The Arctic Monkeys first full length release became the fastest selling debut album in UK chart history, selling 363,735 copies in the first week. There was hype, tours and casualties.
Were they really as good as they were made out to be? Could they prove themselves worthy of all the hype?
Their sophomore effort Favourite Worst Nightmare has proven that it is indeed true the Arctic Monkeys are the real deal. Hailed as the next Blur, Oasis, [insert brit pop band name here] the Arctic’s don’t care about hype, criticism or flattery. They have proven through their music and lyrics that they are here to stay and can produce hit after hit.
Favourite Worst Nightmare is as eloquent as anything Alex Turner has previously written, if not better. His clever wit is succinct. His use of words and points of reference seeped in pop culture is kitschy and brilliant. Alex uses his adorable and charming accent as his second instrument complementing his snappy, break filled guitar playing. Drummer and back up vocalist Matt Helders always seems to hit the proper note with comic flair.
Tour weariness and industry angst seem to have hit close to home. It seems the two running themes on this release are the girls that get left behind when involved in a lengthy tour and the people you meet when on such tour. This is smart pop, lyrics for the educated that don’t take them selves too seriously. Their disdain for poseur types and “vampires” has been forthright from the start. “Brianstorm” and “Teddy Picker” send the message loud and clear to those not-so-bright, train jumping types unfortunately those are the ones that just won’t understand as it will be way over their heads.
Another ingenious sample of writing on Teddy Pickers “And if you're bothered, I don't want your prayers Save it for the morning after” referring to the Duran Duran song Save a Prayer. Alex had done this the debut hit song “Scummy Man” with the line “He told Roxanne to put on her red-light” referring to the Police song Roxanne. “Old Yellow Bricks” an ode to the Wizard of Oz gone to New York, with it’s catchy chorus is sure to be a hit as is “D is for Dangerous”. “This House is a Circus” is a fun, twenty-something’s tale of living in a drug addled squatters palace.
‘Nightmare is also filled with melancholy, heartbreaking love songs. One wonders how such a young man could have loved and lost so eloquently. “505”, “Do Me a Favour” and “If You Were There” tell stories of love and leaving it behind. “505” is the best of these and leaves one wondering is it an address, a phone code or an S-O-S?
The additional songs are tales of characters met along the way much as Dorothy on that yellow brick road. “Florescent Adolescent”, “The Bad Thing” and “Only One Who Knows” are fun and expressive. The AM’s are here to stay and have proven they can weather the road, the biz and stay true to themselves.
Bravo!
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