Some Nights is not merely an album – it’s a musical masterpiece that makes getting slapped with tickets for noise ordinance violations (in the name of fun.) well worth it.  The sophomore album of the NYC-based indie rock trio consists of 11 brilliant tracks capable of stirring up euphoric uprisings in any living being’s visceral parts – and that’s putting it mildly.

Venturing from the indie pop genre of their 2009 debut album Aim and Ignite, Nate Ruess (lead vocals), Jack Antonoff (guitar/vocals), & Andrew Dost (keyboard/vocals) employ a hip-hop influence in their sophomore album that jolts the band into genre-bending territory.  In an interview with blogcritics.org, Dost credited Kanye West’s critically-acclaimed My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (from 2010) for inspiring fun.’s stylistic epiphany, which resulted in the band’s enlistment of producer Jeff Bhasker, who had a hand in producing West’s album.  Together, they developed Some Nights, a majestic blend of cool indie pop, laced with hip-hop grandiosity, & presented with outstanding theatrics reminiscent of the glam rock band Queen’s heydays.

The magnificence of Some Nights seems to unfold in a manner similar to that of any great magic trick: with a pledge, turn, & prestige (terms from Christopher Nolan’s 2006 film The Prestige), only Some Nights promises no visible illusions – just pure, audible magic.  The pledge – “Some Nights Intro”, sets the tone for a mind-blowing presentation of succeeding tracks.  The turn – a bevy of anthem songs, including fan-favorite “We Are Young”, & inspirational tracks “Carry On” & “One Foot”.  The prestige – the song “Stars”, boasts incandescent dynamics that could hold listeners’ heartstrings hostage.  In contrast, bonus track “Out On The Town” is relatively low-key, but pleasantly complements the uproarious excitement of preceding tracks.

Among fun.’s musical artillery in this album is Ruess’ Freddy Mercury-esque range that permeates the nooks & crannies of bones, and exhibits a blithe abandonment of all vocal restraint.  Ruess seems to execute jaw-dropping notes with relative ease, & the result is commendable.  A mix of classical music & hip-hop beats also add to the album’s flair, but let’s not discount the children’s choir.  Usually, when a children’s choir supplements a song, more often than not, you can bank on an artist(s)’s cocksureness of the song’s “rock-ability” – take Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Pt. 2”, The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”, &, dare we add, The Carpenters’ “Sing”.   The same applies to fun.’s Some Nights.  Suffice it to say, the elements in this album may as well have been doused in Tinkerbell’s pixie dust because the songs’ feel-good qualities are undeniable.

Fun. delivers an album containing some of the most exhilarating anthems you’ll ever hear (or sing) in your life.  The songs are perfect for belting out notes at the top of your lungs, with zest, with gusto!  Want to experience a music-induced adrenaline rush? Grab your copy of Some Nights, turn the volume up, & pledge allegiance to the republic of fun.!