Some Nights
Fun.
With their Janelle Monae assisted( although not really assisted) hit single We Are Young, Fun. Have become one of those worldwide renowned bands that have enter well an truly into the mainstream scene. And this record potentially shows how the band isn’t just a one single group but an artist that collectively offers a plethora of nice indie pop treats.
Track 1- Some Nights (Intro)
The introduction of the record works beautifully in creating a delicate but powerful and epically building track that is one part a simple pop song and another part a heartbreaking theatre extravaganza. The lyrics tangibly invoke that sense of going crazy over your feelings for someone, and this is also helped by the vocals which stat off quite quiet but like the song really build to give that sense of passion. And with the simple but great build of the sound with its violins and operatic, Queen esque chorus of voices, this is definitely an intriguing and effective intro.
3.5/5
Track2- Some Nights
The first time I heard this track I thought it was just epic, and perhaps it is just the use of production to create a chorus of voices effect within the track, but I had that Queen sought of vibe, that sense of the band really being so great that they couldn’t help but be destined for greatness. The track lyrically speaks of the questioning of who you are and what you stand for and features rousing vocal that is interspersed with some auto tune effects that create a power pop sound within the track. And with some cool synth beats and a powerful rock feel, this is just an effortless cool number.
5/5
Track 3- We Are Young (featuring Janelle Monae)
The track that broke the group into the musical stratosphere is a lighters in the air, immensely crowd pleasing track that you pretty much cant help but love, whether that be from your first listen or from repeated listens. This is because the tracks lyrical quality of giving that sense of reckless abandonment and just having fun like there name says means that this is a songs that has an infectious quality, with the simple and slow lyrical stresses within the chorus having that powerful, lets all join together in our carefree spirit essence that is just great. The track features a light but rousing vocal, and the production with its powerful drum beats, bright piano melodies and nice vocal layering creates a great indie pop rock sound that just commands you to listen. The only issue I felt with this track is that Monae adds simply nothing, particularly in terms of how the first time I heard it I didn’t even realise she was in it, and so she is a kind of wasted feature.
4.5/5
Track 4- Carry On
The fourth track is a cool number that starts off with delicate faint vocals and then builds to create a powerful energy, particularly within the chorus. Lyrically the track speaks of going on through the hard times, with the narrator speaking of contemplation of suicide and finding refuge in a bar where he talks with friends about their parents mortality. It’s a light but philosophically toned piece that many will identify with. And with the powerful rock based sound the track forms a neat line between chilled and forceful, with the short guitar solo emphasising that sense of just carrying on and giving an epic flavouring to the number.
4/5
Track 5- It Gets Better
This track definitely exhibits some of that hip hop kind of flavouring that the band has spoken about, and although the vocals of this track slightly annoyed me with the use of auto tune usage that is just a bit grating, the tracks offers a nice sense of up tempo diversity within the record and feels some powerful bass and rock tinged sound a that allows for a forceful track that also feels slightly old school. The track is more blatant and repetitive lyrically than the previous tracks, speaking of a stale relationship and the idea of it getting better eventually, and although the songs is more straightforward it has a nice vitality to it as a whole that makes for a good listen.
3/5
Track 6- Why Am I The One
Featuring a more acoustic sound that contrasts nicely with the previous number and gives nice slow, chilled sound, this track is about a relationship where the singer is always the one who seems to have to move on after a bad relationship. The simplicity of the track in the chorus lyrically is nice and cute, with the vocals of Ruess have a nice faint quality over all that makes for a strong chorus and a good essence of vulnerability. But perhaps the best thing about this song is the production, with the drum beats being slower in the chorus to give that powerful, almost stadium ready quality to the track that is deliciously awesome.
3.5/5
Track 7- All Alone
This track is a light up tempo number that feels like a bit of a pop dance around and be silly number despite its title. The lyrics speaks of feeling alone after giving your all in a relationship, and with the light chorus that is hook laden and quickly memorable makes for a instantly enjoyable essence to the track. The vocal are nice and light, perhaps not necessarily adding anything to the track but doing the job nicely. And with the rock pop tinged sound of the track with it jolly nature, this shows a bit of diversity and is a nice number to just chill too.
3.5/5
Track 8- All Alright
This track with its lyrical content of death is nice in that it can be transferred to the idea of our looved ones in general or a specific relationship between partners. The contrast between the more vocally deep verses and the light chorus give a crowd pleasing unison feeling, and the lyrical repetition definitely has that sense of the chorus needing to be sung with a crowd. The violins, piano instrumentation and powerful drum beats just give a great overall sound to the track that makes the sentiment more potent and believable, and offering that nice sense of lightness intermingled ith a smidgen of depth.
3.5/5
Track 9- One Foot
With soul driven trumpet sounds that act as the base of this track a cool urban but past influenced vibe is given to this song in which the band speak of just looking at the idea of life and how it’s a bit monotonous and you just really need to live it and put one foot in front of the other. Although it feels a little carry on part 2 this track has a little bit more of a groove within the powerful production, and the vocals a nice in having that faint quality that works well with the more potent production, particularly within the middle section.
3/5
Track 10- Stars
The track is a epic final track that is just so cool and euphoric feeling and maybe a bit crazy but light that its just something you will either love or hate, and something which I feel very much somes up the bands energy and works as a great album end. Definitely one you just have to listen to it, think on and decide whether you like or not.
3.5/5
Final Review
Fun are just so good cause they give a great mix of musical genres within the record but still create a great cohesive body of work. And whilst the lyrics touch on deep topics and feel very life questioning as a whole, they also find a great balance of being equally light and simple and so easily catchy. Plus they just seem like a band who really enjoy making the music they put out, and so what more can you want.
9/10
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