Favourite Worst Nightmare

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Favourite Worst Nightmare
File:Fwn large.jpg
Studio album by Arctic Monkeys
Released 18 April 2007
Recorded December 2006
Studio
  • Miloco Studios (London, England)
  • Eastcote Studios (London, England)
  • Motor Museum (Liverpool, England)
  • Konk Studios (London, England)
Genre Indie rock,[1] garage rock, post-punk revival[2][3]
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)Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not2006		 Favourite Worst Nightmare
(2007)		 At the Apollo
(2008)At the Apollo2008
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 the English indie rock band Arctic Monkeys that was first released in Japan on 18 April 2007[4] 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.[5]

It is the band's first studio album to feature bass guitarist Nick O'Malley.

Change of style

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,"[6] being seen as "more ambitious, heavier...and with a fiercely bright production".[7] Reflecting the band's travels around the world more than local stories of the first record, FWN is a "faster, meaner" album.[8] The album arguably has influences from The Smiths - "twanging, quasi-ambient backdrops...and Turner's voice [...] crooning like Morrissey or Richard Hawley."[7] Matt Helders said "James was DJing loads in the evening so we'd go out and . . . have a dance."[5] As a result, the drum rhythms of Helders and bassist Nick O'Malley have drawn comparisons to the Eighties funk band ESG.[5] 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).[9]

History of the album

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".[9]

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

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source Rating
Metacritic 82/100[10]
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic 4.5/5 stars[11]
The A.V. Club B[12]
Blender 3/5 stars[13]
The Guardian 4/5 stars[14]
NME 9/10[15]
Now 3/5 stars[16]
The Observer 5/5 stars[17]
Pitchfork Media 7.4/10[18]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[19]
Spin 6/10[20]

Favourite Worst Nightmare has received universal acclaim since release, with a Metacritic (which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews) score of 82.[10] 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",[21] 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",[14] 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.[17] Pitchfork Media noticed the "new emotional depth" of tracks such as "Do Me A Favour", "Only Ones Who Know" and "505",[18] which were also commonly cited by most other critics as being amongst the highlights.

Commercial performance

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. The first two singles from the album Brianstorm and Fluorescent Adolescent were both UK Top Hits.

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.[22] By September 2013 the album has sold 821,128 copies in UK.

In the USA, the album debuted at number seven, selling around 44,000 copies in its first week.[23] The album has since gone 2x platinum[24] in the UK and the album was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize. At the 2008 BRIT Awards it won Best British Album.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Arctic Monkeys, except where noted.. 

No. Title Writer(s) 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"     2:23
11. "Old Yellow Bricks"   Turner, Jon McClure 3:11
12. "505"     4:13
Total length:
 37:34

Bonus video

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

Singles

Personnel

Arctic Monkeys
  • Alex Turner - vocals, guitars, baritone guitar on 'If You Were There, Beware', organ on '505'.
  • Matt Helders - drums, percussion, backing vocals, co-lead vocals on 'D is For Dangerous' and 'This House is a Circus'.
  • Jamie Cook - guitars
  • Nick O'Malley - bass guitar, backing vocals
Additional musicians

Charts and certifications

Release details

Country Date Label Format Catalog number
Japan 18 April 2007 Hostess CD HSE-10043[51]
Germany 20 April 2007[52] CD
Ireland
Spain
Australia 21 April 2007[53] CD
United Kingdom 23 April 2007 Domino Records LP WIGLP188 / 5034202018810[54]
CD WIGCD188 / 5034202018827[55]
Brazil EMI CD
France CD
Belgium CD
United States 24 April 2007 Domino, Warner Bros.[56] CD DNO 136 / 801390013621
Israel CD
Canada Domino, WEA International CD

References

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ [1][dead link]
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ BPI.co.uk
  25. ↑ Arctic Monkeys announce new single | News | NME.COM
  26. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  27. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Arctic Monkeys. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys: Humbug" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 17, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Mexicancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  39. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  46. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Arctic Monkeys. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Select 2007年05月 on the drop-down menu
  49. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Enter Humbug in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  50. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  51. ↑ Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare Japan CD ALBUM (396187)
  52. ↑ Amazon.de product page
  53. ↑ Sanity.com.au
  54. ↑ Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare UK LP RECORD (397575)
  55. ↑ Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worse Nightmare UK CD ALBUM (397574)
  56. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Preceded by UK number one album
29 April 2007  – 19 May 2007		 Succeeded by
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park
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