It’s both hopeful and hopeless, a dramatic epic from beginning to end.
Singer/songwriter Nate Ruess, best known as the voice behind the band fun., released his debut solo album, “Grand Romantic,” on June 16 via Fueled by Ramen.
Ruess’ album begins with an elegantly orchestrated introduction teeming with the toll of bells and the ominous falsettos of a church choir.
Hellish laughter marks the start of the album’s first and most feral track, “AhHa.” With a pounding drumline leading the way, Ruess pulls the listener through reckless bursts of emotion, jumping from aggressive resentment to soothing introspection before launching into foot-stomping elation and back again. Unshakably personal lyrics detail Ruess’ unexpected rise to fame and the pitfalls he fell into on the way. “AhHa” ultimately epitomizes Ruess’ transitioning from lead singer to solo artist.
“You Light My Fire” is a fluorescently upbeat love song that pays homage to ‘80s pop. As Ruess’ tenor whimsically floats over handclaps and xylophone keys, he gets into a fight with his significant other, ultimately choosing love over war. The structure of the song is repetitive, but Ruess manages to dodge monotony by sprinkling unpredictable inflections throughout. The music around him grows more complex as the song progresses, and eventually claps turn to drums and guitar notes to power chords.
The final half of the album is much more solemn than the first, and “It Only Gets Much Worse” provides peak pessimism in an otherwise optimistic assortment. Ruess’ striking voice transcends the lonesome piano, which guides him as he belts out tales of desperate realization. After abiding by it for most of the album, he seems disenchanted with his love-conquers-all mentality. About halfway through the song, a string arrangement breaks into the mix, adding density to the glum introspection.
Even after marching through the highest heights, Ruess is never too proud to reveal his most vulnerable lows. That’s what separates him from your run-of-the-mill pop star.
[A version of this story ran on page 11 on 7/2/15]
