Having fun with Fun.

Fun. This is the name of the band and the only thing that will happen when listening to their album Aim and Ignite. It's a light, poppy album that will be sure to get you moving your head and singing along soon after the first listen. I have found that it is best for those days when everything seems right and stress is gone (or at least at a minimum). Riding around campus with the wind rushing by me, the sun shining, and Aim and Ignite playing through my headphones is an incomparable feeling. "All the Pretty Girls," "Walking the Dog," and "Benson Hedges" are the more upbeat tunes on an album that is already exceptionally fast paced at some parts. Throughout the album, a prominent feature is the variety within each song. Even the more upbeat songs slow down at to achieve more levels than with songs that just take off and tire the listener too quickly. The album features various sounds and feelings within most of the songs. As a good sad movie will have comic relief, Aim and Ignite is poppy, but has levels that suggest a deeper, more emotional message than is seen with most pop albums. This creates a seemingly tangible emotional arsenal that Fun. utilizes very effectively. In "Take Your Time," it starts off slow and progresses to a quicker song in just the right amount of time. The buildup is not too slow to bore the listener, but not too fast as to confuse the listener. "The Gambler," "Take Your Time," and "Light a Roman Candle with Me"  are, for the most part, slower songs that that are able to level out the more fast tempo songs. I cannot say enough about "The Gambler." It is one of my favorite piano based, love songs ever and is the perfect song for a cold night with your girlfriend in your arms (or while in your boyfriend's arms, I suppose).  My first real experience with Fun. (I had their music, but had only listened to it a few times) was at one of their concerts. It was, without a doubt, one of the best concerts I have attended (probably the best by a band I was not that interested in at the time of the show). These guys know how to entertain. I was skeptical about seeing the show because I was not too familiar with their music, but the concert was fantastic even without being able to sing along to every song they played. Nate Ruess, the lead singer (and the ex-singer of the format), steals the show with his ability to capture the crowd with his voice. I enjoy his vocals on the album, but live he is incredible. You are truly able to feel the emotion in his voice (which is so distinct that any person who has listened to the Format will immediately recognize it in Fun.) The other members of the band also put on a very good show (although Jack Antonoff, the guitarist, was wearing jeans that were way too tight for him...). Also, these guys like to play musical instruments and will switch instruments with each other for certain songs. It was really cool seeing the guitarist have his solo in one song then go to a soft piano part and sing.  I highly recommend this album for carefree days with friends or just when you feel like having some Fun.

Quirky, energetic, and Fun.