Last year four lads from Sheffield (London), managed to turn the world on its ears with their gutsy debut - Whatever people say I am, that’s what I’m not. Here stood the new face of London sound – gritty base combined with clever instrumental arrangements and loud powerful drums, not to mention interesting tales of the seedy underside of London town. Selling well over 350 000 copies of this debut which featured the hit, “You look good on the dance floor” in its first week, the Arctic Monkeys had succeeded in reminding us what it is to be an angsty teenagers with comments on their society for all to hear. I loved this album and have much anticipated its follow up.

I haven’t had to wait long, because in very quick succession the lads have turned around a new album, Favourite Worst Nightmare.

Caught in interviews playing this album down, probably for fear of having to produce something as punchy and edgy as their prior efforts the monkeys follow up, Favourite Worst Nightmare doesn’t try to be above the phenomenal first album. While it doesn’t have the same level of adrenalin pulsating through it, it’s a great stand alone album, and so if you haven’t been privy to their sound before, you’re in for a treat.

Even if you have been it’s best not to compare the two albums. The elements that made the first the album so great are still apparent. Tracks remain heavy with base (seemingly heavier than the first album and thumping drums is still a feature, but maybe in some tracks they aren’t as loud?

In fact the loud and fast garage-y tracks are just those, loud and fast while the mellower, tracks are a lot softer than the first album – perhaps the lads have discovered emotion rather than relied on raw talent to tell the story.

It’s not any wonder track one on this album “Brainstorm” is already enjoying high rotation on the major music networks. This track in my opinion is the bomb track of the album. Opening the album fiercely with explosive force it’s what we have come to expect from the Monkey’s but each track on this album has its own merits and they are all musical gems worthy of single status.