Could this be the death knell of the sub-genre? Could The Arctic Monkeys single-handedly destroy our obsessions with new catch-phrases, the freshest microscopic musical niche and novelty new sounds? With a couple decades of music press and fans obsessing over terminology and coining catch-phrases almost as fast as bands write songs, it's probably a tough job. Luckily, with a sophomore effort under its belt, the British rockers come armed to the teeth.

Favourite Worst Nightmare picks up exactly where the Monkeys left off: With Alex Turner's snide, cutting observations and a love for the most basic of rock dynamics -- loud guitars and a pounding rhythm section -- The Arctic Monkeys prove that a back-to-basics approach to rock'n'roll is always the best one. Armed with the confidence born equally of whip-smart songwriting and success, the Monkeys return to the fray with enough poise not to worry about wowing the critics. That takes care of itself on Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Employing bits and pieces of half of rock's most noteworthy moments -- The Clash's brash composure, The Smiths' keen eye for character and slice-of-life details and the wiry guitars borrowed from the Jam/Libertines axis -- The Arctic Monkeys chew up their influences and deliver an even more digested look on their love of sharp guitar rock. And if this album carries hints of Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (the sizzling guitars of "Brianstorm" and the galloping "Balaclava"), it balances them with new wrinkles that naturally settle into its context (the nocturnal feel of "505" or the underwater do-wop of "The Only Ones Who Know").

The Arctic Monkeys aren't just expanding their musical palate, either. In fact, that's just indicative that the boys are learning that there's much more to life than a solid beer buzz and after-hours melodrama. There are, of course, a few choice losers -- the sympathetic whore in "Fluorescent Adolescent" and the 21st-century slacker in "Brianstorm" -- but the Monkeys have more up their sleeve than trips to pubs, clubs and country homes. "505" catches a desperate longing we've only glimpsed in the band's "Despair in the Departure Lounge" with spidery guitars and mid-paced tempos. "Balaclava" makes art-punk riffs actually sound primal instead of pretentious, as Turner weaves a tale of dread and detachment you'd find in a Camus novel. "This House is a Circus" flexes the most muscular arrangement to come out of the Monkeys' camp without sounding the least bit thuggish.

Are The Arctic Monkeys here to save rock? The point's probably moot with Favourite Worst Nightmare in town. The Monkeys pull it off with so much confidence, charm and panache, it's enough to make us wonder why straight-up rock was ever considered endangered in the first place. It's those sub-genres and niche novelty sounds we'd better start worrying about -- The Arctic Monkeys might just make that whole notion obsolete with their no-nonsense rock.

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i've always been a fan of the monkeys and this album was not at all a disappointment for me. However, it showed a lot change in the arctic monkeys' music that many fans might not be able to accept immediately. if you are looking for an album just like the first, with repeated blunt statements of teenage nostalgia, i'm afraid the monkeys have already stepped out of that theme and you will be disappointed. Their rough and raw style in the first album seemed to have taken a back seat in the new album. Many songs such as 'brianstorm' in FWN are produced with much deliberate addition of elements that sounds almost theatrical. nonetheless, alex turner's witty lines and how the band creates great tunes with very simple chords, such as in 505, kept me attracted to this band. other than the fact that it was created using only a few chords, 505 which is a collaboration between the monkeys and miles kane, showed a softer side of the band. 505, to me, could possibly be the best song on this album. The arctic monkeys have proved to be more mature and innovative in their sound and i'm excited to see what they will bring to the music table next time.

posted by m on Sep 06, 2008

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Best album (front to back) to come out since Green Day's "American Idiot". A true classic!

posted by Gerald Bauler on May 18, 2007