Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare CD

On 2007's FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE, Arctic Monkeys follow up their excessively hyped and undeniably catchy debut (WHATEVER PEOPLE SAY I AM, THAT'S WHAT I'M NOT) with another round of fiery post-punk-influenced tunes. Given the Sheffield, England quartet's newfound status as full-blown rock stars in their homeland, they wisely avoid the working-class-bloke-isms that rang true on their first album, and instead opt for a broader lyrical scope and a significantly weightier approach.

The Monkeys' Mark II aesthetic is best embodied by the lead single "Brianstorm," a pounding track (about a friend, hence the deliberate misspelling) that kicks off the outing with rapid-fire guitar riffs and pummeling percussion. NIGHTMARE also finds the band looking good on the dancefloor with songs such as "Teddy Picker" and "D Is for Dangerous," which combine inescapably funky rhythms with frontman Alex Turner's raspy howl. To his credit, Turner turns his Yorkshire-accented voice into a comforting croon on the surprisingly atmospheric "Only Ones Who Know," imbuing the record with the dynamism that was somewhat lacking on WHATEVER. A sure sign that the Monkeys aren't fading away after their big bang, FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE is the sound of a tough young band playing for keeps.

Recording information: Eastcote Studios, London, England; Konk Studios, London, England; Miloco Garden, London, England; Motor Museum, Liverpool.

Illustrators: Juno; Al Heighton; Joseph Bramhall; Anne Marie Moore; Drew Millward.

Photographer: Juno.

Personnel: Miles Kane, James Ford (guitar).

Audio Mixers: Mike Crossey; James Ford ; Alan Moulder.

Spin (p.83) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "They eschew Britpop finesse, playing with rough punk precision..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.138) - "[T]heir lyrics set them apart....They know how playful poetics and regional flavor can be more pleasurable than mass-market lingua franca." -- Grade: B+
Q (p.115) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[With] heavier riffs, richer melodies, more adventurous writing and some brilliantly realised mixing of styles."
Vibe (p.132) - "[I]t's the sharp arrangements and metallic guitar squalls that give this follow-up the band's signature punch."
Q (Magazine) (p.88) - Ranked #03 in Q's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2007" -- "[I]ts enriched melodies and clever arrangements only served to better showcase Turner's wit and wisdom."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.100) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Clocking in at 38 minutes, FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE has all the hallmarks of a British-pop classic: tight, full of variety, brilliantly sequenced, striped with emotional light and shade...and quietly reflective and savagely punky in equal measures."