My Amazon Reviews: Imagine Dragons “Smoke and Mirrors”

No Parlor Tricks Required
4 Out Of 5 Stars

Beating the sophomore slump and improving the game in the production department, Imagine Dragons aim for the bleachers in "Smoke and Mirrors." Someone must have told them to get in touch with their inner U2, because much of the album looks to build anthems from scratch. For a change the reach does not exceed the grasp. "Smoke and Mirrors" hits its mark more often than not.

The first single, "I Bet My Life" exemplifies this direction. Pulsing verses with a chorus that looks to hit sing-along status where played, it adds some Mumford and Sons folk stomp to the mix while building to a crescendo climax. "Shots" has a guitar line worthy of The Edge, and "I'm So Sorry" brings back the distortion of the debut album with a raw intensity. But this time they sound like the screaming was intentional. That's a big difference from this album and the debut. The sucess of which seems to have given the band the courage to play every genre they ever had plans for in their incubation days.

That includes a bit of pomp to go with it. Who would have thought that the band that made the hooky "Radioactive" would end their second album with a six minute prog-rock opus? (And maybe the only misstep on an album that is quite assured of its footing.) Or that hints of the electronic dance would underpin "Summer?" Even if once in awhile they dip into the well that is Coldplay ("Dream"), "Smoke and Mirrors" is a surprisingly good album from Imagine Dragons, as they test their musical mettle.

     

My Amazon Reviews: Imagine Dragons "Night Visions"

Breathing Fire
3 Out Of 5 Stars

Imagine Dragons' debut album "Night Visions" is loaded with hooky songs, two of which have already been hit singles and/or commercial jingles. "Radioactive" is the most inescapable of the batch, it's also the lead track on the CD. I hate to say this, but whenever I see that happening, a red flag goes up. "It's Time" is the song used for an Apple commercial, it's from an earlier EP and makes it to the debut on sheer momentum. Lead singer and primary emoticon Dan Reynolds heaps on the drama; you can tell these guys want to make it in the big time.

But. There's always a but. Why the ridiculous amount of built in distortion? The drums on "Radioactive" sound like the band put rubber pads on a mud slab and aimed for the biggest splat they could catch in the studio. When you've got a song as obviously catchy as this, why not play the song with real production instead of this amateurishly lo-fi bleating? If you think you're making a statement, you're not. It shows a certain lack of depth. When the band does match the songs to production that doesn't flatten the sound down to a pancake, you can hear the genuine ambition, like on "Nothing Left To Say" and the gentle, nearly folkish "On Top Of The World" which reminded me of The Lumineers, of all bands).

Imagine Dragons could be the next big arena rock band. They've got the songs and the attitude that keeps "Night Visions" and it's gawdawful production from being a complete dumpster diver. I hope they can figure out how to use a studio by the time they get to the sophomore album.