Night Visions- Imagine Dragons

The first exposure that I had to Imagine Dragons was during the NBA playoffs. Seemingly every commercial break, a spot would run with LeBron James practicing,  with "Radioactive" serving as his practice  music. There's an element of  struggle that makes it an ideal workout song, and combined with the many anthemic songs on Night Visions, it's no wonder that the Imagine Dragons have broken out in 2013.

Indeed, the theme of struggle carries on throughout Night Visions, giving the album a weary feel on many songs.  There are momentary detours from the struggle (such as the bouncy and slightly annoying "On Top Of The World" and "Amsterdam", which is probably the quiet gem of the entire set), but overall the grim mood is successfully set. 

Is there a lather-rinse-repeat quality to Night Visions?  Undoubtedly. Many of the songs follow the same pattern of catchy-hook intro/establishing lyrics/sweeping chorus, but it doesn't feel too repetitive, mostly because there is a lot layered into these songs that make them more repeatable. I did hear some echoes of other anthemic groups (U2, Coldplay, and Keane, to name a few), but I don't think there is a lot out there like the Imagine Dragons, and they are especially refreshing when compared to much of what else is on the radio now.  It'll be interesting to see how they branch out with their next release.

Captain Phillips

In Captain Phillips, Tom Hanks plays the title character, Captain Rich Phillips. Captain Phillips and his new crew on the Maersk Alabama embark on a mission around the horn of Africa to deliver food and supplies for the starving. We're also introduced to a band of Somali pirates who are looking to score a big payday by robbing a ship. The pirates set out on crude skiffs and spot the Alabama. As they approach, the crew begins to prepare for the worst, and Captain Phillips has a few tricks up his sleeve. The pirates board the Alabama, leaving the ship's fate in doubt.

Overall, Captain Phillips is a choppy ride, and I mean that in the best way. The camera work is very choppy throughout the film, which adds to the suspense and sense of chaos, especially when the pirates board the ship. This is Hanks' best performance in a long time, and his character's relationship with the pirates is an interesting one. I did feel the film grew just a little tedious in the middle. The last few minutes of the film definitely rewards the patience, however, and I do highly recommend the film.

Music Review- Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song (Amos Lee)

Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song is Amos Lee's fifth studio release, and although there are elements that I really enjoyed, overall the listening experience was a bit disappointing.

 

The good:  Amos Lee does depressed really well.  Tracks four through six are all mournful tunes, but with either such a well-set mood ("Indonesia,"), poignant lyrics ("Dresser Drawer"), or both ("Chill In The Air").  I'm not saying that Lee should only write sad songs, but the songs that surround these stellar songs make for a choppy listen.  "High Water" sounds like a Black Keys B-side, "Loretta" features some really cheesy lyrics, and "Plain View" is Lee's soapbox song, but the muddled vocals make it more annoying than profound.

 

 Lee also seems to be shooting for a country twang and a throwback sound on MoS, but a song like "Tricksters, Hucksters, and Scamps" doesn't sound natural for him.  "Stranger" is lively as well, but again doesn't sound entirely believable coming from Lee, although it does feature some nice guitar.   Luckily for Lee fans, there are three great songs here.  I'd recommend grabbing those three and skipping the rest.