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 [...]