Arctic Monkeys is a notable band when it comes to rock in pop culture, no doubt with the recent tiktok boom as well, but they are and have been a household name for a while. Their top hits are massively played and well known, and I definitely knew some of them, but I always wanted to dive deeper like I usually do with great artists.
After Arctic Monkeys reappeared in my view with the release of their most recent album, I eventually found the time to spin Favourite Worst Nightmare. When it came to songs I already knew, it was home to only 505, but I figured Favourite Worst Nightmare would be a better first taste than AM because AM was more popular, and thus more pop-friendly and less rock-like. I have yet to listen to AM and find out, but Favourite Worst Nightmare is definitely pureblooded rock.
Before diving in, I already knew 505 pretty well. It's a piece of art, perfect in every way, but I always had a feeling it was a one-of-a-kind song, and the rest of the songs on the record wouldn't sound much like it, and I wasn't wrong. For the most part, Favourite Worst Nightmare features fast and groovy drumming, funky and fun riffs, and an engaging vocal performance throughout. It's a very bold and strong showcase of their unique flavour of indie rock, full of identity and style.
I wasn't expecting to love the record so much, if I'm being honest. My track record with liking older rock and metal bands has been very sparse, considering how a majority of my favourite artists are quite young, and in general I consider myself a hyper-modern listener (that said, I'm happy to avoid most of modern tiktok-era pop). Favourite Worst Nightmare surprised me, combining great rock writing with smart pop sensibilities to produce a variety of catchy, energetic and genuinely enjoyable tracks. The drumming in Brianstorm, the solo on Teddy Picker, the vocal delivery on Fluorescent Adolescent, the softness of Only Ones Who Know, the ending of Do Me A Favour, the funk in Old Yellow Bricks, and the entirety of 505, just many of the great things in this record.
I'm always happy to find a big artist in pop culture that has more to offer in quality than just their biggest hits. This record as a whole is solid, with plenty of great tracks and zero rubbish. I'm excited to dive into more of Arctic Monkeys, although I have a feeling I'll only like the older stuff. The Car didn't leave a lasting impression on me, if I'm being honest. Regardless, I see now how they got so big so quickly as a name in indie rock.
Rating: 9/10