Newborns on the music scene, fun. are the bubbly indie pop trio formed by The Format’s Nate Ruess. After listening, there is no doubt in my mind that fun. have indeed produced one of the most essential albums, pop or otherwise, of 2009. The band’s name itself is enough to give music listeners reason to pick up Aim & Ignite, but curiosity shouldn’t be your only reason for checking out the group’s debut album.

Aim & Ignite is an infectious, melodic, and outright brilliant album, from start to finish. Listeners shouldn’t shy away from the “pop” label the band has been given – in reality, their pop influences lie in the same vein as the Beach Boys, Queen, and in some cases, 50s doo-wop. The album is really a confection, and every slice of the cake is better than the last. No filling in this pastry, the entire thing is legitimate. As fun. says, “She brings me a cake/we celebrate/I have arrived.”

Initial Thoughts: Lowercase spelled, improperly punctuated, and indie pop labeled? I can’t say I was impressed or looking forward to fun. With those stats, I was expecting yet another cranked out, commercially successful side project.

Now: This really is indie pop, the very definition of it. fun. legitimates the genre itself.

Best Track: Light A Roman Candle With Me. Incredibly tough decision, and I only picked this because it was the first one that stuck out [...]]]>

Newborns on the music scene, fun. are the bubbly indie pop trio formed by The Format’s Nate Ruess. After listening, there is no doubt in my mind that fun. have indeed produced one of the most essential albums, pop or otherwise, of 2009. The band’s name itself is enough to give music listeners reason to pick up Aim & Ignite, but curiosity shouldn’t be your only reason for checking out the group’s debut album.

Aim & Ignite is an infectious, melodic, and outright brilliant album, from start to finish. Listeners shouldn’t shy away from the “pop” label the band has been given – in reality, their pop influences lie in the same vein as the Beach Boys, Queen, and in some cases, 50s doo-wop. The album is really a confection, and every slice of the cake is better than the last. No filling in this pastry, the entire thing is legitimate. As fun. says, “She brings me a cake/we celebrate/I have arrived.”

Initial Thoughts: Lowercase spelled, improperly punctuated, and indie pop labeled? I can’t say I was impressed or looking forward to fun. With those stats, I was expecting yet another cranked out, commercially successful side project.

Now: This really is indie pop, the very definition of it. fun. legitimates the genre itself.

Best Track: Light A Roman Candle With Me. Incredibly tough decision, and I only picked this because it was the first one that stuck out to me.

Currents of hardcore run throughout Set Your Goals’ newest release, with heavy bass as well as fast drum beats. These are complimented and contrasted by poppy vocals and an occasional strong guitar. This sound comes off as a bit monotone across the album, but the vocal changes help to break it up. Initial Thoughts: Monotony. I was worried that This Will Be The Death Of Us would be yet another strong willed pop punk album posing as hardcore.

Now: It’s evident that Set Your Goals has some legitimate hardcore influences and abilities. The vocals make this album unique, with two vocalists and complimenting harmonies. It definitely holds up.

Best Track: Look Closer. It’s one that is easy for fans of all styles to get into, and with the fast drums, it showcases the [...]]]> Yet another band that I was heretofore unfamiliar with. Being a part of a genre I don’t generally listen to, I wasn’t sure how to approach Set Your Goals. Although it’s not something I would generally pick up, This Will Be The Death Of Us holds its own as a modern pop punk album.

Currents of hardcore run throughout Set Your Goals’ newest release, with heavy bass as well as fast drum beats. These are complimented and contrasted by poppy vocals and an occasional strong guitar. This sound comes off as a bit monotone across the album, but the vocal changes help to break it up.

Initial Thoughts: Monotony. I was worried that This Will Be The Death Of Us would be yet another strong willed pop punk album posing as hardcore.

Now: It’s evident that Set Your Goals has some legitimate hardcore influences and abilities. The vocals make this album unique, with two vocalists and complimenting harmonies. It definitely holds up.

Best Track: Look Closer. It’s one that is easy for fans of all styles to get into, and with the fast drums, it showcases the hardcore undercurrent.

Despite never having listened to Four Year Strong previous to this, I have to say that I respect them for this project.

The album, comprised entirely of 90s covers, is a very respectable take on the songs that I grew up on. Explains It All is very obviously an album that was created by real fans of these songs, and that is felt throughout the entire record.

Even though cover albums are generally looked down upon, I believe that Explains It All is one that can’t be overlooked. It holds up because the hooks that make the songs memorable are preserved and respected, which can be appreciated by both Four Year Strong fans and fans of the original works.

Intial Thoughts: I kind of dreaded the thought of previewing a cover album – my intial reaction was a sigh and a half-hearted click on the play button.

Now: Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed by this album. I have an enormous amount of respect for the band for not only preserving the original songs, but adding their own sound to them without compromising anything.

Best Track: Roll To Me. This is the perfect example of how well this album is done. The song still has its hooks, but it’s obviously Four [...]]]>

Despite never having listened to Four Year Strong previous to this, I have to say that I respect them for this project.

The album, comprised entirely of 90s covers, is a very respectable take on the songs that I grew up on. Explains It All is very obviously an album that was created by real fans of these songs, and that is felt throughout the entire record.

Even though cover albums are generally looked down upon, I believe that Explains It All is one that can’t be overlooked. It holds up because the hooks that make the songs memorable are preserved and respected, which can be appreciated by both Four Year Strong fans and fans of the original works.

Intial Thoughts: I kind of dreaded the thought of previewing a cover album – my intial reaction was a sigh and a half-hearted click on the play button.

Now: Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed by this album. I have an enormous amount of respect for the band for not only preserving the original songs, but adding their own sound to them without compromising anything.

Best Track: Roll To Me. This is the perfect example of how well this album is done. The song still has its hooks, but it’s obviously Four Year Strong.