Number 59 - Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys

Number 59: Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys

Some like it hot

Release: April 23rd, 2007
Genre: Indie Rock
Favorite Tracks: Brainstorm, Teddy Picker, 505

 

Where I heard it: 

As far back as 2008, I recall knowing the Arctic Monkeys simply from their band name alone. One of my best friends in middle school was particularly fond of them, and I was amused by the imagery conjured from the word pairing. I never actually listened to an Arctic Monkeys song until maybe a year or two ago. For over a decade, my only association with the group was their stand-out name. My first encounters with their music occurred at my current job, where songs like Fluorescent Adolescent and When the Sun Goes Down were often mixed into playlists of similar artists like The Strokes that my boss really liked. Once I could pinpoint Alex Turner's distinguishing English inflection, I felt like I noticed more songs by the Arctic Monkeys when they would come up. I checked out Favourite Worst Nightmare on a whim near the end of 2022, as this album contained many of the individual songs I enjoyed most from the band. It took a while to get there, but I now understand the hype for the Arctic Monkeys after all these years.

You used to get it in your fishnets
Now you only get it in your night dress
Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness
Landed in a very common crisis
Everything's in order in a black hole
Nothing seems as pretty as the past though
That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco
Remember when you used to be a rascal? 
~ Fluorescent Adolescent

What to expect:

Arctic Monkeys stormed onto the music scene in the mid 2000's, riding the wave of post-punk revival alongside bands like the White Stripes and the Hives. Their breakout album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not set records in the UK as the fastest-selling debut ever, with 120,000 units sold in one day. The Arctic Monkeys knew they had to strike while the iron was hot, and immediately began the writing process on the next album during their first world tour. It took a little over a year to for Favourite Worst Nightmare to be made, which harnessed the sharp energy from their previous release and fine tuned it for maximum listening pleasure. Musically, Favourite Worst Nightmare maintains a swift and sprightly sound through the majority of its track listing, integrating elements from funk and dance music that invite the audience to bust a move. The musical magnitude is reenforced by the salacious songwriting of Alex Turner, who's risqué lyrics aren't shy about stating their intentions through cunning innuendo. His prominent British tongue helps further accent the suave subject matter. Turner's wordplay weaves dramatic and interesting scenarios that match the emotion of the instruments, ranging from the softcore erotica of The Bad Thing to passionate poetry of Only One Who Knows. Despite its juvenile nature, Favourite Worst Nightmare carries a surprising amount of depth within its structure that captivates the listener's attention from start to finish.

In my imagination, you're waiting lying on your side
With your hands between your thighs
Stop and wait a sec
Oh, when you look at me like that, my darling
What did you expect?
I'd probably still adore you with your hands around my neck
Or I did last time I checked
~ 505

 

Why it's my favorite:

I think what initially drew me to the Arctic Monkeys' music, in contrast to other comparable bands I've listened to for years like Franz Ferdinand and The Killers, was how much the Arctic Monkeys stand out among their peers. Apart from their notable name, Favourite Worst Nightmare contains compositional complexity that can be appreciated without a immense knowledge of music theory. There are intense moments within the album that don't exceed extreme limits. Favourite Worst Nightmare pushes the envelope for its genre without any sensational departures from the norm. The album remains faithful to its conventions with a little added ingenuity, creating a record that stands up for itself with its contents alone. Every track leaves an impact, whether it be from a particularly witty line or a powerful band unison. Favourite Worst Nightmare has certainly left an impact on me in the short time I've been listening to it, and I feel it only appropriate to give it a spot on the list for that reason.