Night Visions

Imagine Dragons | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2012)
• Original Release Date: 2012
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Interscope Records
• ASIN: B008K9SG9K
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (543 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #27 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #1 in Music > Pop > Adult Alternative
  • #5 in Music > Alternative Rock
  • #15 in Music > Rock

Track Listings

1. Radioactive

2. Tip Toe

3. It's Time

4. Demons

5. On Top Of The World

6. Amsterdam

7. Hear Me

8. Every Night

9. Bleeding Out

10. Underdog

11. Nothing Left To Say

12. Rocks

Editorial Reviews

Emotional struggle is central to Imagine Dragons' ethos. From the beginning it's been the group's goal to take the pain they've each experienced in life and spin it into something redemptive and uplifting. That transformation of emotional pain into art is what drives them as people and it's also what inspired their first hit. I wrote It's Time during a very transitional period in my life, Reynolds recalls. It seemed like everything was going wrong. I was trying to decide what I wanted to do with my life, trying to figure out how seriously to take music. I was making decisions about who I was. I'm a pretty young guy and I m still trying to figure out the answer to those questions. With the release of Night Visions, Imagine Dragons finally have a chance to show the world what that magic sounds like. They start off with a big statement in Radioactive, which blends a throbbing backbeat with delicate acoustic guitars and deals lyrically with facing the apocalypse. We want people to hear that song and feel empowered, Reynolds explains. Meanwhile, the delicacy of tracks like Demons balances the album's expansiveness with a sense of human intimacy. The album title came together very organically, Reynolds recalls of the records overall theme. We all sat in a room and wrote out what the band and sound of the album means to us. We all deal with our own demons and anxieties but we find that nothing calms the mind more than creating. Many of the songs on the album were written late into the night, and some of the lyrical themes came from dreams I've had, even some nightmares. So when the title Night Visions came up, it just seemed to fit perfectly. We hope it inspires other to create, and push through their own struggles.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

112 of 124 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspired September 4, 2012

By Nickolas X. P. Sharps VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I stumbled upon Imagine Dragons back in January through sheer stupid luck. The indie rock Gods must have been smiling down on me that day. From the very first listen to "It's Time" I was hooked. I knew from that moment that this band was going to go Big. Of course I didn't picture them going Big quite so fast (although the band has been working at this for years). It has been really cool to watch the band's rise in popularity. It seems like I can't turn on a radio without hearing "It's Time." What is cooler though is that as amazing as "It's Time" is, it's just the beginning. Night Visions is a stellar debut album. It is the product of hard work and vast musical talent. The songs hold common threads that make for a strong sense of album unity but the fact of the matter is that each one is a unique gem of enjoyment. Another review of the Continued Silence EP called Imagine Dragons a "radio friendly indie rock band" and that is a great description. There is an undeniable appeal here to the mainstream, even thought the quality is beyond the "mass consumption" label. From the well written lyrics and the percussive electronic beat to the subtle guitar work and vocals that are at once polished and natural, Night Visions is a debut album that sounds anything but "debut."

"Radioactive" - If the throbbing, pulsating beat of this song doesn't get you pumped there is something wrong with you. The vocals are firmly in charge of this stellar post-Apocalyptic rock song. Welcome to the New Age!

"Tip Tope" - I wasn't impressed with this song the first time I listened to it. After a few more listens I have to say that it has grown on me. I really dig the synth. There is a definite pop draw to this song, it makes you want to dance. ***EDIT*** After several more play throughs this has become one of my favorite tracks on the album. I can't seem to get it out of my head.

"It's Time" - The essential Imagine Dragons song, complete with rhythm clapping and a mandolin. The song is beautiful, musically and lyrically. If you have heard of Imagine Dragons it is probably because of this song. If I had to declare a Song of the Year for 2012, this would be it.

"Demons" - We all have our inner demons and that makes this song all the more empowering. The music takes a back seat to the vocals and lyrics this time around but the trademark sound is still present. If you're in a dark place, give this song a listen.

"On Top of the World" - It's funny how a song can grow on you. I didn't much care for this one at first but you know what? It's catchy. The music has this sort of cheery, Lion King vibe going on and it might just give you that necessary pick-up when you need it.

"Amsterdam" - This one is a little more subdued than the previous tracks, a bit more intimate. Musically this one is strong and I really enjoy the ups and downs of Dan's vocals. It starts out low and rises as the song goes.

"Hear Me" - This is one of my favorite older tracks. Like "Amsterdam" the highs and lows of Dan's vocals are great and match the flow of the lyrics perfectly. I love the percussion near the end of the song and the electronic beat.

"Every Night" - Time to slow things up a bit. The quality of the lyrics isn't quite up to par with the rest of the Imagine Dragons songs here. There are some strong lines but overall this track reminds me of "My Fault" from the Continued Silence EP.

"Bleeding Out" - I was so freaking excited for this track, ever since I heard the album preview. Oh man, this song gets me pumped! As tame as the last track is, this one makes up for it in spades. Dan's vocals soar, the lyrics are premium and the music rises energetically. There is a raw edge that boosts this track and makes you want to scream it from the top of the tallest mountain.

"Underdog" - This is another strong new track, trending more towards the pop side of Imagine Dragons than rock. I don't even like pop but this song is fun and enthusiastic. Who doesn't love to be the underdog?

"Nothing Left to Say" - It is impossible NOT to have an emotional connection to these songs. This one is a bit darker compared to the more inspirational songs like "Demons" but that's its strength. There is something haunting about this song I can't yet put my finger on but it is there.

"Rocks" - And alas, a great ending to a great debut album. This and "Bleeding Out" are my favorite new tracks. It's fast paced and the vocals have a whimsical sort of characteristic. It's folky and fun.

So there it is. Night Visions, the debut album of the rising alternative rock stars Imagine Dragons. You will find new things to love with every listen, I sure know that I have. Even tracks you aren't keen on at first could very well nestle themselves in the folds of your brain and take root. This band is destined for great things and I will be following along in eager anticipation. If you enjoy the album I highly suggest seeing them live if you get the opportunity. I saw them perform at Firefly Festival in Dover, Delaware and it was a vigorous show. The affection and determination the band pours into its music is heart warming in this day and age.

***EDIT***
The iTunes version of Night Visions comes with two additional songs, "Working Man" and "Fallen." If you bought the album elsewhere I suggest you purchase these two tracks individually from iTunes. You gotta have the complete collection. The track "Fallen" is especially good, it's a shame that it wasn't included on the album.

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Songs sound really compressed/muffled? November 1, 2012

By M

Format:MP3 Music

Not sure if it's supposed to sound like that or not, but I'm noticing that nearly the whole album sounds "fuzzy" or "muffled?"

I really like the beats in these tracks and I like the lead singer's voice, but the instrumentation all sounds kinda crap. On the first track "Radioactive" I thought it was just the style of the song, that bubbly distortion, but on the later tracks I noticed that it just sounds uneven and compressed sounding.

I know it's not my listening equipment, either, because the rest of the music in my collection doesn't sound like that. Until someone can correct me for convince me otherwise, I'm going to blame this on bad production/bad recording. I really want to like this band, but everything sounds off. I was excited to buy this album from listening to the samples.

If I'm wrong, why would a band choose to make "muffled" their music style?

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Good music but terrible engineering and production January 9, 2013

By K42

Format:Audio CD

I like their songs I have heard on the radio, and bought this CD based on that. While I like the music, the CD is so base overdriven and distorted on some songs I had to check to see if my subwoofers and woofers had gotten somehow blown. Interestingly, some of the songs are so compressed, that they sound very thin and flat. Very, very strange. I gave the CD 2 stars because of the music, but 0 stars for the engineering and production.