Imagine dragons evolve song covers. New Imagine Dragons' album "Evolve" - the evolution of the band or another attempt to please a wide audience? Imagine Dragons characterizes Evolve as their "brightest" album
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Today, on June 23, 2017, the event expected by millions of fans finally took place - a new, already third in, album called "Evolve" (ƎVOLVE) went on sale.
True, as it usually happens with the releases of popular bands lately, the album "Evolve" was leaked online a few days before the official release date. Allegedly pirates. Although, most likely, this is already just a standard promo-chip used by music producers, designed to warm up the excitement in the society of fans and muses in advance. critics and everyone else who would like to talk about "pirate victims" performers. Themselves Imagine Dragons at the time of this writing have not yet commented on the incident with the "drain".
With regard to the content of "Evolve" itself- the new album of the group, which calls for "imagining dragons", it, as expected, did not disappoint. The team has seriously worked on the material, which may not be called "the evolution of Imagine Dragons" (this is how the vocalist and leader of the group Dan Reynolds put it in numerous interviews), but progress is certainly possible.
Not only "imagine dragons", but also "evolve" with them
Imagine Dragons' new album "Evolve" consists of 11 tracks (there are three more in the Deluxe Edition).
When listening to the disc, the same musical and vocal grandeur awaits us, which has already become a trademark of the Imagine Dragons group, still not boring, because in each song it is implemented differently.
This time, "Dragons" combined their signature rock anthems with elements of hip-hop, R & B and electronic dance music. And the experiment was successful - this musical "hodgepodge" makes the disc really memorable.
Standing out drum parts with the same bass drum, as always, give the songs a power that sometimes becomes decisive for perception. The swinging rhythms, regularly alternating with melodic ones, did not disappear either.
Most of the tracks "come in" the first time... But some still had to be listened to in order to determine the assessment.
« IDon 'tKnowWhy " ... At first it seemed that this was a rather weak choice for the album's opening track, but re-listening made it clear that the song about "dangerous love" and "false trust" was not chosen by chance. She points to one of the key themes of the record. This is hardly the story of Dan Reynolds, since his wife seems to be all right.
The track sounded too "light" for me, but the emotions conveyed by Dan's vocals compensated for this, and instead of a "three", a solid "four" emerged.
« WhateverItTakes " - another “four-piece track” that made me nervous that the whole Imagine Dragons album “Evolve” would be so measured (fortunately all the other songs refute this assumption).
The composition tells about the “victim of the system” - a person who realizes that he was narcissistic and lived by values that are not at all important; for him, overcoming life difficulties and humiliation are a way "Feel adrenaline in your veins" and get to the top; he is also working on something that he can truly be proud of - trying to return to the world a way of thinking that has long been lost. Apparently, the text is autobiographical.
« Believer " Is a "five" with three pluses. The undisputed hit, which is most likely destined to become another hallmark of Imagine Dragons - along with "Radioactive". This song gives us an idea of how cool and flexible Dan Reynolds' vocals can be.
The meaning of the words used as the basis of the track is also very good. On the one hand, it seems trivial. But still, the struggle with pain and life barriers, moving forward no matter what, faith in oneself is always a hot topic.
The song was released as a single in early March. But it still sits at # 1 on Billboard Hot Rock Songs, slightly ahead of "Heavy") and "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots. And this situation has persisted for 15 weeks.
« WalkingTheWire " - another leading track in the album "Evolve", thanks to divine verses and a real rock chorus (yes, again a strong "five").
Walking on a tightrope at a height described in the song can be understood as walking on the verge of what is permissible (by law, moral norms, etc.); or as the desire to “stay on our feet”, in spite of everything and be ready for anything, including falling off the rope. Although you can not look for hidden subtext, but just listen to a beautiful monologue about selfless love.
"Rise Up"- here Reynolds once again very emotionally talks about something of his own:
I was always ready for a change
Walking the streets with strangers
Turning the pages of my life (Get up, Get up!)
The more I wander, the less I am afraid.
And the more I achieve, the more I fade away.
In general, it is difficult to describe in words - you just need to listen. "Five".
« I 'llMakeItUpToYou " - again love lyrics, this time talking about the promise "to do everything for you." Thanks to a kind of synthetic musical accompaniment and the atmosphere created by it, it turned out "good".
It is quite symbolic that in the new Imagine Dragons album "Evolve" there is a song called « Yesterday "... This is undoubtedly a tribute to one of the band's idols - The Beatles. This, of course, is not a cover of the Beatles' song of the same name, but notes in the sounding and even in some places in the vocals can be heard referring to the work of the Liverpool Four.
A very cool experiment, telling about the "farewell to the past", in which there were many searches for their role in life and wasted time. I especially liked the uncomplicated, but very appropriate keyboard parts. "Five plus".
« MouthOfTheRiver " ... I dare to call the fuzzy guitar introduction at the beginning of the track the best rock thing on Imagine Dragons' album "Evolve". The rest of the sound is also good, but more standard for the band. But still this is clearly a "five".
At a superficial acquaintance with the text, it may seem that something quite religious can be traced here:
I want to live a life like this
Live the life of a believer.
I want to bow to the floor.
Everyone else who wants to be someone.
But I like to dig deeper (sometimes even where it is not provided by the author). Therefore, I see here the same person, disappointed in his past sinful and narcissistic life, who wants only a little love and a quiet life without enemies. Or, on the contrary, it is just a banter, in which believers are such an allegory for people who do not want to stand out from the crowd and go beyond the boundaries established by the majority. I don't know which option to choose ...
« Thunder " Is another atmospheric catchy hip-hop hit thanks in large part to inventive percussion (5 ++).
As for the lyrics of the song, this is a kind of spit by Dan (and possibly Sermon, McKee and Platzman) in the eyes of those who, in a past life, laughed at his dreams of becoming a big star. Now he smiles from the stage, and they continue to sit in their "limited box", "squelching with a broken nose."
"Start Over". The title of the song immediately makes it clear what it is about - the desire to start all over again, to restore the relationship that collapsed due to the fault of the one who sets out the lyrics. Almost like all the rest of the love lyrics on Imagine Dragons' album "Evolve" does not pull more than a "four".
« DancingInTheDark " - a very unusual composition. Everything in it does not resemble the usual style of "dragons" - both the sound, and the processed vocals, and the atmosphere they create. An excellent trip-hop experiment, which may not be understood by everyone, but still I consider this track one of the most successful in the album.
His text describes something like the following story: a girl (perhaps already a former one) was bragging in public with the name of her famous boyfriend, which caused him displeasure, because he likes to “dance in the dark” alone than to show himself off. At the same time, he leaves her with the opportunity to join his "dancing in the dark", possibly thus testing her feelings.
The next three tracks appear only on the Deluxe Edition of Imagine Dragons' album "Evolve".
« Levitate» - just a great, emotional song, listening to which with your eyes closed, you really set off on a flight among the clouds.
Choral "La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la" combined with a bass drum, it chills to the bone. "Five plus".
It was released last year and has already managed to be noted as a soundtrack to the fantastic drama "Passengers".
The lyrics about a star pointing the way suggest that this song may be dedicated to Reynolds' wife, Aja Volkman. Well, or in general - the image of a person whose love does not allow you to go astray.
« NotToday " - a truly soulful track, which is the soundtrack for the movie "Me Before You". Everything is beautiful here - vocals, words, and musical accompaniment.
This song could be great if it was just performed with acoustic guitar. But the dragons went further - they added pianos and strings to the background, which once again proved that if they take on any direction, they squeeze it to the maximum.
"Believer (Kaskade Remix)" - it's still the same "Beliver", but with a slightly different, more electrifying and slightly dubstep musical approach. On the whole, it's a pretty good alternative for ears tired of endless listening to the song, which long before the release of the album “Evolve” for many managed to become one of the most beloved in the discography of Imagine Dragons.
As you know, the semantic content of Imagine Dragons' album "Evolve" mainly revolves around three axes- love experiences; farewell to the past, in which a lot of time was spent looking for oneself and dubious values; fighting obstacles that makes you stronger. I hope this is all inspired by the personal experiences of Reynolds and the other band members (yes, I'm so naive), and not just trendy themes designed to "pinch" the souls of listeners.
"Dragons" do not let you down!
Let it go ID and accused of writing music for the general public, but if they do it in such a way that music lovers with completely different tastes can like it, then - why not? Moreover, with this album Imagine Dragons Show They Are Ready To Go Beyond Genre Labels and stop clinging to the tastes of the listeners in order to just write music that interests them.
In general Imagine Dragons' new album "Evolve" turned out to be very strong and catchy, with a slight fluctuation in the level of tracks from "good" to "excellent" and even "excellent with a plus."
It's my opinion. And yes - I have a "laudatory" review here again! Well, excuse me, I'm not writing (yet) about music that I don't like 🙂
Here are some famous music publications are not so supportive of the new album Imagine Dragons... For example, the NME website has a two-paragraph “review” with a 3 out of 5 rating.
The Guardian gave the album "Evolve" 2 out of 5 stars, calling it "lifeless electronic arena rock".
It seems that some critics, when assessing, either prejudice the work of Imagine Dragons, or simply fall into the category of people who do it on the principle of "not heavy metal, it sucks." Well, okay, that's their right and their opinion.
I think time will dot the i's and the band's fans will help him with this. And they, by the way, are mostly indescribable delight from "Evolve".
And finally logical conclusion of the review of the album "Evolve" Imagine Dragons: among the marks I have given to each track, there are ten "fives" and four "fours", which give an average result in the form "Excellent with a minus" or "good with a plus" (whichever you like best).
If the opinion expressed in the article is not to your liking, you can always express your displeasure in the comments below.
Well, if on the contrary - I liked the review, I will be glad if you take a minute to write a few words about it.
Thanks for reading.
See you soon on the RockHit pages!
Last Updated: Aug 9th, 2017 by RockStar
Roundtable Discussion: Review of the Evolve Album IMAGINE DRAGONS - translated from Atwood Magazine
Atwood Magazine discuss Imagine Dragons' third album, Evolve - passion, energy and sincerity that play a big role in delivering a brighter and more mature sound.
Do you think Evolve makes Imagine Dragons' repertoire stronger? Why yes or why no?
Lawrence: I think Evolve makes their repertoire more varied because the sound is very different from their previous albums. Their previous pop hits, Night Visions and Smoke + Mirrors, were filled with hard rock riffs and rock arena tunes. Evolve combines catchy aspects with more alternative, pop-sounding melodies. This album gives us a new, connected sound and I think it will be warmly received by the fans.
Urooj: I believe he strengthens their repertoire. As I walked here, I kept a few of their interview comments in my head, thinking about why this album is so different from Smoke + Mirrors, where it came from and what they wanted to say when making this album. I think Evolve is a representation of the development and growth of a group that preserves their integrity but allows for their differences. For some, Evolve can be seen and understood as an album coming from another empty space. He was raised from something dark, tough and self-confident to something brighter, more hopeful, as if the foundation of all the band's creativity had been found.
It often happens that on the second or third album, the artist seems to forget who he is and what he wanted to create, but Imagine Dragons have created really cheerful, soaring (even powerful) tracks for our blessed summer morning hours, when things around seem to be the most gloomy. The group has not lost itself and we understand what they wanted to create for us. I think the album is very true to the men behind it - men who have realized their suffering (all together and each separately) and have come to the point where they can really let go of worldly worries and take off, just like their songs ... It gives a sense of personal, a little raw, but logically built, gives evidence of who they are now and what brought them here.
One more note, I also noticed the influence of indie rock, where “Yesterday” sounds like something that could have been created by the Bleachers.
Natalie: I think Evolve Imagine Dragons showcases what they do best; create uplifting rock anthems that can be both explosive and radio-friendly. Evolve shows their ability to experiment and have fun working in the musical niche they have created for themselves.
Mitch: Imagine Dragons have always had multidimensionality in their craft and I think Evolve is doing the best in this dynamic group with success - so yes, it definitely makes their repertoire stronger. And it does not only this, pushes them further than they ever went, and grabs our attention, forcing us to experience all the well-adjusted ups and downs, enjoying the mix of instrumental music and electronic inserts, as well as stellar lyrics, as presented by the determined Reynolds ...
Imagine Dragons have already established themselves as an anthem heavy rock-pop band, so I enjoy the way they developed, expanded and reworked their music on this album, went beyond and, so to speak, exceeded all expectations. Reynolds takes vocally risky notes, Wayne Sermon expands the territory of his guitar solos. Drummer Daniel Platzman - and indeed the entire band - uses electronic manipulation in all directions. Pulsing rock anthems go hand in hand with sweet ballads and hip-hop-pop ... and of course, Imagine Dragons are obviously enjoying every moment of their creativity.
Imagine Dragons characterizes Evolve as their "brightest" album. Does the positive really show through the album, and if so, how?
Lawrence: There is indeed some positivity in the album, and there are numerous bright and uplifting songs. In the past, Imagine Dragons only had one or two flamboyant songs, but in Evolve I counted four… debatable. "Whatever It Takes", "", "Rise Up" and "Start Over" are all pure summer tracks. It is very interesting to see the bright songs from the alternative band as some of their hits are full of dark and heavy melodies (Radioactive, I’m So Sorry).
Natalie: Evolve is by far the band's most upbeat album. Compared to Smoke + Mirrors, which I personally find quite sad and consumed by the darkness, Evolve feels more free. They go back to the roots of Night Visions, but they make it much more fun.
Mitch: The contrast between Smoke + Mirrors and Evolve couldn't have been more obvious. I think more than anything else, Evolve demonstrates the band's ability to showcase their talents and variety of technical skills while maintaining adorable catchy pop hooks. I love wiggling to "Start Over" and "Yesterday" - they are unlike anything I could have imagined with Imagine Dragons 2-3 years ago. It's as if the band just threw away all the formulas of creativity and waited for pure inspiration. And in doing so, they organically combine sounds, meanings and feelings that come together in not just telling a story, but their story. One way or another, but the struggle to maintain personal relationships, which manifests itself in the apologetic track "I’ll Make It Up to You", feels easier and freer than anything else in Smoke + Mirrors.
Call it positivity, comfort, brightness or "evolution" ... Whatever it is, Imagine Dragons are currently just bathed in admiration by their fans, and we, as listeners, will absorb the warmth, lightness and passion that their songs radiate.
Urooj: I definitely think Evolve is much brighter in terms of lyrics, feeling and sound when compared to their previous work. I also think it has a lot to do with the group's personal journey, going through moments of experience to the point where they can look back and see how much they've grown. I really think that the title of the album was chosen very accurately and reflects the honesty of the songs themselves. It really shows the development of Imagine Dragons, which seems to get bigger, brighter and better with every new album.
Tracks like "Walking the Wire" and "Rise Up" are very disturbing, and "" literally oozes with energy ... while other tracks take the listener into softer territory like "Levitate" and "Not Today" adding texture to the album. Since Dan Reynolds announced minimalism as the main component of the album, it is important to note that there are not too many instruments and sounds involved in the album - the music remains simple yet powerful.
More than anything, the album covers the band's evolution and is a step towards a new, bright and broad outlook, best reflected in the album's powerful anthems (Thunder, Rise Up, Believer, Walking the Wire).
What song did you like most musically, and which is just your favorite?
Lawrence: Musically I was most hooked by ““. The classic layering of vocalist Dan Reynolds' chic voice makes the melody sound louder, the song will be in great demand in sports arenas, all kinds of game events, on long car trips, as well as in all sports locker rooms in the world. I think I counted 4 different layers during the catchy chorus ... amazing. And my favorite song is "Walking the Wire" because it really shows the maturity of the band. It is catchy, moderately pop, and at the same time completely thoughtful and emotional.
Mitch: I think "Walking the Wire" and "I'll Make It Up to You" are two of the best reflections of the latest, so to speak, "iteration" of Imagine Dragons. Both songs feel deceivingly simple, generating that incredible energy that fuses the band's "old" sound with the new, without sacrificing lyrics and depth. It seemed to me that the band's last effort was a little tired at times, but these songs sound new and fresh, bright and inspiring. I also love the band's other anthems, and Reynolds' passionate vocals seem tailor-made for them ... but "Walking the Wire" takes that to the next level. She charges listeners with an obsession that flows from group to audience.
Urooj: My favorite song is definitely "Walking the Wire". It is a very powerful song - full of fierce hope and passion that make it stand out on the album. It's about making this impossible thing possible - walking the wires, looking down and realizing the beauty of things, letting go of your fears and singing along with them (even if your singing is terrible, because who can cover Dan, right?)
Musically, she is quite simple, but she has such power that it's hard to resist her charm. One blink of an eye, and you already nod to her in time. She lights up the whole album, I swear to you. She also reminded me of One Republic (in general terms) and especially their song "Say All I Need" with its soaring chorus and sense of confidence. I listen to this song on repeat all week.
Musically speaking, I was very impressed with the composition "Rise Up", which results in another powerful emotional impulse, with its own atmosphere slightly different from Walking the Wire. Dan's vocals slide from loud music to silence, I can almost feel all the things the band went through to get here. The guitar intro reminded me very much of The Script's music. I really like the rhythm and simplicity of the sound - not too many elements. The emphasis on Dan's voice before the chorus intro makes this intro perfect. The bridge is a very nice surprise, the drums are off and we get a very dreamy set of sounds in addition to the chorus.
As soon as I heard "Thunder", I was immediately hooked. Rolling vocals, delayed beats and percussive noise that jumps into the chorus make listening very soft and enjoyable. I also like the progression through the chorus from something light and simple to a more complex sound. The Electric Guitar Bridge gives way to a great, choral Thunder when the song reaches its highest peak. You can't resist the urge to sing along - the perfect anthem for non-conformist thunder children. I love how the electric guitar completes the song - very nicely done.
Natalie: I really, really like “I’ll Make It Up To You,” partly because it has a bit of 80s vibe, which is very unusual for Imagine Dragons, and also because the chorus is so catchy. It was very unexpected to hear such a syntax song from them, but I like it. It's retro at its best.
Do you have any favorite lines from the songs?
Lawrence: Musically, “Believer” hooked me the most. The classic layering of vocalist Dan Reynolds' chic voice makes the melody sound louder, it will be good in sports arenas, all kinds of game events, on long car trips, as well as in all sports locker rooms in the world. I think I counted 4 different layers during the catchy chorus ... amazing. And my favorite song is "Walking the Wire" because it really shows the maturity of the band. It is catchy, moderately pop, and at the same time completely thoughtful and emotional.
There’s nights we had to just walk away
And there’s tears we’ll cry, but those tears will fade
It's a price we pay when it comes to love
And we’ll take what comes, take what comesThere are nights when we should just leave
And there are tears that we will shed, but the tears will go away
This is the price we pay for love
And we will accept what will be, we will accept what will be."Walking the Wire"
Urooj: You can trust Imagine Dragons to create some really cool songs and you will get them. I have selected a few of my favorite lines. There will probably be more when I listen to the songs again:
Like a prayer that only needs a reason
Like a hunter waiting for the season
I was there, but I was always leaving
I believe it, but I was never breathing
The more I stray, the less I fear
And the more I reach, the more I fade away
Darkness right in front of me
Oh, it’s calling out, and I won’t walk away.Like a supplicant who only needs a reason
Like a hunter just waiting for the season
I was there, but I always left,
I believe it, but I never breathed,
And the longer I stand, the less I fear
The more I reach, the more I leave behind
There's darkness in front of me
She calls, and I will not leave.
Natalie: I love “I was lighting before the thunder” simply because it feels very grand and impressive.
Mitch: I love what I have already said, and every time I listen, something new catches my ear. Nevertheless, two songs remain the best for me, and they are very successfully the first on the album. “I Don’t Know Why” is the perfect opening for the Evolve album, and its delightful lines, filled with potential and excitement, seem to set the rhythm for what follows. They open the album, inviting us to feel like Reynolds, to be in his shoes, and to experience those close moments ourselves:
We could be strangers in the night
We couldn’t be closer if we tried
We could be faces in the crowd
We could be passing in the shadows
Loving the risk of being found
When we’re caught in the headlightsWe could be strangers in the night
We would pray to pass by in the shadows
We could be closer if we tried
When a ray of light catches us
We could be faces in the crowd
We could walk by in the shadows
We love to risk being found
When a ray of light snatches us out
Two passes stand out for me in the rap anthem "Whatever It Takes". Reynolds' timing is fast, biting, smart and motivating - moving things forward, musically and thematically. The second text is absolutely beautiful in how directly it unfolds. Passion cuts through the lines of Reynolds, I love these stanzas for their honesty, melodic application of rhythm and absolute heaviness.
Always had a fear of being typical
Looking at my body feeling miserable
Always hanging on to the visual
I wanna be invisible
Looking at my years like a martyrdom
Everybody needs to be a part of 'em
Never be enough, I'm the prodigal son
I was born to run, I was born for thisAlways afraid to be ordinary
Looking at my body and feeling desperate
Always paying too much attention to appearance,
I would like to be invisible.
I perceive the past years as torment,
Everyone has to go through this
Never calm down, I'm the prodigal son
I was born to run, I was born to run.
Hypocritical, egotistical
Don’t wanna be the parenthetical, hypothetical
Working onto something that I'm proud of, out of the box
An epoxy to the world and the vision we’ve lost
I'm an apostrophe
I’m just a symbol to remind you that there’s more to see
I'm just a product of the system, a catastrophe
And yet a masterpiece, and yet I'm half-diseased
And when I am deceased
At least I go down to the grave and die happily
Leave the body of my soul to be a part of me
I do what it takesHypocritical, selfish
I don't want to be unfounded
Working on something that I can be proud of, I go beyond
Putting this world back together, bringing back a lost vision
I am an apostrophe
I'm just a symbol to remind you that there is more
I am a product of the system, a disaster
And I am a masterpiece, though half-forgotten
And when I'm gone
I'll at least go to my grave happy
Let the soul leave the body and become a part of me
I do my best for this.
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Imagine Dragons Evolve Song List
Evolve is the third studio album by American rock band Imagine Dragons, released to the public on June 23, 2017 via Kidinakorner and Interscope Records. Following a world tour associated with the release of their previous album Smoke + Mirrors in 2015, Imagine Dragons announced their retirement. The first teaser for the new album appeared on September 13, 2016, and over the next four months, the group posted hint messages on their Twitter account. On February 1, 2017, the song Believer was released as the lead single of the new album. The music video for the track was released on March 7, 2017 and was stylized as a boxing match between frontman Dan Reynolds and famous actor Dolph Lundgren. On April 27, 2017, the song Thunder was released as the second single. On October 6, 2017, the composition Whatever It Takes was released - the intense beats change to rhymed recitative, abruptly flowing into a colorful chorus with a bright arrangement and expanded metaphors. Evolve significantly differs from the previous works of Imagine Dragons, being the most upbeat album of the group. It covers the evolution of the group and is a step towards a new, bright and broad outlook.