Favourite Worst Nightmare Review

Release Date: Apr 24, 2007
Label: Domino
Genres: Indie Rock
Number Of Tracks: 12
There’s something in the music that you would expect from the band the least -- they became serious, but not worse or less interesting.

Sound:	8.8
Lyrics:	9.3
Impression:	9.3
Overall rating:	9.1
Users rating:	8.7
Comments:	57

overall: 8.7

Featured review by: UG Team, on april 25, 2007

Sound: When somebody’s beat The Beatles in the charts with the debut album, the expectations from the second record are as high as the anticipation before it's release. Will they do it or will they not? -- is all that bothered fans the day before Arctic Monkeys’ sophomore album Favourite Worst Nightmare was out (I should admit, the same question has been haunting music critics).

They did it -- the new record is a worthy follow-up to Whatever People Say I am That's What I'm Not. It doesn’t grab you by the balls like the previous record did. Instead, you would need a few listens to get into. The titles became shorter, the guys are saying less words a second than they used to and are more straight in expressing themselves, avoiding any flourishing details.

What you would expect from a sophomore album is most of it's songs sounding like the predecessor. Not in this case -- there are still battling drums, dirty guitars and noisy sound, but rare you find a song to compare to something from the debut album. The first single Braistorm that reminds me of Choo Choo from Whatever People Say… might be the only example and leaves me wishing for more as the music has lost it's infectious melodies. Now Arctic Monkeys are less radio-friendly, trading catchy pop guitar riffs for darker and moodier chords.

The album was claimed to be more American-audience oriented and according producers people in America like it more rock and less ska. Favourite Worst Nightmare is heavier with many songs sounding so tight and even scary, that if you change crashing guitar to distortion, they could well be a soundtrack to a horror movie -- like This House Is A Circus with it's haunting guitar solo.

Here are even less slows moments than you would expect with a sensitive ballad Only One Who Knows being the only romantic moment of the whole CD. But it’s done in the best traditions to touch you -- with whining guitars, mellow strings and Turner suddenly stating that “True romance can be achieved these days.” // 8

Lyrics and Singing: Thanx God that after all the changes Alex Turner didn’t loose his cynicism! And he is still straight-forward with things most wouldn’t dare to sing about with the lyrics vivid and unexpected as your neighbor’s underwear. But now he is less generous for details that amused us on the previous record. Rarely you would find weird rhythms that stick like “This house is a circus/ Berserk as f--k” in This House Is A Circus or “There's a circle of witches, ambitiously vicious they are” in If You Were There, Beware.

When it comes to vocals, Turner is less diverse now. It seems like he’s found the sound that he’s comfortable in (and pretty much the effect for his voice too) and he’s got no wish no change or vary it. Mostly it’s the volume of the singing that changes. He’s yelling like a hysterical kid in 505 and soulfully sings with sorrow in Only One Who Knows. // 9

Impression: Even though it’s obvious the guys are now much less enthusiastic when it comes to music, this album isn’t crushing anybody’s expectations or failing in any way. Arctic monkeys have definitely matured, but gaining the experience, the guys have lost the joy and fun they carried in their debut. Favourite Worst Nightmare is more aggressive and even violent. There’s something in the music that you would expect from the band the least -- they became serious, but not worse or less interesting. // 9

- Kosh (c) 2008

overall: 8.3

Reviewed by: unregistered, on april 25, 2007

Sound: I've always liked the Monkeys guitar sound and here it comes out even better thanks to good production. It's the same really cool, twangy, Gang of Four/Dick Dale/James Bond theme kind of sound. The band generally sounds tighter and more refined. Wheather this is due to good production, that fact thay've been playing so much live or both, I don't know. Also the drums seem to have really improved. They fit in the the guitar perfectly and the band really seems to get a singular overall sound which they kind of lacked on WPSIWIN. // 8

Lyrics and Singing: I haven't listened to it enough yet but the lyrics are still really cool and whitty. However my first impression is they are not quite up to the standard of "Whatever..." which was brillant. However maybe I'm wrong, since it took me a few listens of their first album to really catch all the puns and ironies. "Fake Tales of San Fransico" on the last album has some of the whittiest lyrics I ever heard since the Smiths in my opinion but I have yet to find anything quite as cool here. // 8

Impression: Definately a step in the right direction. I was only mildly impressed at first but after a few listens I do think overall this album is much better then their first effort and they have gotten much better as a band. At the moment my favorite tracks are "Brainstorm", "Teddy Picker", "The House is a Circus" and "505". Funnily enough only a year ago I didn't really like the Arctic Monkey's. I always heard "I bet you look good on the dancefloor" and thought they were just another over hyped UK indie band. I gave thier first album a good listen and started to like it, especially the lyrics. This album only confirms, while they are still far from my favorite, that I was wrong and the Arctic Monkeys really are a very good band. // 9

overall: 10

Reviewed by: haza, on april 25, 2007

Sound: Ok I'm going to make this review to the point. There was a lot of pressure on the band to carry off another great album off after the first one, but they have managed to do that. They have all improved a lot as musicians which just means that there is so many new things that they have been able to do. The music is fairly simple but extremely catchy and each song pumps out energy! // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Alex is a fantastic lyricist writing about real down to earth experiences that everyone goes through and so everyone can relate to what he is singing about. And again his writing has improved so that he can write about more meaningful things which is top class. The lyrics really stick in your head after a few listens. // 10

Impression: I loved the first Arctic Monkeys album and I just hoped that this album would be as deadly as the first, and it deffonatley did live up to my expectations. My favourite songs have to be Brianstorm, Teddy Picker, Fluorescent Adolescent, This House is A Circus and Old Yellow Bricks. I just love the riffs, the tight drums, the way the lyrics fit perfectly to the music and the genuis of Alex' writing ability (he did write most of the album) I can honestly say that there's nothing I hate about this album and I would deffonatley buy it again if I lost it! // 10

overall: 9.3

Reviewed by: mikespread88, on january 10, 2008

Sound: Arctic Monkeys are very unique in their sound and seem to have spawned a whole new side to Indie music. The guitars are the main success in how good they are, fast paced riffs giving a certain energy to the majority of their songs. "Brianstorm" exemplifies this, it's unusual enegetic speed making it one of my songs of the year. The previous album was good, it set the bar very high for the Monkeys, but this album seems to have taken it a whole step further, their songs showing a unique variation. They are definitely the modern great. // 9

Lyrics and Singing: If the sound isn't good enough, you've got quirky lyrics that not only can you hear, but have the sudden urge to sing along to. The Monkeys as I'm sure you know have a keen sense for humour and they show this in certain songs, such as the first line of "D Is For Dangerous". Alex Turner's voice fits amazingly well with the music. Balaclava's "But we'll do it anyway 'cos we love a bit of trouble!" is probably my favourite line in the album, but through the whole album, once you've listened to it a few times, it's contagious to join in. // 10

Impression: Compared to their last album, this is certainly a step in the right direction, even when you consider that "Whatever People Say I am That's What I'm Not" is still an amazing album in it's own right. The Arctic Monkeys seem to fit in with what modern people want in music. The majority of the songs are brilliant, the first three really standing out to me. "D Is For Dangerous" is an amazing song, probably one of my songs of the year. It does lose it's way in the middle a bit, "Only One Who Knows" and "Do Me A Favour" not quite hitting the highs of the rest, but nevertheless this is one of the best albums of last year. // 9

Comments

[Redferret]

Haza seems to have it a bit wrong, the songs are definitely not simple and they aren't full of catchy hooks, however, it is a brilliant album showing a band maturing as artists and daring to be creative with sounds and ideas.

[JoshMysterio]

Less words a second? Balaclava has more words a second than any other presvious Arctic Monkeys song to date. Choo Choo was never released, it wasn't on Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not it was just a demo.

Alex's lyrics have advanced and matured, they are still generally about down to earth easy to relate to cenarios, but they are worded in such a darker manor.

[Jack_Flash]

Something you would least expect from the band.

[papersun87]

Oh, thank goodness it's good. I really enjoyed their last CD and felt like this one came on a little fast. I was worried it would be one of those "okay, we had a hit now let's write twelve songs as fast as we can and get another one out there" kind of record. I look forward to getting it.

[8butler9]

i agree wi (JoshMysterio). . listening to it now, . b4 any one puts it down, listen to it several times, it does take a while to like, but then is really good, LOVE "TEDDY PICKER" great band from good old yorkshire, cyas Butler

[holyspacemonkey]

i liked their first album..but this one sounded...a bit like st anger. excessively long and repetitive intros, and i got bored before the lyrics came in. so imo, rubbish.

[Nerdo-sez-bo]

holyspacemonkey wrote:

i liked their first album..but this one sounded...a bit like st anger. excessively long and repetitive intros, and i got bored before the lyrics came in. so imo, rubbish.

But you see, with St Anger, you've already lost faith in the world, killed youself and been dead 40 years when the lryics come in.

[parry107]

Its a bloody brilliant album, BUT is has a few weak tracks, but the strong tracks make up for them. a fantastic second album.
My favourite songs are: brianstorm, teddy picker, D is for dangerous, the house is a circus. if you were there beware, old yellow bricks and 505, the rest are a bit weak, but the ballads are good. i.e the bad thing. Overall if you liked there first album, get THIS one, it will blow you head off from the word "go"!

[interpol1988]

its okay...deffinetly worth buying. WEPSIATWIN is allot better because alexs is more outspoken in that CD....I think that too much light was shined on the band and this pressure affected the writing. After they're done with YFWN I belive they should just disapear (like Interpol) and go back to writing songs by themselfs....although i gotta say it's pretty good for a 2nd album..I mean just look at Block Party, The Killers, the Moving Units, and The Bravery. They all crashed and burned in their 2nd CD!

[SlashNX]

The arctic monkeys have moved from catchy songs, to infectious ones! these songs dont have choruses, they dont have catchy guitar lines either.... theyve made the songs as a whole piece catchy. I challange somone to sing more than 2 lines from one of their songs after only one listen!!!

In my opinion, they couldnt have made a better 2nd album, theyve shown theyve grown up, got better at their instruments and changed their sound enough not to sound like the first but still sounding like the arctic monkeys!!

AMAZING band!

[JoshMysterio]

Why reply in such crap English and with not much to say the jfsj123?

When I went and saw them live a few weeks back in Exeter you should of seen the size of Jamie's pedal board, it's a lot larger than what it used to be.

[danyeh]

I liked Arctic Monkeys since the first song i heared and i think they still rock, the new album is not catching first time you listen but when you listen more times it rocks alot more, can't wait till next album!

[finn0]

interpol1988 wrote:
look at Block Party, The Killers, the Moving Units, and The Bravery. They all crashed and burned in their 2nd CD!

Bloc Party's 2nd album was very, very good.

[electric7]

good job AM! very well deserved. Fluorescent Adolescent is the best.

[Benjirob]

This band and the style of indie music is completely overrated. It all sounds the same and is all very poor. The singers can hardly sing, its boring powerchords played at high octives and maybe some catchy bass lines but i can't see any attraction in the style of the music or its image.

*Checked/deleted*

If you've got nothing more insightful to say than "it/they sux" please don't post.

[Whatley2212]

finn0 wrote:

interpol1988 wrote:
look at Block Party, The Killers, the Moving Units, and The Bravery. They all crashed and burned in their 2nd CD!


Bloc Party's 2nd album was very, very good.

Yeah, what are you talking about interpol?

[elmolikepie]

interpol1988 wrote:
look at Block Party, The Killers, the Moving Units, and The Bravery. They all crashed and burned in their 2nd CD!

yeh i mean the killers are only headlining glastonbury...just beacuse fickle fools such as yourself lost interest after the hype went it doesnt mean the band got any less good.

[mrsensible1234]

the album is good but to me i think its missing something but as they say the 2nd album is always the hardest to do

[monkeymadness]

id absolutly love to see

BENJIROBThis band and the style of indie music is completely overrated. It all sounds the same and is all very poor. The singers can hardly sing, its boring powerchords played at high octives and maybe some catchy bass lines but i can't see any attraction in the style of the music or its image

do a better job than the monkeys themselves!! i truly think that not one bad thing can be said about this album its fantastic and if your a fan you wil love it just as mych as WEPSIATWIN

[monkeymadness]

and also if you dont like indie music in particular the Arctic Monkeys why oh why are you readin there album review, I mean its not like your goin to go buy the album so why should you care so much wat it sounds like!!!???

[SWENCE_32]

Reading the line

The album was claimed to be more American-audience oriented and according producers people in America like it more rock and less ska.

kinda made me think that they are selling out on their second album. I actually look forward to the "Heavier" sound on the album. If there ones one thing that i wished they had done of "What ever people say i am" is that they were a little heavier. cant wait to here it.

[celticgreen3492]

Really good album. Lyrics are right of par, drums are as good as last time, and the guitars have a cool new style. I especially love how the guitars work together on "Flourescent Adolescent"

Just one complaint. The little booklet thing sucks. 11 pages of absolutly nothing. No lyrics, no anything, just weird pictures. Am I missing out on something here?

[ZedgeZ]

This band and the style of indie music is completely overrated. It all sounds the same and is all very poor. The singers can hardly sing, its boring powerchords played at high octives and maybe some catchy bass lines but i can't see any attraction in the style of the music or its image.

you obviously dont get out much, man when you go out into town and get on the dancefloor the last thing you want to hear is shitty technical musical, the best is the catchiest most basic music out there, so before you criticize an entire genre of music understand what its there for, go back to yngwie mate

[interpol1988]

okay....yeah block party's 2nd cd is alright...its got like 3 or 4 super awesome songs....but the rest arent that great. well if u think about it it was the same thing silent alarm....but it just kind seemed like a desperate cry for attention by kele when h ewas dissin jack white(dont get me wrong i think he's a great musican but sometimes he can be an a hole I mean he wont even describe his bedalboard set up in interviews calling it a "secret")....but anyways, back to the subject i think the monkeys did a better job meeting the expectations for the 2nd album

[interpol1988]

as for the killers...i didnt lose intrest after the hype....f that. all you need to do is compare hot fuzz to sams town. Im not going to stick to my guns if they stop workin...just cuz it makes me look certain. in general, most of these band's music quality decreases when they spend less than a year writing the cd... i think thats a point that we all can agree on. but the arctic monkeys did do an awesome job....i think their sound changed cus they got a new bassist that like to how the spotlight a little more

[interpol1988]

....i think their sound changed cus they got a new bassist that like to hog* the spotlight a little more

[interpol1988]

^^CORRECTION^^
sorry bout the quatriple post!

[interpol1988]

yeah....the boclet sux. mabe its a puzzle??

[spencerisyourki]

i am a monkey

[sam-op]

The first single Braistorm that reminds me of Choo Choo from Whatever People Say…

just to point out....choo choo was not in whatever people say bout me thats what im not

[sam-op]

^^^^
its an early demo a think =D

[armitage_cake]

That UG review is absolutely terrible.

Lost it's infectious melodies? Bollocks. The music itself has advanced greatly. The band said themselves that they could of easily made the pop record everyone expected but they didn't. They've made something challenging instead.

The writer has misquoted the lyrics to "Only Ones Who Know" (it's "true romance can't be acheived these days"). Also this song is definitely not the only romantic song on the album. Alex Turner himself has described "505" as the "first proper love song we've done".

Alex's voice has matured, not become less diverse.

"Much less enthusiastic about music?" What the ****? When they did the first album they'd only really been influenced by hip hop and the Strokes. Listening to the first 30 seconds of album starter Brianstorm speaks volumes of how their musical influences have widened to maybe The Queens of the Stone Age and further.

I could go on.

[Ducativeetwin]

Flourescent Adolescent is an INSTANT classic...
Others will no doubt be on further listening.
Excellent follow-up album.

[TechnicolorBoy]

Nice job on the review. It displays the EXACT same thoughts that I had.

About the album, it's a great sophomore CD. The Arctic Monkeys sure are something special.

[jonnybassman]

its a great follow up album with some amazing songs (do me a favour, balaclava, this house is a circus) and especcially amazing bass riffs throughout the album. Still not as great as the first album which was something special but still provides songs that only the monkeys seem to be producing at the moment. Unlike the first album it has a couple of weak songs , in my opinion the bad thing and teddy picker arent anywhere near as gud as anything of the first album.
But my favourite new monkeys song isnt even on the album, what if you were right first time is an amazing song with a gr8 sounding bass riff
overall another great album but not as good as the first.

[armitage_cake]

What If You Were Right First Time is ****in ace

[drtudor]

i just love balaclava. best drums ever

[TallMidget210]

interpol1988 wrote:
look at Block Party, The Killers, the Moving Units, and The Bravery. They all crashed and burned in their 2nd CD!

Actually The Killers' was good too, it was different and original, the exact same words used to describe this album. But I guess it's one of those "love it or hate it" things.

[DamoYoung]

That UG review is absolutely terrible.

Lost it's infectious melodies? Bollocks. The music itself has advanced greatly. The band said themselves that they could of easily made the pop record everyone expected but they didn't. They've made something challenging instead.

The writer has misquoted the lyrics to "Only Ones Who Know" (it's "true romance can't be acheived these days". Also this song is definitely not the only romantic song on the album. Alex Turner himself has described "505" as the "first proper love song we've done".

Alex's voice has matured, not become less diverse.

"Much less enthusiastic about music?" What the ****? When they did the first album they'd only really been influenced by hip hop and the Strokes. Listening to the first 30 seconds of album starter Brianstorm speaks volumes of how their musical influences have widened to maybe The Queens of the Stone Age and further.

I could go on.

Well I'll continue on for you.This album is magic.The only song im struggling to get used to is D is for dangerous.The best song on the album is Do me a favor....followed by Brianstorm and 505 which is truly amazing...Alex auctuly plays organ when playing 505 live...brilliant.The whole album shows they have grown up and moved on a little,I think it's a belter.

[Learn_to_fly]

this album pwnz! woot! arctic monkeys f teh w!! although there is no song on 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' similar to Riot Van, guttd, but asides from that, amazingly written album.

[GBnhis_les paul]

To put it simply this album is ****in great!! as good if not better than the first

[whatiaminstead]

i like it better, i actually really appreciate the serious turn they took and their musical maturity really shows it

[zal_Brianstorm]

between their 1st and the 2nd album,yes it's true that some would felt that the crunch revolution of indie rockwasnt there in the scond album,it's good they became serious in making success,i totally support both of their albums,i think Arctic Monkeys decide to improve their concept of music,DOESN'T MEAN THE DISTORTION OF GUITAR makes the song vicous,some are catchy too,i heart especially 505,Brianstorm,The House Is A Circus and Fluorescent Adolescent

[zal_Brianstorm]

between their 1st and the 2nd album,yes it's true that some would felt that the crunch revolution of indie rockwasnt there in the scond album,it's good they became serious in making success,i totally support both of their albums,i think Arctic Monkeys decide to improve their concept of music,DOESN'T MEAN THE DISTORTION OF GUITAR makes the song vicous,some are catchy too,i heart especially 505,Brianstorm,The House Is A Circus and Fluorescent Adolescent

[italian rocker]

i first listened to the monks after overhearing my friend say theyre the "best band ever", so i looked em up on purevolume. i was taken away by 'i bet u look good on the dancefloor', and a few months ago i borrowed 'whatever people say i am thats what im not' from the same friend. that is definitely my 3rd favorite album of all time, after staduim arcadium[red hot chili peppers] and back in black[ac/dc]. favourite worst nightmare is great, but the band's maturity cant overcome the fact that their 1st album's better. brainstorm's great and all, but this record needs some classics like 'you probably couldnt see for the lights but you were staring straight at me' or 'a certain romance'. the songs from 'whatever people say i am thats what im not' had such soothing melody. if their 3rd album isnt like the 1st, i'll go crazy.

[Dave_young]

wtf would be the point in them making an album which sounds just like the first?? thats why this is such a great album, its clearly from the same bloodline as 'whatever...' but makes big strides forward sonically. hopefully the third will do the same, but thats looking too far forward really so im just gonna enjoy this album for now and enjoy seeing them in manchester!!

[blajano]

That UG review is totaly crap...

this album is just 10/10

[SGplaya112]

THE KOOKS ARE BETTER!!!! LUKE PRITCHARD IS 100093249283X COOLER THAN ALEX TURNER!!!

[oasislad06]

HAHAH LUKE THE SH1T STABBER PRITCHARD. ALEX TURNER IS A LEG END

[oasislad06]

OH AN STADIUM ARCADIUM IS A PILE OF W@NK

[chux1992]

the kooks are a piece of ars compared to the arctic monkeys and luke pritchard is a pussy

[beno93]

this is a good album but
i dont realy think its better than the first
but i agree with dave its good because its changdbut it dosent match the other

[kingkarl25]

simply amazing... the only word for it

[soupdragon]

kingkarl25 wrote:

simply amazing... the only word for it

simply amazing is 2 words, fool.

But anyway, it is a great album.

[happyman1990]

You guys are so misleading.
I bought favorite worst nightmare. 2nd biggest dissapointment of 2007, next to the new Coheed and Cambria album.
The songs on this album are weak. It's as if the went back in time instead of progressing. Brainstorm, sure a good first song, but besides Adolescent, it's a 3 star album. There music is slower and the songs are less lively. I guess I just expected more since their 1st album is one of my favorite all time

[burnshouse]

But you see, with St Anger, you've already lost faith in the world, killed youself and been dead 40 years when the lryics come in.[/quote]lol