Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
The Arctic Monkeys have beat the odds with Favourite Worse Nightmare, putting together an album that easily rivals the tunes on their debut.
I stared at the blank page for a little while, while trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to say about this album. When the Arctic Monkeys burst out of little ole’ Sheffield, England I was one of the first to jump on the bandwagon. These guys showed a level of propensity for writing killer, blistering indie rock tunes that are almost impossible to parallel. They talked about the world as they saw it from their own little postage stamp of South Yorkshire, and it was a pleasure to hear, as well as sing along to.
They dropped a handful of EPs and singles, and with their debut full-length Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,quickly tore up the charts in their native Britain, and made a fair dent on critics and the buying public here in the ‘States, as well.
That was all about a year ago.
And now, they’re back.
Not counting the Who The Fuck Are Arctic Monkeys EP they put out in between; Favourite Worst Nightmare is Arctic Monkeys proper sophomore release. Like most sophomore albums, it finds the band coming to grips with life on the road, and the jaded disillusionment that often comes with success and fame for young bands, which more often than not end up burning out in a blaze of glory. But, luckily they don’t dive all the way into that crowded pool; and make an album that wallows in self-pity, and pretension. Instead, they follow the trend set forth on their debut and the subsequent EP following it: they rock. Plain, and simple.
Front-man Alex Turner doesn’t lose his wit when it comes to the songwriting department either, with “Brianstorm,” and “D is For Dangerous” easily giving Whatever People Say I Am cuts “View From The Afternoon,” and “I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” a collective run for their hook-filled money.
The old adage goes that you have your whole life to make a debut record, and only about a year and some change to write a follow-up. Well, the ‘Monkeys have beat the odds with Favourite Worse Nightmare, putting together an album that easily rivals the tunes on their debut. They show a distinct maturation, with darker tints and more layered tracks; and they take that hip-hop approach of at least five different, catchy-as-heck hooks per-song closer to heart than they ever have before.
On this disc, it’s easy to see that Arctic Monkeys have handled their newfound fame with grace and aplomb, and have managed to effectively avoid the pitfalls and put together one heck of a good second album. With this record they’ve stepped out of the shadows of peers The Strokes, and Franz Ferdinand, to now stand tall and proud as one of the best indie rock bands alive.
Rock on, Monkeys; rock on.
(Domino Recording Co.)