Fluorescent Adolescent

Band: Arctic Monkeys
Album: Favourite Worst Nightmare
Genre: Indie/Alternative Rock

If you were there, beware! You can do me a favour and do the bad thing by taking a listen to this incredible Arctic Monkeys album. Favourite Worst Nightmare is an album that was created in 2007 by the British band the Arctic Monkeys. And, yes, before you ask I am meaning to spell favorite and favor that way because it's how it's spelled on the album! Brit's are weird and add a u after the o, but that is beside the point. Favourite Worst Nightmare is my favorite album by AM and is the album that got me into the band!

photo by Zackery Michael

The band is made up of four men from Sheffield, a city in the northern part of England. They have extremely thick accents and it's sometimes funny to hear them talk in interviews when they interact with one another. They're kind of a quiet bunch, but I enjoy getting to see the interactions they have on stage and the jokes they make with one another.

The lead singer of the band's name is Alex Turner. His style has changed a lot since their first album from his vocal style to the way he dresses. During Favourite Worst Nightmare, he had longer hair and was a lot more shy than he is today. He is definitely a frontman that knows how to entertain and interact with an audience, though. He keeps any crowd interested, even huge crowds when the Monkeys are headlining festivals!

Image by high-green

Now, I hate to choose favorites, but... my favorite member of the Arctic Monkeys is definitely Matt Helders. Helders is the drummer of the band and is someone that I can wholeheartedly relate to. He's a photographer; this makes me absolutely love him more than any member in the band. His photos are breathtaking. Whether they be of his wife, child, or any random thing going on in his life, he really knows how to capture a moment. He also got to tour with one of my all time favorite solo artists, Iggy Pop. Post Pop Depression, honestly, skyrocketed to my favorite Iggy Pop record all because of him (and kind of because of Josh Homme too, but that's beside the point).

The last two members of the band are Jamie Cook, the lead guitarist, and Nick O'Malley, the bass guitarist. Jamie is the only guy in the band who doesn't sing back up, but happens to be one of the most outspoken people within the group. Jamie's guitaring also takes influence from some of my favorites like The Smiths and The Strokes, you honestly don't get much better than that. Nick is the quietest member overall, but he is a great bassist and I enjoy watching live videos of him interacting with everybody up on stage.

Image by sloq

Now have you ever listened to an album and just had it automatically rope you in? Well, this band has done that to me on multiple occasions. The Arctic Monkeys have definitely made some incredible albums, but Favourite Worst Nightmare is by far the best, in my opinion. Starting with Brianstorm all the way to 505 and even the bonus tracks on the album, I can listen to it on repeat for hours on end without getting tired of it.

From upbeat to calm and somber songs, there's something for everyone on this album. My all time favorite AM song is actually on this album and it is "Do Me a Favour". The song starts off very slow and progressively gets faster to display the stress of a strained relationship. The girl in the song even ends the relationship by telling him to "f*ck off" to which Alex feels is "too kind" of a response to what he's put her through. Ugh, I love that song. Best off the album and best they've ever made to this day.

I definitely also recommend listening to "505",  a slower song about going back to an old lover. "505" includes an extra guitar riff from a one Miles Kane, one of my favorite guitarists from today and the other half of The Last Shadow Puppets. "Fluorescent Adolescent" is another song I'd recommend off of the album, it's a very entertaining song that I love to jam out to whenever it comes on! If you're wondering why the live links, by the way, it's because you need the full experience; they sound brilliant live!

Image by Nina Hütter

The Arctic Monkeys have been apart of my life for a very long time and not a day goes by where I don't turn their music on. Have you ever listened or heard of this lovely band out of the small city of Sheffield? If so, what are your thoughts on them? If not, will you give them a listen? Let me know!