Yes, fun. didn’t want to capitalise the “f” in “fun.” and the period is indeed there. How’s that for a totally indie band name. Well that’s besides the point. The band released their second studio album titled “Some Nights” on Feb 21. That’s two and a half years I’ve had to wait since their first album, “Aim and Ignite.” It was well worth the wait.
The lead singer, Nate Ruess, was once a part of another band, The Format. However, they broke up after seven years together in 2008, and Ruess went on to form “fun.” The transition from an Arizonian band to a New York City band has transformed Ruess into someone who can deliver a bold album with everything awesome. It’s nearly the Bohemian Rhapsody in an album form; funky and catchy. Seriously, Ruess has been compared to Freddie Mercury. Now if that isn’t awesome, then I don’t know what is.
The album encompasses everything Nate Ruess, like the familiar and reminiscent vocals that was the epitome of The Format. However, as Ruess strayed into a different direction of music as he did in Aim and Ignite, he takes further steps into the realm of experimentation. Keeping the roots in tact, fun. branches out and blossoms a rainbow of a symphony with Some Nights. It was meant to portray how “personalities can change on any given night.” Everything from theatrical performances to mellowed-down ballads, it almost reminds me of a Disney soundtrack: having a little bit of everything. That said, it is still coherent, it doesn’t come off as a random selection of songs. It’s more like a well thought-out collection of everything the band is capable of doing.
Experimentation is what made this album so unique. There has been a minuscule number of songs that are auto-tuned that I can listen to with feeling any (T-)pain. Kanye West’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” album was good; Justin Vernon did it for me with his track “Woods” on Bon Iver’s Blood Bank EP. Apart from that, I can’t name any others… until now. Nate Ruess joins the prestigious list of “Those Who Can Use Auto-Tune for the Better.” That alone deserves kudos.
I’m thoroughly impressed with Some Nights. It’s trademark Ruess with a remarkable twist. It’s bold. It’s catchy. It’s fun.
