More on: Arctic Monkeys

Label: Domino
Release Date: 23/04/07
Rating:

Of all the British bands to emerge in recent years, none would've had this much pressure on their second album. Rising so quickly at such a relatively young age, hailed as a revelation, inducing universal adulation, Arctic Monkeys were put on a pretty high pedestal.

Debut 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not' may have been full of energy and witticisms, but musically was nothing special. What a difference a year makes; the band have clearly been honing their craft to perfection. The first thing to hit you when listening to 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' is how obscenely impressive the four musicians have become. It helps that the opening track is comeback single 'Brianstorm'. Fierce drumming from Matt Helders puts him head and shoulders above any living drummer in the country, if not the world. It almost feels like there are three drummers present, so frenetic and tight is his playing.

In 'If You Were There, Beware' there is a world weariness conveyed in the lead guitar, and it is clear that the band are letting the music do the talking this time. Finally becoming artists who can utilise the power of their instruments, this is Arctic Monkeys' chance to show the world there's more to them than a wry lyric. A perfect example of how to do a second album - get better. Another 'Whatever People Say I Am...' would not only have been deathly dull, but lazy and unambitious. Instead the band have seized the chance to put mouthing off to one side, and become a powerhouse of riffs and the kind of drumming last seen in the great rock bands of the Seventies, you know, before drummers started looking afraid of their skins.

'Fluorescent Adolescent' feels closest to Monkeys of old, with the knowing observations and Alex Turner's vocals to the forefront of the track. 'This House Is A Circus' is a highlight along with the single - another three minute ball of energy, eschewing regular song structure.

Curiously for an album with not many traditional choruses to speak of, there are more tunes here than the debut. The gentle 'Only Ones Who Know' feels like mere seconds have gone by when it finishes, and leaves you wondering where the tune was building up to, but then not actually minding, as it was a calming breather in the middle of the album.

The problems that can be pointed out with Arctic Monkeys are still present. They remain a very cold, detached band, and have yet to make music to personally identify with. They make the listener also feel like outsiders looking in on life, with only the sublime closing track '505' letting us inside Turner's head. However, they have chosen the musical path of storyteller, not therapist, and they do it well. The cynics can eat their words and the fans can breath a sigh of relief - 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' as a whole album is a triumph from start to finish.

Becky Reed

Arctic Monkeys Official Site