Can you imagine what these men are imagining?
The Indie Alternative Rock quartet from Las Vegas, Nevada topped the iTunes album charts with their debut effort “Night Visions,” quite a feat considering the ever irritating Beliebers of the world’s concerted efforts to make certain mainstream pop dominates the top of the charts.
So what’s led Imagine Dragons to beat of competition from the likes Taylor Swift, Pink and Justin Bieber?
Tirelessly obsessive front man Dan Reynolds’ work ethic to create great anthemic songs led him to begin the forming of a band. When he and guitarist Wayne Sermon realised the songs they were writing together were the start of something special, Sermon called his friend Ben Mckee whom he knew from the Berklee College of Music. Ben dropped out of school and moved across the country to become the bands bassist. The band was later joined by drummer Daniel Platzman and in 2008 Imagine Dragons were formed.
The band went on to win several “battle of the band” competitions back in their hometown. They played gigs wherever people would take them and were signed in 2009 to local Vegas record label, Battle Born Studios. By the end of 2010 they had released two EP’s entitled “Imagine Dragons,” and “Hell and Silence.” The EP’s relative success saw the Indie band signed to major label Interscope Records in November 2011. Working closely with Grammy-winning producer Alex Da Kid as well as fellow Grammy-winners Manny Marroquin and Joe LaPorta, the band released the EP “Continued Silence” on Valentine’s Day 2012 and it peaked at #40 on the Billboard 200. The single “It’s Time”, taken from this EP, topped the pop-rock charts prompting Billboard to declare it as one of its “125 Essential 2012 Songs.” And the video was nominated for the MTV “Best Rock Video” award. Eight months of hype since the release of their debut single helped see “Night Visions” become a hit upon release in early September.
The track “On Top of the World” features on EA sports’ FIFA 13 soundtrack and new song “Lost Cause” is set to feature on the soundtrack to Tim Burton’s Disney feature film “Frankenweenie”.
The band’s sound varies from light, upbeat alternative pop to dark and brooding powerful anthems like “Radioactive.” The band blend deep pounding basslines with electronic synths and acoustic guitar, in a mash up of indie rock and Alex Da Kid inspired hip-hop genres in the powerful opening track to “Night Visions”.
The recurring theme throughout the album, and indeed tracks from previous EPs, is the seemingly personal and meaningful lyrics that make an emotional connection with listener. Reynolds said of the album, “We feel that we have finally created something we are all truly proud of and that can hopefully inspire others and help them feel a little less alone. That’s what music is about. It’s the greatest communicator I know.”
Billboard Magazine listed the quartet as one of “2012′s Brightest New Stars” and I’m inclined to agree.