Angry Web » Album Reviews

AW Music Review: fun. – Some Nights

Daniel Nasserian — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:39:41 +0000

This week, the band fun. released their new album “Some Nights” to much acclaim. Some of you may be familiar with fun. as their debut title, “Aim and Ignite” was released in 2009 and some of you may go back even further and remember front man, Nate Ruess’s, previous band The Format. Others may have just found out about the group recently by their song “We Are Young” which graces the airwaves and iTunes (currently number 2 most downloaded) or from the Chevy commercials.

I got into The Format back in the early 2000s when I saw them promoting their debut album, “Interventions + Lullabies”, at a local club here in Los Angeles. I immediate fell in love with their pop melodies and ability to write and compose music. After some issues with their record label, the released a second full length album entitled “Dog Problems” which was orchestrated better than their debut record and even more catchy.

Once The Format disbanded, I was pleased to hear Nate would be returning for another project with a new group and I was a fun. fan the minute I heard their songs up on MySpace prior to being officially released. fun.’s debut album, “Aim and Ignite”, leads off with the song “Be Calm” which set the tone for the whole album. The musicianship that went into that song including everything from violins to theremins truly set it apart from other pop/rock songs on the market and fun. had an identity that was unrivaled. With a mini orchestra backing the song and some amazing crescendos that highlight Nate’s vocal talent made it one of may favorite albums in the past 5 years.

The reason I am backing this review with some history is because everything that made me love The Format and fun. in the past seems to have disappeared from their new album, “Some Nights”.

“Some Nights” may be a hit on the radio and have commercial play but anyone who has followed Nate’s musical projects know that this is least creative album that he has put out. It’s short sighted appeal to the hipster crowd will work towards making fun. a forgettable band in the future which is sad considering how much talent the group truly has.

In fun.’s last album, the arrangements and instrumentation tied with powerful melodies and lyrics made it a wonder why it flew under the radar. Songs like “The Gambler” were raw and appealing. Fast forward to 2012 and drum machines replace tympani drums, Nate’s amazing voice gets auto tuned and redundant lyrics replace wonderful melodies.

New comers to fun. may enjoy the album as it meets the current market but aside from “We Are Young”, “Some Nights” has little to offer fans dating back to their origin.

If you are interested in picking up the new fun. album and are a sucker for pop melodies in rock music like I am, do yourself a favor andspend your money on “Interventions + Lullabies” or “Dog Problems” by The Format or introduce yourself to fun. with their debut title “Aim and Ignite”.

Weezer gives us a taste of “Pork and Beans”

Daniel Nasserian — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:14:42 +0000

The new Weezer single, “Pork and Beans”, has recently hit the radio stations and it’s surprisingly good. First heard on KROQ, a rock music station based in Los Angeles, it has spread over the internet like a wildfire. I never jumped off the Weezer ship like many did when their style slightly altered from their early music (Mainly the “Blue Album” and “Pinkerton”) and I have to say the new single reflects some catchy alternative music that is similar to what we heard on the early records.

Instead of me getting all critical on this track why don’t you check out the new single for yourself and judge. You can listen to it HERE. Leave us a comment and let us know how you like it! The album, which has been dubbed “The Red Album”, is set to release on June 17.

Nine Inch Nails releases new album online

Daniel Nasserian — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:23:25 +0000

What seemed to have come out of left field, Nine Inch Nails released a 4 part instrumental album entitled “Ghost”. Though volume 1 could be downloaded for free from their site, I popped for the $5 full version which contains all 36 tracks. It’s soothing and haunting at the same time. This album, like Radiohead’s “In Rainbows”, is a step in which the artists are leaving out the record companies which have been stealing artist’s revenues for so long. I decided to buy “Ghosts” more for the principle than the music. There are many different versions of the album at different price ranges but I urge any general music fan to at least drop the $5 to let organizations like the RIAA know that the consumers are fed up.

Trent Reznor explains, “I’ve been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn’t have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective – dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I’m very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts.”

You can get the new Nine Inch Nails album HERE.

UPDATE: I have reason to believe that there are subliminal messages on this album. I have never listened to instrumental music for such long periods of time while awake. I will look into it and set an appointment for some psychoanalysis. Great album.