Favourite Worst Nightmare

Favourite Worst Nightmare
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
Length 37:34
Label
Producer
Arctic Monkeys chronology
Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
(2006)		 Favourite Worst Nightmare
(2007)		 At the Apollo
(2008)
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] by Domino 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
SourceRating
Metacritic82/100[10]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[11]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[12]
The Guardian[13]
Los Angeles Times[14]
MSN MusicB+[15]
NME9/10[16]
Pitchfork Media7.4/10[17]
Q[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Spin[20]

Favourite Worst Nightmare has received universal acclaim since release, with a score of 82 on Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews.[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",[13] 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.[22] Pitchfork Media noticed the "new emotional depth" of tracks such as "Do Me a Favour", "Only Ones Who Know" and "505",[17] 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.[23] 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.[24] The album has since gone 2x platinum[25] 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 lyrics written by Alex Turner, except where noted, all music composed by Arctic Monkeys.

No. TitleLyrics 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

Singles

Personnel

Arctic Monkeys
Additional musicians

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Charts (2007) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] 2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] 3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] 9
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[31] 4
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[32] 1
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[33] 1
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[34] 14
French Albums (SNEP)[35] 6
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[36] 2
Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 1
Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] 14
Japanese Albums 4
Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[39] 43
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[40] 4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[41] 2
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[42] 48
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[43] 20
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 17
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 6
UK Albums (OCC)[46] 1
US Billboard 200[47] 7
European Top 100 Albums 2
Charts (2014) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[48] 84

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Japan (RIAJ)[49] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] 2× Platinum 821,128[51]
France Gold 400,000
Germany Gold 200,000
Italy Gold 80,000

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release details

Country Date Label Format Catalog number
Japan 18 April 2007 Hostess CD HSE-10043[52]
Germany 20 April 2007[53] CD
Ireland
Spain
Australia 21 April 2007[54] CD
United Kingdom 23 April 2007 Domino Records LP WIGLP188 / 5034202018810[55]
CD WIGCD188 / 5034202018827[56]
Brazil EMI CD
France CD
Belgium CD
United States 24 April 2007 Domino, Warner Bros.[57] CD DNO 136 / 801390013621
Israel CD
Canada Domino, WEA International CD

References

  1. ↑ Keefe, Michael. "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". PopMatters. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  2. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare (CD Album)". Mode-9.com. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  3. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
  4. ↑ Bartz, Simon (5 April 2007). "Planet of the apes". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  5. 1 2 3 Paphides, Pete (23 March 2007). "Whatever we hoped they'd be, they are". London: The Times. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  6. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys set to unleash "Favourite Worst Nightmare"". Monsters and Critics. 11 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
  7. 1 2 Mulvey, John (22 February 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Uncut. Retrieved 2007-02-28.
  8. ↑ Collett-White, Mike (20 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys face the music with 2nd album". The Scotsman (Reuters). Retrieved 2007-04-20.
  9. 1 2 "Insiders' guide to Arctic Monkeys". BBC News. 23 April 2007. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  10. 1 2 "Reviews for Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  11. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Favourite Worst Nightmare – Arctic Monkeys". AllMusic. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  12. ↑ Hermes, Will (22 April 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  13. 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (24 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  14. ↑ Cromelin, Richard (22 April 2007). "Success can be a 'Nightmare'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. ↑ Christgau, Robert (July 2007). "Consumer Guide". MSN Music. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  16. ↑ Beaumont, Mark (16 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". NME. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  17. 1 2 Hogan, Marc (24 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  18. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare". Q (250): 115. May 2007.
  19. ↑ Hoard, Christian (17 April 2007). "Favourite Worst Nightmare". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  20. ↑ Walters, Barry (May 2007). "No Place Like Home". Spin 23 (5): 83. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  21. ↑ "Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Music :: ARCTIC MONKEYS: FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE". Express.co.uk. 2007-04-20. Retrieved 2012-02-16.
  22. ↑ Savage, Jon (22 April 2007). "Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare". The Observer (London). Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  23. ↑ "Arctics' album storms to the top". BBC. 29 April 2007. Retrieved 2007-04-30.
  24. ↑ Hasty, Katie (2 May 2007). "Lavigne Remains No. 1 As Joe Debuts High". Billboard.
  25. ↑ BPI.co.uk
  26. ↑ Arctic Monkeys announce new single | News | NME.COM
  27. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  28. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  29. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  30. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  31. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Arctic Monkeys. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  32. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  33. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  34. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys: Humbug" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Officialcharts.de – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 17, 2007". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  39. ↑ "Mexicancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLIS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  46. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Arctic Monkeys – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Arctic Monkeys. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  48. ↑ "Official Albums Chart UK Top 100 - 1st March 2014". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  49. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 25 January 2014. Select 2007年05月 on the drop-down menu
  50. ↑ "British album certifications – Arctic Monkeys – Humbug". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 January 2014. 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
  51. ↑ Jones, Alan (16 September 2013). "Official Charts Analysis: Arctic Monkeys' AM doubles predecessor's week-one sales". Music Week (Intent Media). Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  52. ↑ Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare Japan CD ALBUM (396187)
  53. ↑ Amazon.de product page
  54. ↑ Sanity.com.au
  55. ↑ Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare UK LP RECORD (397575)
  56. ↑ Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worse Nightmare UK CD ALBUM (397574)
  57. ↑ Mulvey, John (19 March 2007). "Arctic Monkeys' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' gets a life from Warner Bros.". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved 2007-04-11.

External links

Preceded by
The Best Damn Thing by Avril Lavigne		 UK number one album
29 April 2007  – 19 May 2007 		Succeeded by
Minutes to Midnight by Linkin Park
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