Review of Some Nights Album by Fun

Fun are doing things differently in their quest for stardom. Firstly, they're signed to 'Fueled By Ramen'; the notorious pop-punk label associated with Pete Wentz, Paramore and Brendon Urie and Co. However random it feels for an indie-pop band to be on their books, it's a testament to them that they can recognise a pretty special artist. Though track 'It Get's Better' has a punk-like chorus, highlighted in the angst attempting to escape through the thick twang of the American accent.

Fun Some Nights Album

Secondly, the song that got them into the unfamiliar territory of the UK, US, Australian and Italian charts among many others, was covered on Glee. Something that most artists (especially in the indie/rock area) may have issues with. Though the Glee version is plagued with auto tune doing the song no justice whatsoever, the post-Glee success of 'We Are Young' has been bewildering - almost as much as Goyte's 'Somebody I Used To Know', which also seemed to have sprung out of nowhere. But this track's rebellious chorus, 'Tonight, we are young, so let's set the world on fire', has something which the young will relate to and the old will reminisce over. In other words, 3 minutes that is suitable for all and may be the cunning theory behind its chart domination.

Ironically, parts of 'Some Nights', the New-Yorkers' second album, do have a Glee feeling. The perfect harmonies of title track 'Some Nights' sound like the opening to a dramatic play; a fitting opening to the album which is, in many ways, one big musical. Fun have pulled in influences from far and wide to create a record that fits somewhere between the fun sounds of Foster The People and Vampire Weekend and something of a darker feeling in the epic chorus' and orchestral backing of some tracks. 'One Foot' speaks of 'a better place to die' over the strutting, determined brass section and 'Out On The Town' features Nate Ruess speaking on setting regrets on fire. Meaningful musings.

Fun have masterminded a release that is a crucial piece of evidence in proving how pop music is moving on. People ought to be getting bored of the conventional 'pop stars' that may have seemed to have just pitched up the charts in their mansions for a permanent residence as their finances expand - it's like one giant game of Monopoly (with real money). Fun's ingenious play on modern pop with a thoughtful indie twist, prompting an all-important mighty sing-a-long, could just change all that.

9/10
Hayley Fox


Official Site - http://www.ournameisfun.com

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