Favourite Worst Nightmare
Favourite Worst Nightmare | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 18 April 2007 | |||
Recorded | December 2006 | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 37:18 | |||
Label | Domino | |||
Producer | ||||
Arctic Monkeys chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Favourite Worst Nightmare | ||||
|
Favourite Worst Nightmare is the second studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, first released in Japan on 18 April 2007 and released in their home country of United Kingdom on 23 April 2007 by Domino Recording Company. Recorded in East London's Miloco Studios with producers James Ford and Mike Crossey, the album was preceded by the release of lead single "Brianstorm" on 2 April 2007.[1] It was the band’s first album with new bassist Nick O'Malley, replacing their previous bassist Andy Nicholson, who left the band shortly before the North American tour of the band's debut studio album, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006).
In comparison to their debut album, the album is considered more musically ambitious, with ambient sounds and expanded drum rhythms being introduced. As with their debut, Favourite Worst Nightmare was a widespread critical success, with critics highlighting the band's new emotional depth and frontman Alex Turner's matured songwriting. NME and Uncut ranked it the second-best album of 2007, while Dutch publication OOR named it the best of 2007. Retrospectively, the album is considered the start of the band's change of sound with each of their albums after their debut.
In its first week of release, the album sold over 227,000 copies in the United Kingdom, going straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart. "Brianstorm" and "Fluorescent Adolescent" were also both hits on the UK Singles Chart, with the former reaching number two on the chart. In the United States, the album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling approximately 44,000 copies in its first week. The album has since been certified 4× platinum in the UK. It was nominated for the 2007 Mercury Prize and won Best British Album at the 2008 Brit Awards.
Title and cover art
[edit]The album's title came from the lyrics to 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.[2] In an interview with NME, Nick O'Malley announced several songs 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, but did not make the final cut.
Half of the album's songs were debuted at concerts before the release of the album. The album was recorded quickly as the band wanted to start touring and play the songs.
The album's cover art features a black-and-white photograph of a house in the Garston district of Liverpool, with colourful cartoonish images visible through its windows.[3] This marks the second consecutive time the band used a photograph taken in Liverpool as an album cover, following their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.[4]
Musical style
[edit]The music on Favourite Worst Nightmare has been characterised as post-punk revival,[5][6][7] indie rock,[7][8] alternative rock,[9] garage rock,[7] and post-Britpop.[10] 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",[11] being seen as "more ambitious, heavier...and with a fiercely bright production".[12] Reflecting the band's travels around the world more than the local stories of the first record, Favourite Worst Nightmare is a "faster, meaner" album.[13] The album arguably has influences from The Smiths – "twanging, quasi-ambient backdrops...and Turner's voice [...] crooning like Morrissey or Richard Hawley."[12] Matt Helders said "James was DJing loads in the evening so we'd go out and [...] have a dance."[1] As a result, the drum rhythms of Helders and bassist Nick O'Malley have drawn comparisons to the Eighties funk band ESG.[1] The band's love of classic films also influenced their new style. For example, the organ at the beginning of the album's final track, "505" replicates Ennio Morricone's soundtrack for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (where Angel Eyes enters before the final standoff).[2]
Critical reception
[edit]Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 82/100[14] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | B+[15] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
MSN Music (Consumer Guide) | B+[18] |
NME | 9/10[19] |
Pitchfork | 7.4/10[20] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Like with the band’s debut album, Favourite Worst Nightmare has received widespread critical acclaim since its release. It has a score of 82 on Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100, based on 38 reviews.[14]
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",[24] 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",[16] 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.[25] Pitchfork Media noticed the "new emotional depth" of tracks such as "Do Me a Favour", "Only Ones Who Know" and "505",[20] which were also commonly cited by most other critics as being amongst the highlights. NME and Uncut ranked it as the second-best album of 2007.[citation needed] Dutch publication OOR named it the best of 2007.[citation needed]
Jacob Stolworthy of The Independent reviewed the album on its 10th anniversary in 2017, saying, "Favourite Worst Nightmare was the first sign that Arctic Monkeys would change up their sound with each new record in as drastic a fashion as they wished [...] If their debut defined a generation, this record shaped the band's future in a manner more mature, sexy and - just like the party depicted in the rowdy track 'This House Is a Circus' - berserk as f*ck."[26]
Commercial performance
[edit]In its first week of release, Favourite Worst Nightmare sold 227,993 copies,[27] emulating Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not in going straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart, albeit selling 130,000 copies fewer than the band's record-breaking debut. The first two singles from the album, "Brianstorm" and "Fluorescent Adolescent", were both UK top-10 hits. The album's first day sales of 85,000 outsold the rest of the top 20 combined, while all 12 tracks from the album entered the top 200 of the UK Singles Chart.[28] By September 2022, 1,200,000 copies of the album had been sold in the UK; it was certified 4× Platinum in 2022.[29] The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2007[30] and won Best British Album at the BRIT Awards the following year.[31]
In the United States, the album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200, selling around 44,000 copies in its first week and become the band's first top-10 album there.[32] The album also achieved top-10 debuts in 12 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Track listing
[edit]All lyrics are written by Alex Turner, except where noted; all music is composed by Arctic Monkeys[33]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Brianstorm" | 2:52 | |
2. | "Teddy Picker" | 2:40 | |
3. | "D Is for Dangerous" | 2:14 | |
4. | "Balaclava" | 2:47 | |
5. | "Fluorescent Adolescent" |
| 2:53 |
6. | "Only Ones Who Know" | 3:01 | |
7. | "Do Me a Favour" | 3:25 | |
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" |
| 3:07 |
12. | "505" | 4:14 | |
Total length: | 37:19 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Da Frame 2R" | 2:20 |
14. | "Matador" | 4:57 |
Bonus video
[edit]- The music video for "Brianstorm" was included as a bonus with iTunes pre-orders of Favourite Worst Nightmare.
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from liner notes.[33]
Arctic Monkeys
Additional musicians
Production
|
Artwork
|
Charts
[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
|
Year-end charts[edit]
Decade-end charts[edit]
|
Certifications
[edit]Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[70] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[71] sales since 2009 |
Gold | 25,000‡ |
Japan (RIAJ)[72] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] | 4× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
[edit]Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog number |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 18 April 2007 | Hostess | CD | HSE-10043[73] |
Germany | 20 April 2007[74] | CD | ||
Ireland | ||||
Spain | ||||
Australia | 21 April 2007 | CD | ||
United Kingdom | 23 April 2007[75] | Domino | LP | WIGLP188 / 5034202018810[76] |
CD | WIGCD188 / 5034202018827[77] | |||
Brazil | EMI | CD | ||
France | CD | |||
Belgium | CD | |||
United States | 24 April 2007 |
|
CD | DNO 136 / 801390013621 |
Israel | CD | |||
Canada |
|
CD |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Paphides, Pete (23 March 2007). "Whatever we hoped they'd be, they are". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 26 March 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2007.
- ^ a b c "Insiders' guide to Arctic Monkeys". BBC News. 23 April 2007. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ @IndpndtLiv (25 April 2019). "It's 12 years since Arctic Monkeys released their Favourite Worst Nightmare album. Did you know that the photo on t…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "SLH home is the star of Arctic Monkeys' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' album cover" (Press release). 1 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
- ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Favourite Worst Nightmare – Arctic Monkeys". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
- ^ Sylvia, Dave De (21 April 2007). "Review Summary". Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
blending seamlessly with the group's rough-edged post-punk sound.
- ^ a b c Fert, Baris (16 August 2013). "Whatever People Say, I Am An Humbug, Your Favourite Worst Nightmare And Am From Sheffield. So, Suck It And See!". Guestlist. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
I think these two albums are the good illustrations of Indie-Rock and garage rock integrated with the genre of post-punk revival.
- ^ "The 50 Greatest Second Albums Of All Time". Gigwise. 27 October 2015. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
Well rise they did with this slab of fast and furious indie rock genius.
- ^ Giantino, Linda (22 January 2024). "Ranking All the Arctic Monkeys Albums". Chaospin. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (1 June 2009). "Arctic Monkeys Announce New Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys set to unleash "Favourite Worst Nightmare"". Monsters and Critics. 11 April 2007. Archived from the original on 23 April 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2007.
- ^ a b Mulvey, John (22 February 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Uncut. Archived from the original on 24 March 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2007.
- ^ Collett-White, Mike (20 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys face the music with 2nd album". Reuters. Retrieved 13 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Reviews for Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
- ^ Hermes, Will (22 April 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis (24 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ^ Cromelin, Richard (22 April 2007). "Success can be a 'Nightmare'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ Christgau, Robert (July 2007). "Consumer Guide". MSN Music. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ Beaumont, Mark (16 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". NME. Archived from the original on 19 January 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ a b Hogan, Marc (24 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 20 February 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". Q (250): 115. May 2007.
- ^ Hoard, Christian (17 April 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Walters, Barry (May 2007). "No Place Like Home". Spin. 23 (5): 83. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ^ "Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Music :: ARCTIC MONKEYS: FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE". Express.co.uk. 20 April 2007. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ Savage, Jon (22 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Observer. London. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
- ^ "How Arctic Monkeys defeated 'second album syndrome' with Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Independent. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- ^ "Key Releases: 29.08.09". Music Week: 40. 29 August 2009.
- ^ "Arctics' album storms to the top". BBC. 29 April 2007. Archived from the original on 5 May 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
- ^ a b "British album certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ^ "Mercury Prize: The nominees". BBC. 3 September 2007. Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Brit Awards 2008: The winners". BBC. 20 February 2008. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Hasty, Katie (2 May 2007). "Lavigne Remains No. 1 As Joe Debuts High". Billboard. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
- ^ a b Favourite Worst Nightmare (booklet). Arctic Monkeys. London: Domino Recording Company. 2007. WIGCD188. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Australiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 17, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "フェイヴァリット・ワースト・ナイトメアー | アークティック・モンキーズ" [Favourite Worst Nightmare - Arctic Monkeys] (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ May 2007/7502/ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (9 March 2009). "Arctic Monkeys' 'Humbug' Debuts Atop Euro Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2007". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 2007". Ultratop. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2007". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Top de l'année Top Albums 2007" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 7 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ オリコン年間 アルバムランキング 2007年度 [Oricon Annual CD Album Ranking 2007] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2007". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- ^ "2022 metų klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2023" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
- ^ "End of Year Albums Chart – 2023". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ^ "Official Top 100 biggest selling vinyl albums of the decade". Official Charts Company. 14 December 2019. Archived from the original on 10 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2007 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
- ^ "Italian album certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 6 September 2021. Select "2021" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Favourite Worst Nightmare" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Japanese album certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Favourite Worst Nightmare" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 25 January 2014. Select 2007年05月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare Japanese CD album (CDLP) (396187)". eil.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Archived from the original on 1 April 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2017 – via Amazon.
- ^ Bartz, Simon (5 April 2007). "Planet of the apes". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2007.
- ^ "eil.com rare vinyl records, 7", 12", albums, LPs, singles, CDs, CD singles & music memorabilia including imports, new, collectable, promo, vintage, withdrawn & deleted at esprit. We buy & sell record collections". eil.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ "Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worse Nightmare - Digipak UK CD album (CDLP) (397574)". eil.com. Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
- ^ Mulvey, John (19 March 2007). "Arctic Monkeys' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' gets a life from Warner Bros". Monsters and Critics. Archived from the original on 27 April 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2007.
External links
[edit]- Favourite Worst Nightmare at Discogs (list of releases)