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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Favourite Worst Nightmare
by Arctic Monkeys
The ultrahyped British rockers return with a quick successor to their Mercury Prize-winning 2006 debut.
| LABEL: |
Domino |
| RELEASE DATE: |
24 April 2007 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Indie, Rock |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
100
Observer Music Monthly
On the evidence of Favourite Worst Nightmare, the Arctic Monkeys are playing at the very top of their and everyone else's game.
100
Q Magazine
It's not just the songs that have improved, but also their delivery. [May 2007, p.115]
90
Hartford Courant
A second album as outstanding as this one is no nightmare; it's a dream come true.
90
Mojo
This is unmistakeably the Arctics, only stronger, harder, sharper, faster.... An extraordinary and fulfilling sequel to their debut. [May 2007, p.100]
90
musicOMH.com
What is most startling... is the amount of emotional depth that Turner's injected into his songs here.
90
All Music Guide
On [the] debut, it was possible hear all the ways they were similar to their predecessors, but here it's possible to hear all the ways Arctic Monkeys is a unique, vibrant band and that's why Favourite Worst Nightmare is its own way more exciting than the debut.
90
Playlouder
The album sees the band moving on from the Libertines-aping chord structures of their debut and pushing in new directions.
90
Billboard
There is more than enough here to make up for any loss of zeitgeist-shattering impact the second time around. [28 Apr 2007]
90
New Musical Express
The most doubter-defying second album since 'Modern Life Is Rubbish'.
90
Delusions of Adequacy
Ultimately, it ends up being one fantastic follow-up that brims at the sides with vehement energy.
88
Los Angeles Times
If "Nightmare" misses some of the poetry and exhilaration of "Whatever," it has something more important: authenticity and integrity.
83
Entertainment Weekly
While their second set... may not be as revelatory as the first, it's nearly as good, and suggests they may eventually live up to the most impassioned accolades.
80
BBC collective
Turner’s sharp narrative ear is still tuned to the revealing banalities of everyday life, the whole band admirably responsive to emotional nuance.
80
The Guardian
Favourite Worst Nightmare shows them pushing gently but confidently at the boundaries of their sound.
80
Uncut
Favourite Worst Nightmare is a near-triumph, a far superior Album #2 than Meat Is Murder, The Libertines, or Second Coming. Yet some doubts nag, partly because of the subject matter. [May 2007, p.84]
80
Boston Globe
Forget about the dreaded decline. Arctic Monkeys have moved from their alarmingly evolved infancy into rock toddlerhood with glibness, swagger, and whip-smart songs intact.
80
Trouser Press
Favourite Worst Nightmare is a surprisingly significant improvement on an excellent debut.
80
Drowned In Sound
Though inconsistent, this record is remarkably accomplished and immediate.
80
Dot Music
At every turn this record astonishes with its accomplishment.
80
The New York Times
The new songs are more melodic and even more meticulous than before.
78
Austin Chronicle
Even sharper and more cunning than its predecessor.
75
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Arctic Monkeys are hardly the most important rock act in the world, or even the UK. But unlike a lot of their competition, they're a good band getting better.
75
Prefix Magazine
Favourite Worst Nightmare is tempered by a few duds -- "Balaclava" and "If You Were There, Beware," please stand up -- but more than that, it's kind of joyless.
75
Stylus Magazine
Favourite Worst Nightmare, a demonstrative record of small deviations, may pale before its predecessor but is better.
75
Hot Press
The record goes some way towards capturing the heaviness of that band’s live performances.
74
Pitchfork
If Favourite Worst Nightmare is notably lacking something, it's another song like the debut's standout, "A Certain Romance".
74
Lost At Sea
Favourite Worst Nightmare finds the band getting louder, more aggressive, and, as a consequence, losing some of their youthful charm.
70
Village Voice
There's nothing wrong with singing witty lyrics fast and loud; there's just nothing very special about it.
70
Urb
The boys have yet to prove their worth with the tender, mellow bits... and one can't help but wonder how strong Favourite Worst Nightmare would have been as simply a full-throttle, adrenal-tapped EP. [May 2007, p.92]
70
PopMatters
Arctic Monkeys have tightened up as a band and play more powerfully than before.
70
Rolling Stone
A bit heavier and not as immediate, Favourite Worst Nightmare is a slightly lesser record, though by no means a Difficult Second Album.
60
NOW Magazine
Where the Monkeys come up short is in their compositions, which are beginning to sound formulaic.
60
Under The Radar
Favourite moves forward not one inch from Whatever, which is safe and reliable, but also repetitive. [#17, p.82]
60
Blender
In the tradition of thorny newbie bands that get scarily too big (Nirvana, Radiohead, Weezer), they’ve followed their funny, catchy debut with a less funny, less catchy second record to prove how little they trust the good times their music obviously inspires.
60
Sputnikmusic
For the first time, the band is inconsistent.
60
Spin
The harder the music hammers, the flatter the lyrics get. The more the band holds back, the stronger the songs become. Consequently, there's half of a great album here. [May 2007, p.83]
60
cokemachineglow
Favourite Worst Nightmare seems warped and contrived, bearing all the signs and watermarks of a band trying not to feel uncomfortable.
40
No Ripcord
There’s a lot of bluster and enthusiasm here but I’m struggling to identify much in the way of true substance.
The average user rating for this album is 7.9 (out of 10) based on 192 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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