Imagine Dragons is one of those bands that you find filling in the spaces on the radio, garnering DJs’ marginal interest but constantly outplayed by the Katy Perrys of the world. Obviously, airtime does not equate to musical quality, but Imagine Dragons deserves to get some commercial success.
With MTV nods, trailer soundtracks, and one song even rumored to appear on Glee, hints of their mainstream recognition have finally culminated on their premiere album, Night Visions. And yet, while the new release is bound to be an iTunes hit for a few weeks, probably earning a Top 40 single or two, the album as a whole doesn’t hold together.
The first single, “It’s Time,” is a fun, anthem-rock track that sounds like a pleasant Daughtry. The track serves as a nice introduction to Imagine Dragons, fully encapsulating their sound and the aesthetic of the album; if you’re not a fan of it, you likely won’t care much for the band either.
From there, the bulk of the album continues in that vein, with some notable exceptions. The album opens with a techno vibe contrasted by the band’s characteristic choral singing in the heavily synthesized “Radioactive.” Showcasing a completely different sound is the hyper-upbeat “On Top of the World,” three minutes and 12 seconds of foot-stomping, head-bobbing audio sunshine. These three are certainly worth a listen, and make for a smile-inducing mini-playlist.
Beyond these standouts, though, the rest of the album falls short. That is not to say that the remaining tracks cannot be enjoyable, but are carbon copies of “It’s Time,” adding new words to an exhausted melody. With a lot to learn in spite of the band’s budding success, this rookie album shows us just a taste of Imagine Dragon’s potential. For now, stick to downloading the “best of” section and give Night Visions a pass.
Voice’s Choice: “It’s Time”
Well this is worth listening. Every new band deserves a chance to be heard and if the music is as good as what you have described it to be then we are in for a great ride.