By Kirsten Kapteijns
Every now and then there is an artist that grabs your attention and does not let go. Their attraction grows and the expectations are high for any new material that comes out. Where many fail, others win the listener’s heart forever. It might be said it is not the breakthrough of an artist that is most important, but the steps that follow.
With their first album Night Visions Imagine Dragons stood on top of the world. The album entered the top 10 in the Album Charts in multiple countries as well as earning several nominations for awards. They brought home a Grammy award, AMA’s and multiple BMA’s. The band was referred to as 2012’s Brightest New Stars and the Breakout Band of 2013. In the same year, one of the singles “Radioactive” was named the biggest rock hit of the year. With all this success the album earned its very own Night Visions World Tour.
Prior to the new album’s release, Imagine Dragons kept making a name for themselves by releasing singles for the films: Transformers, called “Battle Cry” and The Hunger Games, called “Who We Are”. Next to films they also worked on games by writing the single “Monster” for Blade Infinity III and “Warriors” for the League of Legends World Championship in Seoul, South Korea.
A second album was in the making and in the beginning of 2015 Smoke+Mirrors was released. Smoke and mirrors is a phrase commonly used as a metaphor for a deceptive description, though in the case of Imagine Dragons’ new album it is anything but. The band delivers on the promises and expectations their first album Night Visions made and gives the public a new view of their abilities. Were Night Visions was inspired by hip-hop influences, Smoke+Mirrors has a more rock-driven core. The album can be described as both edgy and alternative, but still appeals to a big crowd.
“I Bet My Life”, the lead single from Smoke+Mirrors, is a triumphant song with an interesting second layer of sound. The use of high pitched sounds as well as a melodious voice in the intro immediately gives the vibe which is apparent in the entire album, namely alternative, edgy, but very radio-friendly. It’s energetic and dramatic at the same time, with more emotional verses and an up-tempo easy to sing along chorus. “I Bet My Life” has all the ingredients for a hit pop-rock song and it made these expectations true by entering several top 10’s after being released.
The two other singles released so far follow the general feeling of the album. The intro of “Shots” consists of a fast, high-pitched guitar which immediately draws attention to the song. From there the song slowly builds up, though in the chorus the high pitched guitar returns, putting emphasis on the inner turmoil depicted in the lyrical content of the song. The vocals in not only “Shots” but the entire album remain harmonious, though at the same time the context gives the song rawness. Throughout the album there is a great use of breaks. This is particularly noticeable in the bridge of “Shots” and the intro of the 3rd single “Gold”. In “Shots” the breaks are heard in the vocals when they speak of letting go of the turmoil for now, which is, according to the song, easier said then done. Especially when the following chorus re-depicts the turmoil felt throughout the entire song, both in lyrical as well as musical context.
Perhaps “Gold” has the most alternative music of the album. Starting of with a single drum alternated with a cut-off scream, the single starts in the most unique manner. The single echoes with struggle, loneliness and depression. With lyrics such as “now you can’t tell the false from the real, who can you trust” and “all that you have is turning to stale and it is cold” the struggle and heart-ache in the song becomes clear. Together with “Hopeless Opus” and “I’m So Sorry” the single touches upon lead singer Dan Reynold’s depression struggles and this resonates through the melody and the rhythm of the song. The song is full of raw emotion, turned into music in such a beautiful and emotional way that it resonates deeply with the listener, while at the same time not being heavy or depressing itself.
It is sometimes said the second album can make or break an artist. Smoke+Mirrors shows the immense ability of Imagine Dragons to put raw emotions into songs which do not forget the musical aspect. While most artists struggle with finding the balance between music and emotion, Imagine Dragons hits the right notes at the right time by intertwining them in such a way that the emotion resonates perfectly with the musical input, instead of getting lost in the consumer based world that now rules the music industry.
Kirsten Kapteijns, Class of 2017, is a Science student, from Lage Mierde, The Netherlands.
