favourite Worst Nightmare. With lyrics of bravado and rebellion, the Monkeys defend their sound and attack the chart-worshiping, payola-taking, pretty face loving Music Industry as beutifully narrarated on “Teddy Picker”.

But there’s still those wonderfully written pop songs in the vein of “When The Sun Goes Down” and “A Certain Romance”. “Flourescent Adolescent”, about growing up, is melodic story-telling at it’s best. I guess it might sound strange but their song writing reminds me quite a bit of Mr. Mike Skinner from The Streets.

“Only One Who Knows” is the slowest song, and probably my least favorite. After “Riot Van” from Whatever People Say I Am…. it was too similar in tone for me to enjoy. But still, try not to make the mistake of looking for songs from their first album. You won’t find them. Still their always improving sound stands in tact.
Rating: 8/10