"How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful" Review

In May, Florence + the Machine released a new album. The album, entitled How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, was a phenomenal success. Reviewers far and wide have applauded Florence Welch's blast-from-the-past soul lyrics and 80's guitar riffs. This album is one of the few popular music collections that I really like. Actually, I don't just like it...

...I LOVE IT!

Shocking, right? I know! This album is irresistible, really. Florence's usual brand of beat-heavy pop isn't my style at all--in fact, before this album was released I hadn't listened to Florence + the Machine since she sang Dog Days Are Over on American Idol. (Yes, once upon a time I did watch American Idol. Yes, I am ashamed of that). When the full album was released, it was recommended to me. I popped my earbuds in, my expectations extremely low, and found the album on Spotify. I hit PLAY, and was blown away.

I couldn't believe how great it was, at first. I actually went and listened to some of Florence + the Machine's older songs to see if I liked them, just to make sure that my taste in music hadn't drastically changed since the last time I heard them. Nope, I still thought they were terrible. What was it about How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful that I enjoyed so much? After listening to the album about a thousand more times, I finally figured it out: This isn't typical pop. Florence + the Machine took their usual pop style and infused it with sounds from other genres and generations of music. It's a brilliant idea, really, and it worked remarkably well. This album brings lovers of 80's and 90's pop, classic rock, and contemporary soul together, while still satisfying the synthetic beat-loving youth of today. This isn't just an album, folks--it's a work of art.

The album opens with Ship to Wreck, a 80's-inspired, guitar-infused pop song that was an instant hit with long-time fans and newcomers alike. It is proceeded by another blast-from-the-past-esque song, entitled What Kind of Man. Currently one of my favorite songs on this album, What KInd of Man begins with slow-moving sounds in the first verse, but abuptly introduces its listeners to 90's classic rock sounds just before the chorus. Both songs demonstrate an understanding and appreciate of the music of the last three decades that make me truly appreciate Florence + the Machine.

Sixth and seventh on the album is Delilah and Long & Lost, respectively. Delilah begins with jingly piano chords and a call-and-response between Florence and her backup singers. The song slowly builds to a electrical-yet-soulful beat that would make any disco proud. It's a strange combination, but it's executed flawlessly, and Delilah remains stoically in my top five favorite Florence songs. Long & Lost differs greatly--it has a certain hushed quality to it. It can, technically, be classified as a ballad, but it feels too angst-ridden to be categorized as such. No, it's not a ballad--it's a slow-moving, rock n' roll declaration. Was that too cheesy? Probably.

The album ends with Mother, the most explosive (and catchy) of Florence + the Machine's new songs. The first few lyrics begin as a plea: Oh, lord, won't you leave me...leave me on my knees. The chorus then erupts into being, the lyrics demanding now: Mother, make me a big tall tree. Throughout the song, Florence commands Mother to make her a "big grey cloud," a "bird of prey," and a "song so sweet." It is truly a finale with which to be reckoned.

So, to summarize: How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is one of the greatest albums of 2015. And since I don't listen to new music, I consider it the ABSOLUTE greatest of this year's albums. I highly recommend that you buy it. Like, right now. It's free on Spotify. Go get it!

Thanks for reading! See you next time!

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