Product Description
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Arctic Monkeys' 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. It 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.
'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is everything you hoped Arctic
Monkeys would do next. Not so much a sequel as an upgrade, a
breakneck technicolour journey through screwball punk and
guitar-fuelled dancefloor heroics, it's very, very fast and very,
very loud, yet at the same time boasting some of the strongest
songs they've ever written. All the tracks on the album were
produced by duo James Ford (The Klaxons, Mystery Jets) and Mike
Crossey (Echo & The Bunnymen, The Coral) and also mainly mixed by
Alan Moulder (My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins, Yeah Yeah
Yeahs). Features the single "Brianstorm"
Review
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Less than fifteen months after releasing a debut record which
rewrote most music history books, Arctic Monkeys return to prove
a point to those who still remain unconvinced by the retiring and
nonchalant Sheffield quartet.
With the world waiting for the most almighty of musical slip-ups,
the Arctics have found themselves under a burning micro in
the build up to the release of Favourite Worst Nightmare. Could
this be the moment where Alex Turner falls flat on his face and
admits that maybe, just maybe, he should have spent more time
appeasing an interview-thirsty media frenzy? Not bloody likely -
this is an absolute treasure.
''Brianstorm'', a volcanic signal of intent, ''Teddy Picker'' and
''D Is For Dangerous'' give the album a rocketing lift-off.
Ascending guitars do battle as the band's much promised darker
and heavier side comes to the fore. With a succession of
jaw-dropping riffs, you are engulfed by a fever that was last
induced by ''The View From The Afternoon'' and ''Ritz To
Rubble''.
Favourite Worst Nightmare illustrates a great degree of maturity
in many ways. Turner's mastery of lyrics hits home more than
before and is sure to connect with an older audience who felt
excluded by Whatever People Say I Am! And wherever Turner, fit to
burst with aggression and sexual frustration, has raised the bar,
drummer Matt Helders has sailed over it with a virtuoso
performance.
In a practically chorus-less 40 minutes, it's difficult to find
an ineffective track in a many-faced record. The slowest of
songs, ''Only Ones Who Knew'', could be curtailed by a minute but
still makes for a great transition towards a slick finale. From
''Do Me A Favour'' - the ultimate break-up track- to the
cheeky-cheating ''Do The Bad Thing'', the denouement is special.
Final track ''505'' is the perfect bookend to sit site the
b ''Brianstorm'' with a tenderness sure to surprise.
Expect green-eyes from all corners (from The Strokes through to
Klaxons) as the Monkeys continue their pursuit of perfection.
Rather ily, Favourite Worst Nightmare has surpassed previous
heights scaled by the band and will have many a rival tossing and
turning in their for years to come. --Tom Young
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