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List Price: $15.98 | | Label: Domino
Salesrank: 1899
Released: April 24, 2007 |
| Our Price: $7.44 |
| Used Price: $6.79 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Favourite Worst Nightmare Track Listing:
1. Brianstorm
2. Teddy Picker
3. D Is For Dangerous
4. Balaclava
5. Fluorescent Adolescent
6. Only Ones Who Know
7. Do Me A Favour
8. This House Is A Circus
9. If You Were There, Beware
10. The Bad Thing
11. Old Yellow Bricks
12. 505
Editorial Review:
While this sophomore release is unmistakably Arctic Monkeys, everything's a little more muscular and aggressive. Each song is embedded with revelatory moments, as if some sort of critical mass is achieved through skillful song craft and sharp arrangements until an explosive release of energy or emotion is inevitable. Arctic Monkeys have exceeded expectations with this record.
Description of Favourite Worst Nightmare:
Snarly and stone-sharpened, the Arctic Monkeys open their sophomore effort with "Brianstorm," a bracing blast of guitar fractures and rhythmic herky-jerks. Alex Turner's voice is the centerpiece, scoured the way the Streets' Mike Skinner's quick. Favourite Worst Nightmare moves from frontal blast quickly to the lean, mid-paced pop nugget, "Teddy Picker," which even with its clear guitars and straight rhythms still has Turner's tart intonation piercing the air. The tugging bass and guitar of "Fluorescent Adolescent" show shades of the retro-soul tip that drives Amy Winehouse (and Lily Allen), showing that the Arctic Monkeys have a taste for the dancefloor that spans generations, even if their guitars can cut across each other with relentless jaggedness while Turner's caustic pipes lasso the ears. Nightmare expands the band's reach, as when "Do Me a Favour" goes wonderfully haywire from tumbling rhythm, clear-guitar, and fluid narrative to a cresting blast of guitars--big and brawny and borne from the merely tumultuous, like the band itself. --Andrew Bartlett
Favourite Worst Nightmare Reviews:
Not as fresh as the first one but..... 
2009-06-11 - this does not mean its bad. In fact it's absolutely amazing, its got a plethora of mesmerizing fresh beats and catchy songs such as "Fluorescent Adolescent" and the relentless drumming of "Brianstorm".This is a strong sophomoric album from one of the best indie bands of this 21st century. The Arctic Monkeys are here to stay and they have the music to back up their so deserved hype
Favourite Worst Nightmare
2009-01-08 - This album is proof that there is no such thing as "the sophomore curse." I believe that the sophomore album is where the band fixes the mistakes they made on their debut, and that's exactly what the Arctic Monkeys did. This album was much more art-rock and experimental than their chart-topping debut, 2006's Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, and that's exactly what I look for in a band. The album kicks off with a bang with "Brianstorm" and stays strong until track 6, "Only Ones Who Know," the low point of the album. I'm not saying I don't like slower songs, but I still don't think the Monkeys can pull them off. Last album they disappointed me with "Mardy Bum" and "Riot Van" and I can't say "505" is that much better. But aside from those two tracks, the album is strong from start to finish with smart lyrics, twanging guitars, and fast drum rhythms. (They also get bonus points for having an album cover that really catches your eye, unlike their debut that has that guy that looks like Adam Sandler smoking...)
Written review?
2008-08-24 - I've written a few music reviews, and I've come to a great realization. They are useless! Everybody is the same when it comes to music. And that similarity is that no two people have the exact same taste. What we all write here should have no influence whatsoever on whether or not these guys are 'good.' Go sample them and decide for yourself! Personally, I like them. They are upbeat, have a british charm, and some humorous lyrics.
The Monkeys Get Cooler
2008-08-19 - I thought it would be hard to follow up the fastest, fiercest and most enjoyable punk rock album, but the Arctic Monkeys' sophomore album is a great expansion of their ferocious sound.
In the Arctic Monkeys' first album, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not," they set the British punk scene on fire with a speedy flurry of virtuoso guitar riffs and drum beating. The second album, "Favourite Worst Nightmare," continues their virtuoso performances, but with a more streamlined expansion of their surf-guitar sound.
The first single, "Brianstorm," demonstrates that sound with a killer opening riff that resembles that opening to the film "Pulp Fiction." I love Jamie Cook and Alex Turner's killer staccato guitar blasts accompanying Matt Helder's fast-tempo drum beat. And unlike the singer in Bloc Party (no offense, mate), Turner has a taste for blood, blurting out, "Brian, top marks for not trying/So I'd like you to bless us with your effortlessness/we'd wait for and so trained and comforted." Obviously Turner hates working for the man.
And the Arctic Monkeys also hate the mindless drift into commercialism these days. Alex Turner is very blunt in his criticism in the smashing song "This House is a Circus," singing "This house is a circus/berserk as f***/We tend to see that as a perk though/look what it's done to your friends/their memories are pretend." The Arctic Monkeys appropriately switch to a deep echoing guitar to add creepy Halloween sounds. Of course, sooner or later the Monkeys switch to smashing the haunting mood with crashing cymbals and loud guitars.
Overall, this album is more a concept album that criticizes social oppression. But "Favourite Worst Nightmare" is a great concept album, where the Arctic Monkeys literally smash the hell out of punk with unconventional dissonant guitar blasts and spooky echoing riffs. While there are slow and quiet moments, this is a wonderful combination of surf and punk rock. Arctic Monkeys are at the top of their game, contributing two great albums of wonderful punk rock.
Monkey Chill 
2008-07-27 - The Arctic Monkeys delivered an audacious and brash debut, actually bearing up to their hype when Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not hit American shores. It was low-fi teenage rock and sounded it, but the sheer manic thrill carried the album. But now that they are stars, that low-key charm is was what many were looking for in the follow-up.
"Favourite Worst Nightmare" is basically, a more mature version of the debut, produced more cleanly, with stronger recording skills and a better budget, by a band that is road-tested and better because of it. "Brainstorm" is the kind of jagged guitar pop-rock that you would expect, and sounds as good as anything on the debut. The almost funky "Fluorescent Adolescent," about a former party girl who is dealing with growing up. The album zips by at a breath-taking 37 minutes, fast enough that the generally repetitive nature of the remaining songs might not wear you down.
The songs are still rocking and will get you pumped. Just that, strung together, the effect can become tiring. Arctic Monkeys can blast out zingers like "Old Yellow Brick" and "505," but there isn't any sign of artistic progress here. I'd even go as far as to say that "Favourite Worst Nightmare" could even be a better album than the debut in terms of consistently and craft, but misses the thrill of discovery and the adrenal rush of kids discovering rock. Like sophomore efforts from Franz Ferdinand or The Vines, they may find themselves melting away from the spotlight sooner than they deserve to.
