Every once in a while, there comes an album that does just about everything right, an album that combines a seemingly chaotic mix of melodies and sounds to create an arresting mosaic. Once in a blue moon, an album comes along that reminds listeners why they love music in the first place.
“Some Nights” is one of those albums.
Fun. has recently shot into the public eye with its mega-hit “We Are Young” (featuring Janelle Monáe), otherwise known as an anthem for those ready and rearing to go to make some decisions they’ll later regret. But here’s the thing: That isn’t even the best song on the album, not by a long shot.
The album begins with “Some Nights Intro,” a short song that flits from delicate pianos to something decidedly reminiscent of Queen. This resemblance to Queen continues throughout the entire album, both in terms of arrangements and frontman Nate Ruess’ outstanding vocal dexterity.
Almost every song on the album is great, but four (other than “We Are Young”) stand out above the rest.
The album’s title track, “Some Nights,” is the most musically multifaceted song of the set, beginning with an a capella introduction before going from indie-pop sounds to a pleasantly surprising African-style drum beat.
It also features the first of many examples of excellent lyrics on the album, which manage to convey anxiety in the midst of otherwise upbeat music reminiscent of Queen: “Some nights, I wish this all would end/ ‘Cause I could use some friends for a change.”
After “We Are Young” comes “Carry On,” perhaps the best song on the album and perfectly capable of being Fun.’s next big hit. It begins with an acoustic guitar and piano before amping up into an anthem for those unsure of themselves. Ruess sings, in a voice which brings to mind the glory of Freddie Mercury, about accepting yourself, limitations included: “You swore and said we are not / We are not shining stars / This I know / I never said we are.”
Unfortunately, “Carry On” is followed by the record’s only flop of a song: “It Gets Better.” Gritty and repetitive, the song sticks out like a sore thumb from the feel of “Some Nights” as a whole, and it could have benefited from a change in arrangement or significantly subtler producing (the amount of Auto-Tune in this song, used tastefully in others on the album, feels excessive).
Thankfully, Fun. is right back on the horse after “It Gets Better,” logging a couple of strong songs before another of the album’s jewels, “All Alright.” The song begins, like some others on the album, delicately. Then, it crescendos into something purely epic.
The song, which includes some outstanding string background, also features inspiring lyrics about acceptance: “I’ve given everyone I know / A good reason to go / I was surprised you stuck around long enough to figure out / That it’s all alright.”
The last song on the album before the bonus track (essentially making it the album’s finale) is “Stars,” and oh, what a finale it is. Not quite as chaotic as the rest of the songs in the set, “Stars” takes its time, with the band seeming to revel in the song itself.
Over the course of six minutes, the song tells a story that is both sadly questioning and seemingly at awe of the world itself, one lyrical highlight is “We’d stay up late, debate on how we’d find our way / You’d say it’s all up in the stars.”
“Some Nights” may not hold all the answers to questions about where listeners’ lives are headed, but one would be hard-pressed to find a better album to take on the journey.
Email Bain at abain@media.ucla.edu.