Consumer Guide Album

Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare [Domino, 2007]
They're lots bigger, so be grateful they're only somewhat broader--and that for Alex Turner maturity means subtlety, not cynicism. The herberts, paparazzi and under assistant Japanese promo men of the first few songs are rendered more generic by their big loud beats, but once Turner gets down to interpersonals his romances gone sour are tender and nuanced--check out the failed fling of "Only Ones Who Know," the conflicted reunion of "505," the scorned compassion of "Do Me a Favour." And if we have to endure songs about the superstar round, "This House Is a Circus" is wiser than Bloc Party's. B+