IMAGINE DRAGONS' NIGHT VISIONS

I don't have a huge repertoire of music. I grew up not listening to the radio, and to this day cannot tell majorly different music styles. The word unmistakable is often lost on me. I have confused Chicago with Pink Floyd, and have to concentrate not to confuse Tragically Hip and Rush. So I don't have the conversations some people do about songs. There are no details. No comparisons to another style or song. But music moves me, and I adore certain voices; admire many artists; marvel at great lyrics; and delight in a great song.

As I sat in a Boston Dunk'n Donuts waiting for my friend to get coffee with milk, I heard a beautiful voice sing a moving song, and thanks to "the Great Google", I found the lyrics for a song called "Demons", on the album Night Visions. I found the song on iTunes and was surprised to find a collection of songs that contained not one but three other songs I had heard before, but never identified. The voice I fell for was lead singer Dan Reynold's. The lyrics were heart breaking.

The first song I recognized was one I had first heard at my daughter's friends birthday party, fuelled by pizza, cake and Mini Pops Kids, Vol. 11, (a great album by the way) called "Radioactive". Other familiar tunes were called "On Top Of the World" and "Hear Me".  I enjoyed every song, but immediately loved the entire album, which is odd, because it used to be a rare thing to like every song on an album. This year, I have loved the entirety of two other albums (Katy Perry's Prism and Taylor Swift's 1989).

It's been a long time since I sat in my car and just listened to an album. I wished I had my old surround sound stereo and my car is the best system I have to listen. So I parked my car in the driveway and listened to this album. In Radioactive, I love his striderous inspiration. In tiptoe, I love the arcade sound of ?pacman. In It's Time, if I'm not mistaking, there is a banjo beat. In Demons, there is this crazy drum beat that I love. It repeats, but it seems so irregular, like a skipping heart beat. Listen for it! In On Top Of the World, there is a opening that sounds like whistling, although it is likely synthesized, and if I'm not mistaken, there is a jingle derived from this. The tracks under the vocals are varied and original (well, I think they are). There are instruments and sounds I struggle to place, and love that it makes me think. Every night starts with acapella and a bright piano underlines. In Bleeding Out, I hear that rhythm from Demons again, this time in a high octave in a synthesized, and a invigorating drumbeat that leads into clapping. Underdog feels like asian meets 80s synthesizer meets grunge. The lyrics are thoughtful and reflective. They reflect the roller coaster of emotions that is life. Overall, a unique fantastic collection of songs that satisfy. I may have to invest in a better house stereo system, or hang out in my car more!

I can't wait for the next discovery, but until then, I have Night Visions on repeat!