Review Summary: In search of sounding more anthemic, Fun. delivers a miscalculated effort.
When “We Are Young,” the first hit single from Fun.’s sophomore LP, Some Nights, hit the airwaves, an artistic shift for the band became apparent. Frontman Nate Ruess, guitarist Andrew Dost, and drummer Jack Antonoff, dared themselves to sound louder and more commercial than anything they had ever produced previously by creating stadium hits that would appeal to a grander audience. Unfortunately, Some Nights proves as a miscalculated, mostly vapid endeavor.
At times, Some Nights proves too tame and messy for a band that previously thrived on its energetic performances throughout its debut. The ironically titled “It Gets Better” features the heaviest, over-produced bass line of the entire album, making it nothing short of a cumbersome listen. Ruess’ voice enters the track drenched in auto-tune, sounding completely unnecessary given the frontman’s vocal strength, further adding to this mess of a song. “Stars,” the closer on the album, suffers from the same issue, drowning Ruess’ vocals in a vocoder that sounds muddled, clumsy and grating. Songs like “All Alright” and “Carry On,” arguably the blandest and corniest single the band has ever released, feature weak choruses that verge on sounding uninspired. The listening experience becomes a struggle, rather than an inviting pleasure.
Despite its missteps, Some Nights still manages to deliver tunes that remind its listeners that Fun. can still be pop rock virtuosos. The intro track recalls the theatrical nature of Aim and Ignite, with its twinkly piano, operatic swirls and dramatic group vocals that remind of Queen. Hit single “Some Nights” follows up with enthusiastic energy, bursting with military-esque percussion combined with Ruess’ powerful, impassioned vocals that captivate throughout the track, minus another short overuse of auto-tune towards the end. “One Foot” thrives on being lively and bombastic with its stomping drums, concise yet blaring trumpet lines, and Ruess’ most exuberant performance on the entire album. It’s the closest the band comes to replicating the overall feel of their debut.
In an effort to burst into the mainstream, Fun. release their most commercial album with Some Nights. Unlike Aim and Ignite, which is filled with lavish exuberance and provided a refreshing sense of unpredictability as the album progresses, Some Nights features too many lackluster tracks and complete misfires that ultimately hurt Fun.’s sophomore effort. Fun. swings for the fences on Some Nights with its anthemic tunes, but overall, the venture proves to be misguided and memorable for the wrong reasons.
