"Some Nights" / Fun. / Label : Fueled by Ramen Records / Released Feb. 21 / Amazon CD: $9.99 or buy directly from the band at www.ournameisfun. com/store for $12.99.
"Some nights I stay up, cashing in my bad luck / Some nights I call it a draw / Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle, some nights I wish they'd just fall off / But I still wake up, I still see your ghost / Oh Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for / What do I stand for? / What do I stand for? / Most nights I don't know anymore." ("Some Nights," Fun.)
Fun. is an indie pop band composed of three members: Jack Antonoff, Andrew Dost and Nate Ruess. Fun. was formed after the 2008 break-up of The Format, for whom Ruess performed, and Fun.'s first album, "Aim and Ignite," was released in 2009. "Some Nights," Fun.'s newest album, was released on Feb. 21.
The album "Some Nights" was announced on Nov. 7, 2011. The band released the album as a stream on their website on Feb. 13 along with a note in which Ruess said he is "over the moon about what you're about to hear and falling asleep, knowing that as soon as I wake up, this will no longer be a dream."
The CD kicks off with "Some Nights (Intro)," which begins with three notes played repeatedly on a piano and is soon joined by Ruess. This song serves as an introduction to the album and the perfect lead-in to the song "Some Nights," for which the album is named.
These two songs should be listened to together as they have a very similar feeling about them, which is reminiscent of Freddie Mercury in Queen. There is auto-tuning present in this song, but it is an interesting companion to Ruess, rather than used to enhance his voice, as so many artists rely on auto-tune for nowadays.
The next song on the disc is "We Are Young," which has become an anthem for youth. "We Are Young" features Ruess' flawless voice as well as Janelle Monáe, whose soulful voice adds to this song in a very positive way. This song is very well-written and was the first single to be released off this album. The song peaked at the number three position on the US charts, both pop and alternative.
"We Are Young" was featured on FOX's television show "Glee" in the episode "Hold On to Sixteen" after show choir sectionals in the auditorium with Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) taking the lead. The song was also featured in a Chevrolet Chevy Sonic Super Bowl XLVI commercial, which featured professional American skateboarder Rob Dyrdek and the band OK Go.
The next song on the album is "Carry On," which carries the characteristics of a classic ballad by telling a story. The song also carries an uplifting message that people are capable of carrying on no matter how lost they feel. The next song is titled "It Gets Better" and is a message that no matter how much something hurts, it will eventually get better.
The next song, titled "Why Am I the One," features a simple guitar chord progression and Ruess' flawless voice at the beginning, later joined by drums and a piano. This is a slower song compared to the rest of the album and a fabulous combination of vocal range and instrumentation. The next song, "All Alone," begins with an eight-bit-like melody, after which Ruess goes on to tell the tale of a woman who left him all alone with "no one to fix him when he's broke."
The following song, "All Alright," seems a fitting song to follow "All Alone." This tune sends a message that it is acceptable to not be in a relationship. The ninth song on the album is "One Foot," and it furthers the message that people can be happy and survive without someone else. The final song on the album is "Stars," and it begins with a guitar riff and a cheering audience.
The entire album is certainly worth listening to. There are a few songs that stand out above the others, such as "Some Nights," "We Are Young", "Carry On" and "All Alone" However, none of the songs are mediocre. Fun. is a captivating band, and "Some Nights" is an addictive album for audiophiles.
Band members (from left to right) Andrew Dost, Nate Ruess and Jack Antonoff pose for pictures for their new album.
