Whoever says they have never heard the indie band Florence + The Machine is either lying or lives under a rock. Almost two million people “like” them on Facebook, and their new album “Ceremonials” is currently the number 4 selling album on iTunes.
Florence + The Machine are popular for one simple reason – they’re good.
With fast-paced, electronic songs and Florence Welch’s amazing lyrics, the music is fun and celebratory. Florence Welch’s voice is a serious powerhouse. Her voice is comparable to Adele, as the two both have strong, loud, recognizable British voices.
On November 1, Florence + The Machine released their highly-anticipated album “Ceremonials,” and delivered exactly what everyone wanted: quirky dance songs, slow and emotional songs, and of course Welch’s Grammy-nominated voice.
“If Only For a Night” is a heartbreaking song about honoring a close friend who has died. The song is still fairly fast paced, but is one of the slower songs on the album. Florence’s vocals stand out most notably when she sings about her “own secret ceremonials before the service.”
“Shake It Out” was one of the early-released singles and is the album’s most popular song. It’s an upbeat song about letting your problems go and cutting loose, as the title suggests. The song is almost tribal sounding with a quick tempo, and loud, strong drums and tambourines. Florence’s voice is enhanced by her powerful lyrics which seem to yell at the listener.
“Seven Devils” is another emotional, serious song about revenge and evils surrounding people. It has a slow tempo, and some gothic sounding piano in the background, making the song sound a little morbid. The song seems to be simultaneously about getting revenge and being doomed at the same time, with the repeating line “I’ll be dead before the day is done,” creating a sense of hopelessness.
“Strangeness and Charm” is a song whose title perfectly describes it. It’s a strange song about people who are to addicted each other and seem to have chemistry of “the purest element.” It is charming though, with its fast-paced, catchy, quirky, and sweet sound.
Florence + The Machine have proven themselves again with their indie pop album, providing enough funky songs to keep everyone dancing throughout the holiday party season.
