Fun. - Some Nights (17/05/2012)
After hearing Kanye's magnum opus 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy', the fun. trio decided they simply had to have co-producer Jeff Bhasker on board their most recent LP.
Bhasker collaborated on Some Nights to create a fresh sound that is infectious and hook-laden. The New York City outfit have delivered on the promise of their name with just enough cheese and heart to brighten the greyest Winter's day.
The opening introduction to the title track is akin to Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in its overtly theatrical sensibilities. 'Some Nights' bursts onto the scene and into your consciousness where it will remain on a loop.
Just when you think an indie release can't reach higher pop heights it is followed by 'We Are Young' featuring Janelle Monae, a song that is almost sickeningly catchy. Indeed, it was picked up and camped up by Glee in Season 3 of the popular American series about singing and dancing high school kids.
Despite your best efforts to resist the cheesy melodrama of this song, you will find yourself tapping your feet and singing along by the second chorus. For any serious emo/indie/hipster types reading, heed this warning: the verse-chorus transition may send tingles down your spine and fill you with a warm, fuzzy and undeniable joy.
Fun.'s Some Nights is blissful pop to the core, complete with auto-tune. It is the latter that has been criticised in some reviews. The album does call into question the genre that fun. fall into – typically touted as 'indie' or 'alternative', I would suggest the 'power-pop' label is more fitting.
Indie fans and music critics have a tendency to take themselves – and dare I say it, their music – too seriously. If you approach fun.'s Some Nights with an open mind and a willingness to be transported to a new realm of campy-cheesy-sometimes-corny indie-pop then you will be delighted with what you discover.
Rebecca McCann
Bhasker collaborated on Some Nights to create a fresh sound that is infectious and hook-laden. The New York City outfit have delivered on the promise of their name with just enough cheese and heart to brighten the greyest Winter's day.
The opening introduction to the title track is akin to Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' in its overtly theatrical sensibilities. 'Some Nights' bursts onto the scene and into your consciousness where it will remain on a loop.
Just when you think an indie release can't reach higher pop heights it is followed by 'We Are Young' featuring Janelle Monae, a song that is almost sickeningly catchy. Indeed, it was picked up and camped up by Glee in Season 3 of the popular American series about singing and dancing high school kids.
Despite your best efforts to resist the cheesy melodrama of this song, you will find yourself tapping your feet and singing along by the second chorus. For any serious emo/indie/hipster types reading, heed this warning: the verse-chorus transition may send tingles down your spine and fill you with a warm, fuzzy and undeniable joy.
Fun.'s Some Nights is blissful pop to the core, complete with auto-tune. It is the latter that has been criticised in some reviews. The album does call into question the genre that fun. fall into – typically touted as 'indie' or 'alternative', I would suggest the 'power-pop' label is more fitting.
Indie fans and music critics have a tendency to take themselves – and dare I say it, their music – too seriously. If you approach fun.'s Some Nights with an open mind and a willingness to be transported to a new realm of campy-cheesy-sometimes-corny indie-pop then you will be delighted with what you discover.
Rebecca McCann