Product Description

Sophomore album from the success story of 2006, whose debutalbum 'Whatever People Say I Am That's What I'm Not' won the Mercury Music Prize as well as Brit, Q and NME Awards and is the fastest-selling debut album in UK chart history. It'sa tall order to follow up, but here the Monkeys do it in fine style, unleashing a brute of a rock album built around clattering drums, raw, pounding guitar riffs and more of the band's trademark Northern cynicism. Includes the single 'Brianstorm'.

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. Bad Thing
11. Old Yellow Bricks
12. 505

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2920 in Music
• Released on: 2007-04-23
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
What to do if your first record becomes the fastest-selling album in UK chart history? If you're the Arctic Monkeys, you don't sweat it - you just swagger back with a follow-up, Favourite Worst Nightmare, that pulls the same old tricks with a few new twists. But even as "Balaclava" and "Do Me A Favour" bandy along with that familiar mix of provincial Everyman lingo, spat rap cadence, and scuzzy guitars, Favourite Worst Nightmare is shot through with the prevailing feeling this is the sound of consolidation, not retread. So, what's new? Well, there's evidence of a heavier edge here - lead-off single "Brianstorm" veritably tears along, all galloping drums, strafing guitar lines and blistering bons mots: "Can't take my eyes off yer T-shirt and tie combination," spits Alex Turner, "Well see ya later, innovator". Like the White Stripes, though, Arctic Monkeys invest their cranked garage with splashes of melodic invention - see how "If You Were There" veers between jerky riffs and Hall Of Mirrors weirdness. And it doesn't let up from beginning 'til end - or at least 'til the closing "505", a departure lounge lament that's downbeat and tired, like conquering the world finally took its toll. --Louis Pattison

About the Artist
You could never accuse Arctic Monkeys of making anything easy for themselves. Their debut album `Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', topped every end-of-year poll going, and became the fastest-selling debut in British chart history. Those are just the facts. But revolutions are about more than mere facts; and this rewired a generation, broke the boundaries between the moshpit and the dancefloor, invalidated the whole concept of celebrity culture to become that rarest of things, a smash hit with its soul intact. Most bands take years to whip up that sort of acclaim.

How could even these four talented young men hope to follow that? Forgive us for stating the obvious, but you go and make a better one. Arctic Monkeys had actually started work on `WPSIA,TWIN' with Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford and Mike Crossey, before they'd really become producers du jour, but for one reason or another, the sessions were abandoned and the job was completed by Jim Abiss. But sensing kindred spirits - and with a renewed sense of confidence in their instincts after everything went so spectacularly right first time - they returned to their old mentors, whose star had risen in line with their own over the previous two years. "I think it was very obvious from when we did that first session that it was sound with them," affirms Alex, "they understood it." "And," adds Jamie, "they're not much older than us really."

After locking themselves away from the world first time round, the band decided to record in Miloco Studios in Shoreditch, East London, "getting all new rave in East London," says Matt, slyly. The experience saw them embrace full flow of the city, going out, living life and even having a bit of a party. "I think you can really hear it in the snare sound!" jokes Matt, but he's closer to the truth than he thinks.

The other big change within the ranks of Arctic Monkeys was the introduction of old friend Nick O'Malley on bass halfway through last year. This, too, was taken in everybody's stride. "I'd known them all since I was 10 years old," says Nick of his new bandmates. "We've all lived in the same area, so it wasn't like coming into a band where I didn't know what they'd be like. It's just been a laugh really, it's been fine."

Customer Reviews

Worse Than The First? Of Course!
The acne ridden 'rockers' return for yet more monotonous bile. Is it me, or do ALL their songs sound the same? 'Brianstorm' is possibly the most uninspiring piece of music I've heard to date. They should try something new if they are to get any respect from me. Why not try orchestras or real singalong anthems, while still keeping the 'rock' tag. If these guys seriously want to become the new Oasis, then they will have to put some imagination and emotion into their songs, rather than this... well I was going to say music, but I just can't call it that.

However, saying that, this isn't exactly their 'Morning Glory', is it?

Short, but sweet
I'll admit, I don't really listen to the radio that often so I hadn't heard the singles off this album when it first came out, but my bro had this album & I liked what I heard so I decided to get it for myself. I've liked the whole of the album & there wasn't really a low point, but my fav tracks were Brianstorm, Teddy Picker, Fluorescent Adolescent & 505 was also good.

If there was only one problem I had with the album it was that coming in at 37.5 mins long it does a feel a bit short, but hey it's still 3 mins longer than Razorlight by.... Razorlight & it sure sounds better so as I said in the title, it's short but definately sweet.

It's great, but it's not quite as good...
The Arctic Monkey's second album is good, but it doesn't quite reach the dizzy heights of their debut. This isn't for lack of good songs - in my opinion, it's because the album doesn't provide as much variance, or as many hooks. Whereas with the first listen to Whatever People Say I Am... leads 70% of the songs on the album instantly sinking into your memory, a first listen to Favourite Worst Nightmare leads to great impressions of only a handful of tracks.

For me, those few tracks were: Flourescent Adolescent - possibly the best song they've ever released, it contains an immensely catchy melody, a great riff, and a soaring chorus; this will be a part of the live set for a long time. Teddy Picker, another single, has a great chorus in a different way - banging away with an incessent rhythm. And 505, the closer, is a wonderful low-tempo effort, more haunting than anything else Arctic Monkeys have produced.

The rest of the tracks certainly grow with every listen, and the album of a whole is really good. Indeed, the only reason this review has the slightest hint of criticism is because my favourite tracks from their initial release were Mardy Bum, A Certain Romance and When The Sun Goes Down, whereas the majority of the tracks here seem more influenced by ... Dancefloor.

Overall, this album is well worth picking up