A hot album from Imagine Dragons

I do not know if even the members of Imagine Dragons can pinpoint the exact time when all that they were doing meshed perfectly together and they soared off to stardom. But I am sure that this was what happened to these guys in the not so recent past. This is because the young indie band, whose music once competed with the irresistible ringing of slot machines in Las Vegas casinos, got all the elements right on its first album and is now hot, hot, hot. And allow me to add, so deservedly so to that.

First off is the fact that Imagine Dragons is made up of talented musicians with solid songwriting skills. Wayne Sermon on guitar and background vocals; Ben McKie, bass and background vocals; Dan Platzman, drums, viola and background vocals; and Dan Reynolds, drums and lead vocals. The guys write big, dramatic songs with big themes, as in demons and the apocalypse, which they then set on moving melodies.

Second is that Imagine Dragons has a lead singer with the big, expressive voice to carry off those songs. Remember, a band may have the most talented of musicians, but it will still be difficult to make it to the top, without a vocalist who looks great and sings great and fits the music. Just think how lucky is Maroon 5 to have Adam Levine or Paramore with Hayley Williams or even Journey with Arnel Pineda. In this case, it is Reynolds who is the biggest dragon of all with vocal that can dominate arenas and mesmerize in intimate venues.

Then Imagine Dragons found a sensitive producer in Alex Da Kid. From the way Night Visions is put together, you can tell that he knows when to use subtlety and when to let the fire burn. He guided them through the process of putting together their debut album, when to get the percussion booming or the mandolins strumming and when the lovely It’s Time should be placed for maximum effect.

There is a bit of unevenness in the production, like they could not quite make up their minds to stay acoustic or go electronica or if they should have fun or be angst-ridden throughout. But who cares? This is one of the best albums of the moment and l am already wondering what these Dragons will do next. And before I forget, that name Imagine Dragons is a marketing dream come true. Even better is the fact that it is said to be anagram and only the band knows what it means.

Night Visions by Imagine Dragons is made up of Radioactive, Tiptoe, It’s Time, Demons, On Top Of The World, Amsterdam, Hear Me, Every Night, Bleeding Out, Underdog, Nothing Left To Say, Rocks, Cha-ching (Till We Grow Older) and Working Man.

As per the latest issue of Billboard Magazine, here are the top-selling singles and albums in the US this week. Imagine Dragons’ Night Visions and the single Radioactive are among them.

The Top 20 songs in the Hot 100 list are Harlem Shake by Baauer; Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Wang; When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars; Stay by Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko; Suit & Tie by Justin Timberlake; I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift; Started From The Bottom by Drake; Scream & Shout by will.i.am and Britney Spears; Love Me by Lil Wayne featuring Drake & Future.

Don’t You Worry Child by the Swedish House Mafia; Daylight by Maroon 5; Feel This Moment by Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera; Ho Hey by The Lumineers; F**kin Problems by A$AP Rocky feat. Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar; Sweet Nothing by Calvin Harris feat. Florence Welch; Radioactive by Imagine Dragons; Just Give Me A Reason by Pink; Pour It Up by Rihanna; and I Will Wait by Mumford & Sons.

The Top 20 albums are Spring Break Here To Party by Luke Bryan; People, Hell & Angels by Jimi Hendrix; Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars; Babel by Mumford & Sons; The Heist by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis; Unapologetic by Rihanna; Here’s To The Good Times by Florida Georgia Line; Night Visions by Imagine Dragons; Now 45 by Various Artists; The Lumineers by The Lumineers.

Some Nights by fun; The Truth About Love by Pink; 21 by Adele; Red by Taylor Swift; Passione by Andrea Bocelli; All That Echoes by Josh Groban; Memphis by Boz Scaggs; Pitch Perfect Movie Soundtrack by Various Artists; Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes; and Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City by Kendrick Lamar.