Posts Tagged: Fun

Gig Reviews / Music — 3 Comments
29
Sep 09

fun. @ Great Scott, Boston

Live, fun. is fun. Period. And they proved it last week at Great Scott in Alston MA.

Originally I was skeptical as to how the bill, a perfect storm of catchiness, that opened with Miniature Tigers was going to translate on stage. Aim and Ignite is an album that maintains a lot of its tone and consistency with shifts in the mood of its arrangement and a more-than-healthy dose of strings and brass. Sure, the songs are undeniably melodic, but I worried about how Nate Ruess’ off-Broadway indie pop delivery would fare in a different setting. Would they try to replicate the arrangements? How would that play to a bar crowd? What would their lineup deliver? Continue reading →

Album Reviews / Music / Reviews — 26 Comments
25
Aug 09

fun. – Aim and Ignite, Album Review

CD and LP giveaway, details at end of review

fun. Aim and Ignite, Album Review album reviews reviews 2 fun.
Aim and Ignite

Nettwerk
out August 25th

84/100
[Rating Scale]
Buy it at Insound!

[rating:84/100]

Nate Ruess doesn’t really care about traditional structure, tempo, and instrumentation. He doesn’t need to create a memorable, radio-friendly chorus for every song. No, that’s too easy for the former lead singer of The Format. He much prefers throwing in gospel choirs, swing beats, swelling violins and pulsing drums wherever he pleases, not necessarily where the song requires it. He likes to mix it up, play around a bit. He likes to have fun.

That’s why the opening track to fun.’s debut record, Aim and Ignite, is so perfect. Ironically titled “Be Calm,” the song frenetically shifts from a sweet ballad, to a full-blown show-tune number, to a stomp-along head-banger for just two awesome seconds (2:03) and finally to a euphoric marching band anthem. Continue reading →

Listen / Music — 3 Comments
8
Aug 09

fun. – All The Pretty Girls

fun. All The Pretty Girls listen
Listening to fun.’s Aim and Ignite, I was taken aback by how much it sounds like a modern Queen record. Maybe even to an annoying cover/tribute band degree. But pushing their influences aside and just enjoying the music made me see that the album is pretty solid.

“All The Pretty Girls,” happens to be one of my favorite songs off the album. It has a fun showtunes feel about it that probably wouldn’t feel out of place on the upcoming season of Glee, or a Zac Efron film. Listen to “All The Pretty Girls” here. Continue reading →

Listen / Mixtapes / Music / Podcasts — 37 Comments
9
Jul 09

pmaCAST #16: For Summer Only

pmaCAST #16: For Summer Only listen
DOWNLOAD: MP3 / iTUNES

There are many reasons why I feel that summertime is the best time of the year, and most of them are here on this playlist. Spanning thirty-six songs (!!), this 16th pmaCAST — and our longest podcast ever, clocking in at over 2 hours and 10 minutes — is all about the tunes that make a perfect summertime listen. Download this here or on iTunes (via the links above), put it on your iPod, put it on a mixtape-shaped flash-drive (seriously, buy one) and give it to your friends, play it at a beach party — do something with it!

pmaCAST #16 The “For Summer Only” Episode Tracklist
Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music — 8 Comments
8
Jun 09

Fun. – At Least I’m Not As Sad (As I Used To Be)

Fun. At Least Im Not As Sad (As I Used To Be) listen
I really like bands that are upfront of what they are and don’t pretend to be anything else but themselves. Having said that, I really like Fun., because they are honest to themselves and are exactly what they claim to be. Back in February we told you all that You Oughtta Know Fun, and today we’re giving you one more reason.

In their debut single, “At Least I’m Not As Sad (As I Used To Be),” Fun draw in plenty of swagger and influence from Freddie Mercury. A single listen will instantly bring “Bohemian Rhapsody” into mind, while still sounding fresh.

This is, without a doubt, the most fun I’ve had in a while with a single song. Their debut album, Aim and Ignite will be out on August 25th. Give Fun a listen after the jump. Continue reading →

Listen / MP3 / Music / You Oughtta Know — 2 Comments
16
Feb 09

You Oughtta Know- FUN.

You Oughtta Know FUN. listen

If you’ve heard The Format, you know there are not too many bands better at crafting epic works of pop-rock.

If you’ve heard Steel Train (who, by the way, have just started working on a new album of their own), you know there are not too many bands better at crafting epic works of pop-rock.

So to see the lead singers of both bands (Nate Ruess and Jack Antonoff) join forces is truly something to get excited about. Fun, their brand new band, already has one exceptional demo out that incorporates all of the best aspects of the music of Steel Train/The Format- clever lyrics, hooks galore, and a grand, epic pop scope. Check out the song, called “Benson Hedges,” and get excited for Fun’s first album, due in the spring. Andrew Dost is the band’s third member.

Keep in mind, this is a demo. Fully mastered, this should sound unreal. Continue reading →