Favourite Worst Nightmare

The album's title came from the lyrics to the song "D is for Dangerous", the third song featured on the album. The band said they also considered naming the album Lesbian Wednesdays, Gordon Brown, or Gary Barlow. In an interview with NME, Nick O'Malley announced several songs including "D is for Dangerous" and "Balaclava". The tracks "The Bakery" and "Plastic Tramp" also mentioned in the NME interview did not make it onto the album, but were later released as B-sides on the "Fluorescent Adolescent" single. The track "Leave Before the Lights Come On" was also rumoured for inclusion, but did not make the final cut.

Half of the album's songs were debuted at concerts before the release of the album. The album was recorded quickly as the band wanted to start touring and play the songs.

The album's cover art features a black-and-white photograph of a house in the Garston district of Liverpool, with colourful cartoonish images visible through its windows.{{cite tweet|number=1121366245243281409|user=IndpndtLiv|title=It's 12 years since Arctic Monkeys released their Favourite Worst Nightmare album. Did you know that the photo on t…|date=25 April 2019}} This marks the second consecutive time the band used a photograph taken in Liverpool as an album cover, following their debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not.{{cite press release |url=https://www.southliverpoolhomes.co.uk/news/news-details/?id=3697 |title=SLH home is the star of Arctic Monkeys' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' album cover |date=1 May 2019 |access-date=24 August 2022}}

The music on Favourite Worst Nightmare has been characterised as post-punk revival,{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/11820/Arctic-Monkeys-Favourite-Worst-Nightmare/|title=Review Summary|last=Sylvia|first=Dave De|date=21 April 2007|website=Sputnikmusic|access-date=11 June 2016|quote=blending seamlessly with the group's rough-edged post-punk sound.|archive-date=2 February 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202220506/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/11820/Arctic-Monkeys-Favourite-Worst-Nightmare/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://guestlist.net/article/9669/whatever-people-say-i-am-an-humbug-your-favourite-worst-nightmare-and-am-from-sheffield-so-suck-it-and-see|title=Whatever People Say, I Am An Humbug, Your Favourite Worst Nightmare And Am From Sheffield. So, Suck It And See!|last=Fert|first=Baris|date=16 August 2013|website=Guestlist|access-date=11 June 2016|quote=I think these two albums are the good illustrations of Indie-Rock and garage rock integrated with the genre of post-punk revival.|archive-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808085316/http://guestlist.net/article/9669/whatever-people-say-i-am-an-humbug-your-favourite-worst-nightmare-and-am-from-sheffield-so-suck-it-and-see|url-status=live}} indie rock,{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/photos/103475/best-second-albums-of-all-time---muse-radiohead-amy-winehouse|title=The 50 Greatest Second Albums Of All Time|date=27 October 2015|website=Gigwise|access-date=11 June 2016|quote=Well rise they did with this slab of fast and furious indie rock genius.|archive-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808082917/http://www.gigwise.com/photos/103475/best-second-albums-of-all-time---muse-radiohead-amy-winehouse|url-status=live}} alternative rock,{{Cite web |last=Giantino |first=Linda |date=2024-01-22 |title=Ranking All the Arctic Monkeys Albums |url=https://chaospin.com/arctic-monkeys-albums/ |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=Chaospin |language=en-US}} garage rock, and post-Britpop.{{cite web|first=Tom|last=Breihan|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/35485-arctic-monkeys-announce-new-album/|title=Arctic Monkeys Announce New Album|website=Pitchfork|date=1 June 2009 |access-date=25 December 2021}} In comparison to the band's debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, the album has been described as "very, very fast and very, very loud",{{cite news| url=http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1289900.php/Arctic_Monkeys_set_to_unleash_%91Favourite_Worst_Nightmare%92| title=Arctic Monkeys set to unleash "Favourite Worst Nightmare"| publisher=Monsters and Critics| date=11 April 2007| access-date=11 April 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://archive.today/20070423150428/http://music.monstersandcritics.com/news/article_1289900.php/Arctic_Monkeys_set_to_unleash_%91Favourite_Worst_Nightmare%92| archive-date=23 April 2007| df=dmy-all}} being seen as "more ambitious, heavier...and with a fiercely bright production".{{cite news| last=Mulvey| first=John| url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/index.php?blog=6&p=60&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#more60| title=Favourite Worst Nightmare| publisher=Uncut| date=22 February 2007| access-date=28 February 2007| archive-date=24 March 2007| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070324070130/http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/index.php?blog=6&p=60&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#more60| url-status=live}} Reflecting the band's travels around the world more than the local stories of the first record, Favourite Worst Nightmare is a "faster, meaner" album.{{cite news |last=Collett-White |first=Mike |date=20 April 2007 |title=Arctic Monkeys face the music with 2nd album |publisher=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/music-britain-music-arcticmonkeys-dc-idUSL207826020070420 |access-date=13 August 2022}} The album arguably has influences from The Smiths – "twanging, quasi-ambient backdrops...and Turner's voice [...] crooning like Morrissey or Richard Hawley." Matt Helders said "James was DJing loads in the evening so we'd go out and [...] have a dance." As a result, the drum rhythms of Helders and bassist Nick O'Malley have drawn comparisons to the Eighties funk band ESG. The band's love of classic films also influenced their new style. For example, the organ at the beginning of the album's final track, "505" replicates Ennio Morricone's soundtrack for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (where Angel Eyes enters before the final standoff).{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6567861.stm | work=BBC News | title=Insiders' guide to Arctic Monkeys | date=23 April 2007 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-date=22 December 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222114524/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6567861.stm | url-status=live }}

{{Album ratings

| MC = 82/100{{cite web |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/favourite-worst-nightmare/arctic-monkeys |title=Reviews for Favourite Worst Nightmare by Arctic Monkeys |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=24 March 2009 |archive-date=18 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018065801/http://www.metacritic.com/music/favourite-worst-nightmare/arctic-monkeys |url-status=live }}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/favourite-worst-nightmare-mw0000479441 |title=Favourite Worst Nightmare – Arctic Monkeys |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=24 March 2009 |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |archive-date=14 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614162640/http://www.allmusic.com/album/favourite-worst-nightmare-mw0000479441 |url-status=live }}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = B+{{cite magazine |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2007/04/22/favourite-worst-nightmare |title=Favourite Worst Nightmare |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=10 February 2016 |last=Hermes |first=Will |author-link=Will Hermes |archive-date=20 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120072742/http://www.ew.com/article/2007/04/22/favourite-worst-nightmare |url-status=live }}

| rev3 = The Guardian

| rev3score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/apr/20/popandrock.alexispetridis |title=Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=24 April 2007 |access-date=2 May 2010 |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |archive-date=8 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055643/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/apr/20/popandrock.alexispetridis |url-status=live }}

| rev4 = Los Angeles Times

| rev4score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-apr-22-ca-rackmonkeys22-story.html |title=Success can be a 'Nightmare' |work=Los Angeles Times |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=10 February 2016 |last=Cromelin |first=Richard |archive-date=29 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029105735/http://articles.latimes.com/2007/apr/22/entertainment/ca-rackmonkeys22 |url-status=live }}

| rev5 = MSN Music (Consumer Guide)

| rev5score = B+{{cite web |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2007-07.php |title=Consumer Guide |work=MSN Music |date=July 2007 |access-date=10 February 2016 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190036/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2007-07.php |url-status=live }}

| rev6 = NME

| rev6score = 9/10{{cite journal |url=http://www.nme.com/reviews/arctic-monkeys/8427 |title=Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare |journal=NME |date=16 April 2007 |access-date=16 February 2012 |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160119091503/http://www.nme.com/reviews/arctic-monkeys/8427 |archive-date=19 January 2016}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 7.4/10{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10150-favourite-worst-nightmare/ |title=Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare |work=Pitchfork |date=24 April 2007 |access-date=16 February 2012 |last=Hogan |first=Marc |archive-date=20 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220162230/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10150-favourite-worst-nightmare/ |url-status=live }}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite journal |title=Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare |journal=Q |issue=250 |date=May 2007 |page=115}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/favourite-worst-nightmare-20070417 |title=Favourite Worst Nightmare |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=17 April 2007 |access-date=16 February 2012 |last=Hoard |first=Christian |archive-date=8 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140308061535/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/favourite-worst-nightmare-20070417 |url-status=live }}

| rev10 = Spin

| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite journal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JLfyLhoR-H4C&pg=PA83 |title=No Place Like Home |journal=Spin |volume=23 |issue=5 |date=May 2007 |access-date=10 February 2016 |last=Walters |first=Barry |page=83 |archive-date=22 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222134513/https://books.google.com/books?id=JLfyLhoR-H4C&pg=PA83 |url-status=live }}

}}

Like with the band’s debut album, Favourite Worst Nightmare has received widespread critical acclaim since its release. It has a score of 82 on Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100, based on 38 reviews.

In a 5-star review, The Daily Express described it as "a shockingly good release that just gets better, faster and stronger with each listen",{{cite web |url=http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/4944 |title=Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Music :: ARCTIC MONKEYS: FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE |publisher=Express.co.uk |date=20 April 2007 |access-date=16 February 2012 |archive-date=27 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927072140/http://www.express.co.uk/features/view/4944 |url-status=live }} while The Guardian said it had "successfully negotiated the daunting task of following up the biggest-selling debut album in British history" and stated that the second half of the album was the stronger half, noting the similarity to Morrissey in "Fluorescent Adolescent" whilst criticising the opening tracks, "Brianstorm" in particular. Their progression was also highlighted with The Guardian saying "if you removed everything from the album except Matt Helders' drumming, it would still be a pretty gripping listen", and The Observer praising the new sounds on the album referencing the "piercing, melodic guitar by Jamie Cook" and "where Turner reveals the other weapons in his armoury" when referring to Alex Turner's progression.{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/omm/10bestcds/story/0,,2060153,00.html |title=Arctic Monkeys, Favourite Worst Nightmare |work=The Observer |location=London |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=16 February 2012 |last=Savage |first=Jon |archive-date=24 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024231838/http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/apr/22/popandrock.shopping4 |url-status=live }} Pitchfork Media noticed the "new emotional depth" of tracks such as "Do Me a Favour", "Only Ones Who Know" and "505", which were also commonly cited by most other critics as being amongst the highlights. NME and Uncut ranked it as the second-best album of 2007.{{CN|date=December 2023}} Dutch publication OOR named it the best of 2007.{{CN|date=December 2023}}

Jacob Stolworthy of The Independent reviewed the album on its 10th anniversary in 2017, saying, "Favourite Worst Nightmare was the first sign that Arctic Monkeys would change up their sound with each new record in as drastic a fashion as they wished [...] If their debut defined a generation, this record shaped the band's future in a manner more mature, sexy and - just like the party depicted in the rowdy track 'This House Is a Circus' - berserk as f*ck."{{Cite web|date=21 April 2017|title=How Arctic Monkeys defeated 'second album syndrome' with Favourite Worst Nightmare|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/arctic-monkeys-favourite-worst-nightmare-10-year-anniversary-alex-turner-a7691176.html|access-date=12 April 2021|website=The Independent|language=en}}

In its first week of release, Favourite Worst Nightmare sold 227,993 copies,{{cite journal |title=Key Releases: 29.08.09 |journal=Music Week |date=29 August 2009 |page=40}} emulating Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not in going straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart, albeit selling 130,000 copies fewer than the band's record-breaking debut. The first two singles from the album, "Brianstorm" and "Fluorescent Adolescent", were both UK top-10 hits. The album's first day sales of 85,000 outsold the rest of the top 20 combined, while all 12 tracks from the album entered the top 200 of the UK Singles Chart.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6605991.stm|publisher=BBC|date=29 April 2007|title=Arctics' album storms to the top|access-date=30 April 2007|archive-date=5 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505210146/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6605991.stm|url-status=live}} By September 2022, 1,200,000 copies of the album had been sold in the UK; it was certified 4× Platinum in 2022. The album was nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2007{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6903225.stm|publisher=BBC|date=3 September 2007|title=Mercury Prize: The nominees|access-date=20 June 2022|archive-date=8 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808235817/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6903225.stm|url-status=live}} and won Best British Album at the BRIT Awards the following year.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7187992.stm|publisher=BBC|date=20 February 2008|title=Brit Awards 2008: The winners|access-date=20 June 2022|archive-date=7 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307095522/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7187992.stm|url-status=live}}

In the United States, the album debuted at number 7 on the Billboard 200, selling around 44,000 copies in its first week and become the band's first top-10 album there.{{cite magazine|first=Katie|last=Hasty|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052411/lavigne-remains-no-1-as-joe-debuts-high|title=Lavigne Remains No. 1 As Joe Debuts High|magazine=Billboard|date=2 May 2007|access-date=24 March 2013|archive-date=13 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313130436/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052411/lavigne-remains-no-1-as-joe-debuts-high|url-status=live}} The album also achieved top-10 debuts in 12 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Japan, Mexico, and New Zealand.

{{Track listing

| headline = Favourite Worst Nightmare track listing

| all_lyrics = Alex Turner, except where noted

| all_music = Arctic Monkeys{{cite AV media notes|title=Favourite Worst Nightmare|others=Arctic Monkeys|year=2007|url=https://www.discogs.com/Arctic-Monkeys-Favourite-Worst-Nightmare/release/956134|access-date=6 June 2018|type=booklet|publisher=Domino Recording Company|id=WIGCD188|location=London|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122847/https://www.discogs.com/Arctic-Monkeys-Favourite-Worst-Nightmare/release/956134|url-status=live}}

| total_length = 37:19

| title1 = Brianstorm

| length1 = 2:52

| title2 = Teddy Picker

| length2 = 2:40

| title3 = D Is for Dangerous

| length3 = 2:14

| title4 = Balaclava

| length4 = 2:47

| title5 = Fluorescent Adolescent

| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Turner|Johanna Bennett}}

| length5 = 2:53

| title6 = Only Ones Who Know

| length6 = 3:01

| title7 = Do Me a Favour

| length7 = 3:25

| title8 = This House Is a Circus

| length8 = 3:09

| title9 = If You Were There, Beware

| length9 = 4:34

| title10 = The Bad Thing

| length10 = 2:23

| title11 = Old Yellow Bricks

| lyrics11 = {{hlist|Turner|Jon McClure}}

| length11 = 3:07

| title12 = 505

| length12 = 4:14

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japanese edition bonus tracks

| title13 = Da Frame 2R

| length13 = 2:20

| title14 = Matador

| length14 = 4:57

}}

• The music video for "Brianstorm" was included as a bonus with iTunes pre-orders of Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Credits adapted from liner notes.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Arctic Monkeys

• Alex Turner
• Jamie Cook
• Matt Helders
• Nick O'Malley

Additional musicians

• James Ford – additional guitar {{small|(6)}}
• Miles Kane – additional guitar {{small|(12)}}

Production

• James Ford – production; mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 10, 11)}}
• Mike Crossey – production; mixing {{small|(tracks 2, 6, 10, 11)}}
• Alan Moulder – mixing {{small|(tracks 1, 3–5, 7–9, 12)}}
• George Marino – mastering

{{col-2}}

Artwork

• Juno – art direction and design, illustrations, booklet photography
• Matthew Cooper – layout
• Joseph Bramhall – illustrations
• Graphique Club – illustrations
• Drew Millward – illustrations
• Al Heighton – illustrations
• Anne-Marie Moore – illustrations
• Tobias – illustrations
• de5ign4 – spray can murals
• Matt Goodfellow – photography

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for Favourite Worst Nightmare}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Australia|award=Gold|relyear=2007 |certyear=2007}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Italy|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2021|artist=Arctic Monkeys|title=Favourite Worst Nightmare|access-date=6 September 2021|note=sales since 2009}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|award=Gold|relyear=2007|certyear=2007|certmonth=05|artist=Arctic Monkeys|title=Favourite Worst Nightmare|access-date=25 January 2014}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2007|certyear=2022|artist=Arctic Monkeys|title=Favourite Worst Nightmare|id=2237-1053-2|access-date=26 September 2022|refname=ukcert}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|streaming=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|type=album|69774|name=Favourite Worst Nightmare}}

{{Arctic Monkeys}}

{{Brit British Album}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2007 albums

Category:Albums produced by James Ford (musician)

Category:Arctic Monkeys albums

Category:Domino Recording Company albums

Category:Warner Records albums

Category:Brit Award for British Album of the Year