Arctic
3 stars
Chances are you heard of Arctic Monkeys before you heard Arctic Monkeys. Their 2006 debut, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not, was the most hyped record since The Strokes‘ Is This It in 2001. And it delivered. It is a post-punk masterpiece that was my favorite album of 2006. Arctic Monkeys’ sophomore effort, Favourite Worst Nightmare, however, is a disappointment.
The record starts off with a bang. The opening to “Brianstorm,” which is one of the best tracks on the disc, is explosive. Many of the songs that follow feature catchy grooves, but the album is missing much of the attitude that came with their debut. The lyrics mostly deal with messed-up relationships and sex. They’re edgy and biting, but they’re not quite as edgy and biting as the lyrics on the first album. The same thing goes for the music. Also, some of the songs lack structure. A few tracks feature lots of tempo changes and melody changes. It’s as if the band wrote some of the songs without their Ritalin.
It’s obvious Arctic Monkeys wanted to experiment a little with Favourite Worst Nightmare. Given the title of their debut record, it seems important for them to reinvent themselves. Unfortunately for them, this record is at its best when it sounds like the first one. Despite this, Favourite Worst Nightmare is by no means a failure in the grand scheme of things. And at their worst, Arctic Monkeys sound much better than most other bands sound at their best.
Standout tracks include “Brianstorm,” “Teddy Picker,” “D Is for Dangerous,” “Fluorescent Adolescent,” “This House Is a Circus,” which is my favorite track on the record, “Old Yellow Bricks,” and “505.” You can miss “Balaclava,” “Only Ones Who Know,” and “The Bad Thing.”
Scale:
0. Shoot yourself
1. Poor
2. So-So
3. Good
4. Excellent
5. Instant classic