fun - aim and igniteNate Ruess was in the briefly-almost-famous indie band The Format until they broke up in early 2008. At that point he reached out to multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost from the obscure but beloved-by-fans Anathallo to form a band called fun. fun.’s debut, Aim & Ignite, came out in October.

If you’re gonna name your band fun. and put “ignite” in your album title, you better have the goods, and this disc does. It’s a real find, bursting with symphonic, gleefully over-the-top power pop. It’s like Queen meets Weezer meets Hair. Music this full of life and ambition is rare these days, and to be celebrated.

Reader support helps sustain our work. Donate today to keep our climate news free. All donations DOUBLED!

This mini-epic, the first single, bears the dry title, “At Least I’m Not As Sad (As I Used to Be).”

Grist thanks its sponsors. Become one.