Ascension into rock stardom rarely happens as quickly -- or as honorably -- as it did for England's Arctic Monkeys.

Steeped in principle and spurning the rest of the music industry, the freewheeling British four-piece rose to fame with its first full record, Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. The band's punk rock roots were evident in its romantic refusal to change its sound for record labels, and the stoicism paid off when the album sold faster than any debut in British music history.

The fame doesn't seem to have rounded the Monkeys' edges, though. On its follow-up, full-length, Favourite Worst Nightmare, the band has remained rough and raucous as ever. Two frantic guitars, a salient bass line and potent drumming are apparently all you need to make a great record.

Oh, and having Alex Turner as your lead singer and guitarist helps, too. The proud owner of some distinctive Yorkshire pipes and pen, Turner champions his home accent and keeps no lyric safe from his native slang. The lyrics remain unique in form as well, almost always spoken in the second person so as to grab the listener directly and try to shake some sense into him.

Though there are subtle differences between the records, Favourite Worst Nightmare works well as a sequel to Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not. A good sequel, too -- think Rocky II, III, or IV, but not Rocky V.

It's difficult to pin down whether the upgrade comes from the sonic progression of any individual or from a more refined cohesion among all the members -- and both are probably there -- but the overall tightening of the band as a whole is undeniable.

If anything negative can be said about this album, it would be the vocals. While all of the instrumentation is exquisitely produced, Turner sounds like he is singing through a cardboard wrapping paper tube. His singing has become much more disciplined since the last record, but the reverb on his voice is overdone.

Something still must be said for the band's work ethic, releasing two full-length albums and an EP in roughly 14 months. None of it sounds rushed or diluted, and it's all dripping with critical and commercial appeal without hiding the fact that the band cares about neither.

If the ambition and agitation of Arctic Monkeys' most recent release is any indication, there's a lot more where that came from.

Grade: A-