Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
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Free Music Notes for Favourite Worst Nightmare
Free Music Review: CD
Hit: 5 Stars
Artic Monkeys rawk! Saw them at Coachella and bought their music- I love all of it!Free Music Review: Phil says, "A is for: Awesome Alternative Arctics Awe Again"
Hit: 4 Stars
(by Phil Posen):
Straight outta Sheffield, the Arctic Monkeys return with their highly anticipated follow up to their debut album, Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What I'm Not. They deliver the goods with a darker and much more polished Favourite Worst Nightmare.
Being hailed as the saviors of music in their home of England puts a bit of pressure on the only 20-year-old boys who still live with the parental units (not to be confused with any sort of cheap rental space).
On this album they definitely try harder to impress by producing more polished sounds and experimenting with new song ideas. The undeniably catchy radio single, "Brainstorm" that came out only a week or so before the album was a good preview of Favourite.... On it, they layer the track with a symphonic arrangement and collaborate with British rapper Dizzee Rascal to give the sophomore release a hip start.
But don't let these new things make you think they're not penning loud, fast, and wittily observant lyrics, because they are. Just now they are delivering them from a somewhat different musical approach.
On Whatever...the songs were highly influenced by everyday life and relationships. This time around we go inside their heads, experiencing the emotional shock that comes with being internationally famous as well as the troubles of touring.
Songs such as "If You Were There, Beware" and "505" stand out both lyrically and musically, conveying well the depression and homesickness felt from touring miles away from what the guys have known.
As loud and fast as the album is, the boys do slow it down a bit more with tracks like, "Only One Who Knows," which moves at a snail's pace.
Meanwhile, the aforementioned album opener, "Brainstorm," jump starts the album with the new bass player, Nick O'Malley, showing off his superior bass playing.
Throughout Favourite, Nick sets the rhythm with the skills of a master player, syncopating fluidly with the spine-cracking kicks of Matt Helders, the other half of the rhythm section who is by far one of the most creative drummers around. Helders melds the beat ideas of dance and rock music that sets the toes to tapping uncontrollably.
The Arctic Monkeys definitely show a more mature and darker sound, although their old ways seem to peek through in songs like "D Is For Danger" and "This House Is A Circus," which are two of the most catchy and toe-tapping of the album.
Alex Turner also cements himself as a prodigal lyricist, showing his curious observation skills in one of the standout tracks, "Fluorescent Adolescent," which takes on the perspective of a middle aged woman whose sexual life leaves something to be desired--definitely one of the more thought-provoking songs Turner has written.
In comparison to Whatever..., their sophomore follow-up lacks an absolutely hit-out-of-the-park track--a characteristic that defined most, if not all, of the songs on their debut. For instance, the closer, "505" is depressive, standing in stark contrast to the upbeat look at romance and relationships in Whatever's "A Certain Romance." Favourite's closing doesn't have quite the goosebump-worhty feel that the last album has; it sort of burns out--a definite downer.
All in all, Favourite shows the signs of a typical sophomore album: Band tries to be better to live up to their first album and at times seem to drift a bit from their key sound. Sometimes this disappoints fans, and this album may have for some.
But let it be known that The Arctic Monkeys have once again made a solid album with catchy songs and clever lyrics, proving they are not just another post-Libertines, Brit-Pop band that has garnered their fifteen minutes of fame only to fade into obscurity. The Arctic Monkeys are back in full effect and they definitely deserve any praise they receive.
My rating: 8.5/10
Free Music Review: Not As Good as First Album, but still Good
Hit: 4 Stars
I'd actually give this record a 7-out-of-10, or a 3.5, but Amazon doesn't give me that choice (When I get around to reviewing "Whatever People Say..." I'll give it a four). This album is more "dancey" relative to "Whatever People Say...," which is more "punky," though of course I wouldn't characterize either album as "dance" or "punk." I'll give the Arctic Monkeys credit for not simply repeating their first album's formula and I think this album shows more diversity. So, in a way, I applaud the direction they've taken. I just don't enjoy it as much, is all.
Also, I wouldn't characterize the first album as a "classic" at the level of, say, The Strokes' "Is this It" or the White Stripes' "Elephant;" rather it was very-good-bordering-on-great.
This album is more in the "good" range, sort of like the Strokes' "Room on Fire." Possibly a little better. It gets off to an especially strong start with Tracks 1-5. But then it screeches to a halt with Track 6 ("Only Ones Who Know"). Track 7 ("Do Me a Favor") is "OK," (though it seems to lift from my least favorite track from the Strokes' US version of "Is This It", "When it Started").
So after two relative clunkers, the album gets back to rocking with Track 8 -- "This House is a Circus." Tracks 9-11 sound pretty decent, but by this time I'm getting tired of the album and Track 12 ("505") just flat out bores me (though it does pick up somewhat).
Now compare this to "Whatever People Say..." I have no problem listening to that album straight through, with the exception of "Riot Van," which I just skip.
Back to the Strokes' comparison: I think one thing, in addition to its retro-production, that separate the Strokes' "Is this It" from other bands' efforts is Julian Casablancas' vocals, which are historically great IMHO. On both Arctic Monkeys' albums, I like Alex Turner's vocals, but I don't love them. Moreover, I can't make up my mind about the Arctic Monkey's drummer, Matt Helders: I love his work on "Brianstorm," but then sometimes I think he doesn't really do much to "fill in" the songs (in all fairness, the Strokes' Fab Moretti isn't the next John Bonham either and the White Stripes' Meg White...well..no need to go there).
That said, I saw these guys live at the Hammerstein Ball Room two weeks ago and they absolutely rocked. They are one heckuva live band. They rocked MUCH HARDER than Jack White's other current musical vehicle, the Raconteurs, whom I saw last Summer.
Free Music Review: The hype isn't as daft as it seems...4.5 stars
Hit: 4 Stars
I actually pre-ordered this album because I loved "Whatever People Say I Am..." so much. However, my initial reaction to this album was disappointment. The songs weren't nearly as catchy as those on any of their previous records, and it all seemed a little too polished and slick to me - quite a departure from the raw energy found on "Who The F*** Are Arctic Monkeys?" and "Leave Before The Lights Come On." After repeated listens, however, this album has grown on me and is now one of my favorite albums. Their sound is much more polished and professional, yes, but this album is still quintessential Monkeys. "Favourite Worst Nightmare" is much more mature and darker than their previous work - it's like the hungover Sunday morning sequel to the wild Saturday night of "Whatever..." Although the material is completely new, this album also somehow seemed completely familiar. Musically, the Monkeys haven't really gone anywhere new on this album save for the impressively loud, fast, and dark "Brianstorm." However Alex Turner's lyrics have grown even more witty and insightful, and the plays on words and sheer cheek, especially in "Fluorescent Adolescent," ensure that younger listeners and older listeners, Monkeys fans and those who went, "There's a band called Arctic Monkeys?!?" will enjoy this album.
Specifically, the best songs are without a doubt:
Brianstorm: unbelievably catchy, sly lyrics, and amazing energy. Also check out the just-as-exhausting music video for this song. 9.5/10
Teddy Picker: noticeably more punk influence in this song, amazing guitar riffs. 8/10
This House Is A Circus: weak opening, but great in the middle, particularly the "And we're forever unfulfilled/Can't think why/Like a search for murder clues/In dead men's eyes" part. Excellent bass line. 7.5/10
Balaclava: very fast, very loud, very reminiscent of "From The Ritz To The Rubble" and the latter part of "When The Sun Goes Down." 8/10
Fluorescent Adolescent: quirky, witty lyrics, one of their best songs, both on this album and in general. 10/10
505: beautifully haunting and subdued lyrics and a great showcase for Turner's wonderfully nuanced voice, a great track that offers stark contrast to the punk-pop of the rest of the album. 8/10
Say all you want about the Arctic Monkeys being over-hyped and over-praised, but don't say that you didn't have the sudden urge to get up and dance as you listened to "Favourite Worst Nightmare."
Free Music Review: Arctic Monkeys Get Surreal
Hit: 4 Stars
(3 1/2 *'s) UK's latest and greatest new sensation, The Arctic Monkeys, come up with a follow up to their smash debut, 'Whatever They Say I Am, I'm Not' with more experience under their belts. Overall, they add some texture and, as the title suggests, the darker aspects of their brain hemispheres for the lyrics. While I don't possess their heralded debut, I know by listening to the samplers that this album has more variety, but less of the immediacy of their first C.D.
Starting with "Brainstorm," we get a propulsive electrical storm that provides a cyclical effect reminiscent of the 'Pulp Fiction' soundtrack. In the fast forward vein they still deliver their best, fronted by Alex Turner's trajectory of images that sometimes seems like alternative's free association answer to rap. Never getting tongue tied, Alex's words, nevertheless, don't always integrate well into the mesmerizing mix. Following the "Brainstorm," "Teddy Picker" comes to the fore with arguably the album's best song. Proving that experience hasn't tarnished the band, anti-glam "Teddy..." is truly an intricate gem. Keeping in the third person, we get lines about women who make love go wrong. Included is that propulsive assertion for "D Is for Dangerous" with some scathing words for some wayward girl known as "Your favourite worst nightmare". Later, "Do Me a Favour" featuring Ventures'-like sounds, asks the lamented beloved to "Break my nose." And "Old Yellow Bricks" seals the bad deal, lamenting "You're a fugitive, but you don't know what you're running away from." The playful "This House Is a Circus" and the heavy "The Bad Thing" almost live up to the aforementioned, but new territory is achieved with the shimmering "Fluorescent Adolescent" and the Stray Cats-like "Only One Who Knows".
At their best, Arctic Monkeys gives us some new hooks and elaborations of what they've already accomplished. When they're effective, they connect well. Sometimes the trajectory flows like a dream; at other times the whole project is ordinary and stuck in idle. For those who remember The Undertones, this album reminds one of the transition when they went from the propulsive punk to the artiness of 'Positive Touch'. Hopefully, with gradual changes, The Arctic Monkeys won't undergo the Undertones' fate.