fun. Some Nights

fun.
Some Nights
Fueled By Ramen Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Sophomore album hits radio gold and offers just enough to maintain some of fun.'s original fan base.

Album Review:
I think with the instant success that fun. have had with their cross over hit "We Are Young" everyone either doesn't know or forgets that the band released a very entertaining orchestrated alt-pop debut back in 2009 titled Aim And Ignite. That record had the catchy potential to break out and never did so it is really no surprise that their sophomore outing Some Nights has hit the mark.

Now this success does come with some refinement as Some Nights is much more straightforward and pop radio friendly which will lose a large portion of their indie following while grabbing a gazillion more listeners. Fun. will survive this trade off as they have now been selling out their tour and most certainly are selling more units but does the music still hold up?

Well, not all the way through as several tracks on the second half are dismissible like "All Alone" and "One Foot" which are way too pop and simply don't work as the band sounds like they are trying hard to be the popular kids at school and just end up superficial. What does still work is their flashback harmonies that make the Queen like title track, the ballad "Why Am I The One" and of course the single, "We Are Young" so catchy and memorable. They are songs that showcase what made their debut a worthy listen and honestly if "We Are Young" never caught anyone's ear we would still be harping its praise being irresistible.

What the group does next could go either way because they could easily stray to the complete dark side of pop but on Some Nights, fun. still shows off enough of their old selves to make it interesting. There is no denying that some of the tracks here are well thought out and catchy and for that, fun. is still better hearing on the radio than anything the factory pop media could churn out.

Key Tracks: "We Are Young", "Why Am I The One", "Some Nights"

Bands With Similar Fire:
The Beach Boys
Queen
Electric Light Orchestra

fun.: Aim And Ignite [Fire Note Review 9/4/09]

fun. Website
fun. Facebook
Fueled By Ramen Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony