Origins by Imagine Dragons: Honesty and Transparency in Music
We’ve hit the final instalment of our Best Release 2018 series and we’re coming in hot with our music album choice: Origins by Imagine Dragons. The fourth studio album by the band, Origins was released at the tail end of the year, on November 9, 2018. This album has been one of the most innovative and exciting releases in music this year for me! This new album was a relative surprise as it came out a little over a year after the band’s last album Evolve. Typically in the music world, band’s take time off after the tour to begin writing new music, however, this seemed not to have been the case with Origins and I can only say that I was thoroughly okay with it!
I found the album to be personal, introspective, gritty, tragic and uplifting all at the same time. Always having had a penchant for mirroring their own lives in the songs, Origins took listeners on a deeper exploration of the struggles of the band, and specifically that of lead singer, Dan Reynolds. The band indulges in a deeper, and slightly more morose, perspective in this album as they seem to be questioning the nature of society that forces one to become stronger if they want to make it in the world.
Opening the album with Natural, much of the single comments a requirement to become more apathetic, colder, if one wants to succeed, stating
“A beating heart of stone
You gotta be so cold
To make it in this world”
The album was released to mix reviews with some heralding the band’s ability to mix sounds and genres, while others claiming that “for the most part, Origins’ contents arrive thickly spread with chart cliches”. A harsh assessment that I believe does not take into account the context of the album and one that Reynolds fights back against in the single Machine. The chorus of the song states
“When you gonna see I’m not for sale
I’ve been questioning
When you gonna see I’m not a part of your machine
Not a part of your machine
I am the machine.”
Critics have frequently claimed that the four-piece band have been altering their sound to appeal to the masses. However, the claim that having something for everyone makes this album lesser is one I vehemently disagree with. Rather I find that the ability to combine so many different sounds in an eclectic mix that is able to maintain harmony is something I consider to be very impressive.
The evolution of a band’s sound can often result in a loss of original listeners and a gain of new ones for the simple reason that as the sound develops, it morphs into something that no longer appeals newer listeners. However, Imagine Dragons has always retained elements of it original sound as it brings to it newer elements that bring out a complexity of emotions and sounds. It is this that I enjoy the most from the latest album.
Where Evolve brought forward an atmosphere of angry despair, Origins is much more philosophical and emotional, doing away with simple anger, exploring a whole spectrum. The album is less of a story than it is an experience.
It has been no secret that Reynolds has had a difficult couple of years, both in personal and health related matters. While he does elucidate on the exact nature of either of those struggles, his music provides the soundtrack to those experiences. Just like you would experience a particularly moment in your life, where the next stage has not started and you are still working through the past, the band have provided the symphony that describes Reynolds’ journey.
In the final single the band put out prior to the albums release, “Bad Liar”, it is states,
“I’m a man of three fears:
Integrity, faith, and crocodile tears”
Reynolds himself is saying how the facade and insincerity of emotions is something that he cannot abide, and it is not something that the band bring into their writing. As with any journey, a multitude of people can often relate to the struggles within it. Similarly, if you’re truly listening for it, those elements of struggle and fortitude to relate to can be found in each and every song of the album.
In my opinion, the album is not, and has never been meant as a means of appealing to the masses. Rather, it appeals to the masses because they can find themselves and their own struggles within it; because it is honest and transparent. Origins provides an example of how emotions and the honest translation of them into art can result in greatness.
~S~
Image Credits:
Featured Image from Unsplash by Stink Pickle
Origins Album Cover taken from Apple Music
