In the United States, the album debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200, selling around 44,000 copies in its first week. 'Brianstorm' and ' Fluorescent Adolescent' were also both hits on the UK Singles Chart, with the former reaching number two on the chart. In its first week of release, the album sold over 227,000 copies, going straight to number one in the UK Albums Chart. In retrospect, the album is considered the start of the band's change of sound with each of their albums after their debut. NME and Uncut ranked it the second-best album of 2007, while Dutch publication OOR named it the best of 2007.
Like Arctic Monkey's debut, Favourite Worst Nightmare was a widespread critical success, with critics highlighting the band's new emotional depth and Alex Turner's matured songwriting. In comparison to the band's debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not, the album is considered more ambitious, with ambient sounds and expanded drum rhythms being introduced. This is the band's first album with bassist Nick O'Malley, replacing their previous bassist Andy Nicholson, who left the band before the North America tour of the band's debut studio album.
Recorded in east London's Miloco Studios with producers James Ford and Mike Crossey, the album was preceded by the release of ' Brianstorm' on 2 April 2007. Favourite Worst Nightmare is the second studio album by English rock band Arctic Monkeys, released on 23 April 2007 by Domino Recording Company.
