fun.

Bands are like people for me: some of them I strongly dislike, many of them I'm completely indifferent to, and the ones I like I like almost immeasurably. It wouldn't be a good idea to list the people I strongly dislike, nor the bands. People who know me well know exactly how much I like Mike Viola, The Candy Butchers, and Fountains of Wayne, and all their offshoots (Corner Laughers - what!) There are few bands I've made a point to make noise about to get people I like to try listening to them. Some of them were recommended by other friends; Mika, for example. Glenn and Marketa were all because of Once, which most people saw on their own anyway. I happened across Marmalade Souls on Pandora. Then there are some that just appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and became the only thing I listened to for days and days and days.


I'm talking about fun. If you haven't heard of them, you will. If you think you haven't heard them, you probably have because they had a song featured on Glee and in a Chevy commercial during the Super Bowl. These guys are fantastically talented, write outstanding pop music with catchy melodies, harmonies, and memorable hooks, and they're just at the beginning of their rise to fame. In a year or two from now, they will be a household name. I'm telling you now, so I can later remind you "I told you so" when they become your favorite band, too. But I'm not going to be annoyed about it - these guys are just too good not to get known.

They write indulgent lyrics like "That’s my life/ Nothing is sacred/ I don’t keep friends/ I keep acquainted/ I’m not a prophet/ But I’m here to profit" and they get away with it. Rock and roll, man. Rock and roll.

What else is great about them? The songs are densely orchestrated with string and brass sections and soulful backup singers. Their harmonies take flamboyant cues from Queen, defying the laws of gravity, as they say. There are screams and growls, oohs and ahs and woo hoos and doot doo doo doo doos. The only thing I could ask for is handclaps (LOOOOVE handclaps!). And they have pianos.

I know if people tell me to listen to something, I won't do it. It's a bit like being a matchmaker - you don't want somebody to have a lukewarm reaction to something you you think is beyond great. People must find things on their own way, whether music, comedy, or love. You can't force someone to love something just because you love it, but it's my hope that through shear enthusiasm and exuberance I can convince more of you to give fun. a try. Please? They're just SOOOOO good! Remember when I told you about Ben Folds, after I saw him on Conan during Conan's first week? And you became bigger Ben Folds fans than I ever could be? These guys are better than Ben Folds.