fun.
Some Nights


4.0
excellent

Review

by Knott- EMERITUS
February 15th, 2012 | 957 replies


Release Date: 2012 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Fiercely upbeat and drenched in charisma.

Digitize the grandiose pop symphonies of Aim And Ignite and dim the lights a little, all for the sake of sounding even huger than "Be Calm" strived for. Some Nights finds the Queen/Beach Boys pop of The Format's late career and Fun.'s debut record infused with beats of the bass-heavy variety; if Nate Ruess was too exuberant for you on previous outings, you'll find nothing approaching dampened enthusiasm here. The pop-rock band - rounded off by Jack Antonoff (Steel Train) and Andrew Dost (Anathallo) - somehow find a context for the enormity of lead single "We Are Young", surrounding it with songs so extroverted it should be uncomfortable; it never is.

Rarely, anyway: the bass on "It Gets Better" is, genuinely, too heavy; the vocoder sections of closer "Stars" are challenging at best. But away from these qualms already, because they are the only blemishes on a gorgeous soundscape and stellar songwriting exhibition which lives off its own indelible charisma and builds brilliance out of its ideas. These compositions are, when distilled, no less layered (really) and decisive than Aim And Ignite's; the temptation to assume that electronics render depth a second-fiddle notion is rebuffed by the unique character of tracks like "All Alone" and the record's title-track.

Throughout, Ruess puts in the most commanding and charming performance of his career to date, whether he's backed by a choir, synthesized by vocoders, or left to his own raw, dramatic devices. On "All Alright", he exhausts himself - and I know, I know, that I put up a front, but maybe just this once, let me keep this one? - only to reclaim his own salvation on "One Foot" as he declares: I will die for my own sins, thanks a lot; we'll rise up ourselves, thanks for nothing at all! If, from those snippets, Some Nights sounds like a heavy listen, the beauty is that it somehow manages to be both weighty and carefree. The buzz of songs like "Stars" is nothing close to vapid, but nor is it so self-involved as to lose its polish.

You can find Queen and Kanye West bursting out of Some Nights's sweeping chords and harmonies - and you don't even have to listen all that hard - but when all ten tracks are delivered with this much conviction it hardly seems relevant; the energy and personality which flood out of every melody give this album its own stamp of authority. It tips over into excess at rare moments, but even as you can hear those moments happening, they provoke grins inside and out. Cynics will find the optimism too optimistic and the tunes too tuneful and the anthems too anthemic. Fuck 'em; they've just forgotten what it's like to be young.



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user ratings (897)
3.1
good
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1 of
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Comments:Add a Comment 
Sowing
Moderator
February 15th 2012


44426 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I still can't make up my mind on this ugggghhhh

Island
February 15th 2012


577 Comments


sucks

Romulus
February 15th 2012


9110 Comments


hey queen did not release an album called kanye west!

Sowing
Moderator
February 15th 2012


44426 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

definitely a nice review though. im liking this more on my third listen than i did on either of my first two tries...

Island
February 15th 2012


577 Comments


all this review needs is a beach boys name drop

anywhere, really just put it in there anywhere

Sowing
Moderator
February 15th 2012


44426 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

There are a lot of influences going on here



I actually thought of Queen before I did the Beach Boys...if you want them, take a look at the new Explorer's Club album

Knott-
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


10260 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

was a covers album Rom



i usually know what to write in my first post after i put up a review but here i don't i just adore this album too much

Knott-
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


10260 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

i'm pretty sure i namedrop Beach Boys in the 3rd line so idk if you were being serious haha

Sowing
Moderator
February 15th 2012


44426 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

settling on a 3.5 for now. might go up or down a half point

klap
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


12410 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

oh my god links

Knott-
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


10260 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I figured I'd counteract the forthcoming screams of FANBOY!!! by being more professional in a technical capacity than anyone ever...

klap
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


12410 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0 | Sound Off

i certainly approve. i like your short reviews as well

Whatsgood
February 15th 2012


178 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Eh, I have to disagree, I don't think there's a single song on here that comes anywhere close to sounding as huge as Be Calm or Take Your Time Coming Home.

Knott-
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


10260 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

cheers klappah



I guess it depends on your definition of "huge". I mean, certainly, these tracks aren't as varied or (dare I say) ambitious as Aim And Ignite's best songs but I'd argue they sound just as, if not more, epic, in a different way.

robin
February 15th 2012


4596 Comments


downbeat adam knott

Knott-
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


10260 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

i just realised that



if Nate Ruess was too exuberant for you on previous outings, you'll find nothing approaching dampened enthusiasm here.




could be about me reviewing Fun. Sub-conscious.

BigTuna
February 15th 2012


5915 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Title track might be the best. Great stuff here.

Inveigh
February 15th 2012


26899 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I listened to Aim and Ignite back when it came out and I remember liking it, but I just don't think it ever stuck with me for some reason.



This one sounds much more intriguing though. Great review.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
February 15th 2012


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Loved the first album, I cannot WAIT to listen to this

thatoneguy726
February 15th 2012


1669 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I kinda wish you had let the fanboy within run wild.



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