Favourite Worst Nightmare

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Favourite Worst Nightmare
Studio album by Arctic Monkeys
Released 18 April 2007
Recorded December 2006
at Miloco Studios
London, England
Genre Indie rock,[1] post-punk revival,[2][3] garage rock, psychedelic rock
Length 37:34
Label Domino, Warner Bros., EMI (Brazil)
Producer James Ford
Mike Crossey
Arctic Monkeys chronology
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
(2006)		 Favourite Worst Nightmare
(2007)		 At the Apollo
(2008)
Singles from Favourite Worst Nightmare
  1. "Brianstorm"
    Released: 2 April 2007
  2. "Fluorescent Adolescent"
    Released: 4 July 2007
  3. "Teddy Picker"
    Released: 3 December 2007

Favourite Worst Nightmare is the second studio album by English indie rock[1][4] band Arctic Monkeys that was first released in Japan on 18 April 2007[5] before being released around the world. Recorded in east London's Miloco Studios with producers James Ford and Mike Crossey, the album was preceded by the release of "Brianstorm" on 16 April 2007.[6] In its first week following release the album sold over 220,000 copies, emulating Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not in going straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart, albeit selling 100,000 copies fewer than their record-breaking debut. Favourite Worst Nightmare's first day sales of 85,000 outsold the rest of the Top 20 combined, while all twelve tracks from the album entered the top 200 of the UK Singles Chart in their own right.[7] In the USA, the album debuted at number seven, selling around 44,000 copies in its first week.[8] The album has since gone 2X platinum[9] in the UK and the album was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize. At the 2008 BRIT Awards it won 'Best British Album'.

Contents

Change of style [edit]

In comparison to the band's debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, the album has been described as "very, very fast and very, very loud,"[10] being seen as "more ambitious, heavier...and with a fiercely bright production".[11] Reflecting the band's travels around the world more than local stories of the first record, FWN is a "faster, meaner" album.[12] The album arguably has influences from The Smiths - "twanging, quasi-ambient backdrops...and Turner's voice [...] crooning like Morrissey or Richard Hawley."[11] Matt Helders said "Conor McBride's superfast supersmooth guitar sweeps and bone-crunching C-tuned guitar riffs were a major influence on this album."[6] As a result, the drum rhythms of Helders and bassist Nick O'Malley have drawn comparisons to the Eighties funk band ESG.[6] The band's love of classic films also influences their new style. For example, the organ at the beginning of the album's final track, "505" is taken directly from Ennio Morricone's soundtrack for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (where Angel Eyes enters before the final standoff).[13]

History of the album [edit]

The album title, "Favourite Worst Nightmare", came from the song "D is for Dangerous", the third song featured on the album. The band said they also considered naming the album Lesbian Wednesdays, Gordon Brown or Gary Barlow".[13]

In an interview with NME, Nick O'Malley announced several titles including "D is for Dangerous" and "Balaclava". The tracks "The Bakery" and "Plastic Tramp" also mentioned in the NME interview did not make it onto the album, but were later released as B-sides on the "Fluorescent Adolescent" single. The track "Leave Before the Lights Come On" was also rumoured for inclusion, though it didn't make it.

6 of the 12 songs were debuted at gigs before they released the album. The album was recorded quickly as the band wanted to get out and play the songs again.

Reception [edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 82/100[14]
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 4.5/5 stars[15]
A.V. Club B[16]
BBC Collective 4/5 stars[17]
Blender 3/5 stars[18]
The Boston Globe favourable[19]
The Guardian 4/5 stars[20]
NME 9/10[21]
No Ripcord 4/10[22]
Now 3/5 stars[23]
The Observer 5/5 stars[24]
Pitchfork Media 7.4/10[25]
PopMatters 7/10[1]
Q 5/5 stars[26]
Robert Christgau B+[27]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[28]
Spin 6/10[29]
Sputnikmusic 3.0/5[30]

Favourite Worst Nightmare has received very favourable reviews since release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 82, which indicates universal acclaim.[14] In a 5-star review, The Daily Express described it as "a shockingly good release that just gets better, faster and stronger with each listen",[31] while The Guardian said it had "successfully negotiated the daunting task of following up the biggest-selling debut album in British history" and stated that the second half of the album was the stronger half, noting the similarity to Morrissey in "Fluorescent Adolescent" whilst criticising the opening tracks, Brianstorm in particular. Their progression was also highlighted with The Guardian saying "if you removed everything from the album except Matt Helders' drumming, it would still be a pretty gripping listen",[20] and The Observer praising the new sounds on the album referencing the "piercing, melodic guitar by Jamie Cook" and "where Turner reveals the other weapons in his armoury" when referring to Alex Turner's progression.[24] Pitchfork Media noticed the "new emotional depth" of tracks such as "Do Me A Favour", "Only Ones Who Know" and "505"[32] which were also commonly cited by most other critics as being amongst the highlights.

Track listing [edit]

All lyrics written by Alex Turner, except where noted [33], all music composed by Arctic Monkeys.

No. Title Length
1. "Brianstorm"   2:50
2. "Teddy Picker"   2:43
3. "D Is for Dangerous"   2:16
4. "Balaclava"   2:49
5. "Fluorescent Adolescent" (Turner, Johanna Bennett) 2:57
6. "Only Ones Who Know"   3:02
7. "Do Me a Favour"   3:27
8. "This House Is a Circus"   3:09
9. "If You Were There, Beware"   4:34
10. "The Bad Thing" (Turner, Jamie Cook) 2:23
11. "Old Yellow Bricks" (Turner, Jon McClure) 3:11
12. "505"   4:13

Bonus video [edit]

  • The music video for Brianstorm was included as a bonus with iTunes pre-orders of Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Singles [edit]

Personnel [edit]

Arctic Monkeys
Additional musicians
  • James Ford – additional guitar on "Only Ones Who Know"
  • Miles Kane – additional guitar on "505"

Chart positions [edit]

Country Peak position Certification Sales
United Kingdom 1 2× Platinum 712,597
Australia 2
Ireland 1
New Zealand 4
Canada 4 Platinum 150,000
United States 7 240,000
Germany 2 Gold 100,000
Japan 4 Gold[35] 175,000
Denmark 1
Finland 14
Belgium 1
Netherlands 1
Poland[36] 48
Switzerland 1
Norway 2
France 6 Gold 100,000
Sweden 6
Austria 6
Italy 14 Gold 60,000
Spain 2
European Top 100 Albums 2

Release details [edit]

Country Date Label Format Catalog number
Japan 18 April 2007 Hostess CD HSE-10043[37]
Germany 20 April 2007[38] CD
Ireland
Spain
Australia 21 April 2007[39] CD
United Kingdom 23 April 2007 Domino Records LP WIGLP188 / 5034202018810[40]
CD WIGCD188 / 5034202018827[41]
Brazil EMI CD
France CD
Belgium CD
United States 24 April 2007 Domino, Warner Bros.[42] CD DNO 136 / 801390013621
Israel CD
Canada Domino, WEA International CD

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c Keefe, Michael. "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare < PopMatters". Popmatters.com. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  2. ^ "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare (CD Album)". Mode-9.com. Retrieved 6 May 2011. 
  3. ^ "Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 6 May 2011. 
  4. ^ "BBC - Seven Ages of Rock "What the World Is Waiting For"". Seven Ages of Rock. 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2011. 
  5. ^ Bartz, Simon (5 April 2007). "Planet of the apes". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 
  6. ^ a b c Paphides, Pete (23 March 2007). "Whatever we hoped they'd be, they are". London: The Times. Retrieved 2007-03-24. 
  7. ^ "Arctics' album storms to the top". BBC. 29 April 2007.  Unknown parameter |. It debuted at Number 2 on the Australian Aria Charts url= ignored (help);
  8. ^ Katie Hasty, "Lavigne Remains No. 1 As Joe Debuts High", Billboard.com, 2 May 2007.
  9. ^ BPI.co.uk
  10. ^ "Arctic Monkeys set to unleash "Favourite Worst Nightmare"". Monsters and Critics. 11 April 2007.  Unknown parameter |this is not true their first album was much more fast past and louder and engergetic and and, frankie url= ignored (help);
  11. ^ a b Mulvey, John (22 February 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Uncut. Retrieved 2007-02-28. 
  12. ^ Collett-White, Mike (20 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys face the music with 2nd album". The Scotsman (Reuters). Retrieved 2007-04-20. [dead link]
  13. ^ a b "Insiders' guide to Arctic Monkeys". BBC News. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010. 
  14. ^ a b "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved 2009-03-24. 
  15. ^ "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  16. ^ Murray, Noel. "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare | Music". A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved 23 April 2012.  Text " Music Review " ignored (help); Text " The A.V. Club" ignored (help)
  17. ^ O'Connell, Sharon. "BBC - collective - arctic monkeys 'favourite worst nightmare' album review". BBC Collective. Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2012. 
  18. ^ [1][dead link]
  19. ^ Anderman, Joan. "These Monkeys are more than just a teen fad - Boston.com". The Boston Globe. Christopher M. Mayer. Retrieved 23 April 2012. 
  20. ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (24 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2 May 2010. 
  21. ^ "NME Album Reviews - Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". Nme.Com. 2007-04-16. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  22. ^ Coleman, David. "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare - Music Review - No Ripcord". No Ripcord. No Ripcord. Retrieved 23 April 2012. 
  23. ^ Perlich, Tim. "ARCTIC MONKEYS | NOW Magazine". Now. NOW Communications. Retrieved 23 April 2012. 
  24. ^ a b Savage, Jon (22 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Guardian (London). 
  25. ^ [2][dead link]
  26. ^ "Favourite Worst Nightmare Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic.com. 2010-04-10. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  27. ^ "Album: Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  28. ^ By Christian Hoard (2007-04-17). "Favourite Worst Nightmare | Album Reviews". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  29. ^ Walters, Barry. "Arctic Monkeys, 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' (Domino)". SPIN.com. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  30. ^ Donnelly, Dave. "Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare (staff review) | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 23 April 2012. 
  31. ^ "Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Music :: ARCTIC MONKEYS: FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE". Express.co.uk. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  32. ^ "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare | Album Reviews". Pitchfork. 2007-04-24. Retrieved 2012-02-16. 
  33. ^ ASCAP Entry
  34. ^ Arctic Monkeys announce new single | News | NME.COM
  35. ^ "ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2007年5月". RIAJ (in Japanese). 10 June 2007. Retrieved 2010-11-10. 
  36. ^ "OLiS: sales for the period 23.04.2007 - 06.05.2007". OLiS. 
  37. ^ Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare Japan CD ALBUM (396187)
  38. ^ Amazon.de product page
  39. ^ Sanity.com.au
  40. ^ Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare UK LP RECORD (397575)
  41. ^ Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worse Nightmare UK CD ALBUM (397574)
  42. ^ Mulvey, John (19 March 2007). "Arctic Monkeys' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' gets a life from Warner Bros.". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 2007-04-11. 

External links [edit]

Preceded by
The Best Damn Thing by Avril Lavigne		 UK number one album
29 April 2007  – 19 May 2007		 Succeeded by
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park
Arctic Monkeys
Studio albums
Extended plays
Other albums
Video albums
Tours
Related articles
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