http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd26Ty07sAo If the Arctics debut album was an exercise in art reflecting reality, follow-up Favourite Worst Nightmare consciously expands on this idea whilst simultaneously commenting on a year spent under spotlight and scrutiny. Who The F**K Are Arctic Monkeys?, the provocative title track of a five-song EP that bridged the gap between their first two long-players, showcased a band intimidated by the media furore that surrounded them and is an impassioned attempt to defend their principles. This self-analysis and contempt for the press finds itself onto Favourite Worst Nightmare on tracks such as Teddy Picker and If You Were There, Beware to signpost the bands growing disillusionment with fame and recognition. Here, the bite that Turner displayed on the bands debut becomes more pronounced and less couched in humour, gunning down silver-tongued hipsters (Brianstorm) and want-away band members (Old Yellow Bricks is commonly believed to be about ex-bass player, Andy Nicholson) in an articulate hail of rapid-fire verse and brutal disdain. Sonically, the LPs sound mellows its predecessors punchy punk into a more effervescent, reverb-laden territory that hinted at the bands diversifying listening habits and is the product of the new effects pedals that Turner and Jamie Cook purchased with the first albums profits. Elsewhere, new bass player, Nick OMalley, manages to establish a fluid rhythm partnership with drumming powerhouse, Matt Helders, and between them, create the tribal beat that permeates wounding record highlight, Do Me A Favour. An angry but accomplished-sounding effort from the boys of High Green, Sheffield. Best Tracks: Do Me A Favour, Fluorescent Adolescent, 505
A 22 year old English Literature graduate from Birmingham. I am passionate about music, literature and football, in particular, my beloved Aston Villa. Lover of words and consumer of art, music is the very air that I breathe.