CD review: Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare

For a band that was bigger than Jesus before their debut album was even released, the Arctic Monkeys have sure held up their end of the bargain. After the rocket ride ascent of Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not up the charts in 2006, it's a wonder the band members, all barely 21 years old as they were thrust onto U.K. press pedestals, didn't explode under the pressure cooker spotlight, expose themselves as casualties of the hype machine or fall into rock drug traps when it came time to record their sophomore full-length. But the Sheffield quartet was too ambitious to cruise on one album's success for too long. While their patent nothing-flashy Brit punk sound didn’t change much on 2007's Favourite Worst Nightmare, the album proves to be anything but stale. Still relying on unfuckwitable melodies, sharp storytelling lyrics, ferocious guitar attacks and driving rhythms rather than musical innovation, the Arctic Monkeys show that songwriting talent and tight musicianship are enough to propel past the muddle of the boring same-old same-old. The 12 songs, clocking in at just under 40 minutes, flourish in their solid simplicity. Leadoff track “Brianstorm” mimics the sonic urgency and anthemic structure as Whatever's opener to bridge a natural progression from their debut. There's hit single potential everywhere; the irresistible pop hook of “Fluorescent Adolescent” ensures stuck-in-your-headness hours after the album ends. And the ballad “Only Ones Who Know” makes use of delicately subtle singing whale guitar riffs to shine the spotlight on singer Alex Turner's thick Yorkshire croon. That's not to suggest that the band doesn't have any tricks up its sleeve. While most of Turner's lyrics still center on character observations from his working class roots, in “Do Me a Favour” he delves into seemingly personal territory with the tale of a breakup brought on by temptations of life on the road. “Curiosity becomes a heavy load/Too heavy to hold/Will force you to be cold,” Turner sings from the dumper’s point of view. It's their most mature song to date, the music escalating in intensity as the romantic relationship unravels. The Arctic Monkeys still have some evolving to do, but it wouldn't be far-fetched to suggest that the standout track rightfully positions them on the same musical path as some of the greats.