Fitz and the Tantrums is an alternative/indie pop/neo soul band with a retro feel, signed with Elektra Records. Their most recent album, More Than Just a Dream, was released on May 7, 2013 and has produced two popular hit singles on the US Alternative Charts: “Out of My League” and “The Walker.” Though the album was released a year ago, the songs remain popular.
Fits and the Tantrums was formed in 2008. The band is comprised of Michael Fitzpatrick (lead vocalist), Noelle Scaggs (vocalist), James King (sax, flute, guitar), Joseph Karnes (bass), Jeremy Ruzumna (keyboard), and John Wicks (drums, percussion).
Their first hit single was “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” which was released in August 2010. The band later released the album Pickin’ Up the Pieces in January of 2011 and also released an EP called Songs for a Breakup.
More Than Just a Dream has twelve tracks on it. The deluxe edition has two bonus tracks including: “Tell Me What Ya Here For” and “Out of My League – TEPR Remix.”
While first listening to More Than Just a Dream, you notice the cool, retro sound that the album offers. For the most part, the album as a whole has a really nice, not-too-slow beat to it. You can feel the hipster vibe radiating off the various tracks. All songs include some funky instruments or sounds like saxophones, organs, tambourines, flutes, and whistles.
Like aforementioned, the most popular songs on the album are the hit singles “Out of My League” and “The Walker.” The album has more great songs on it if you look past chart toppers.
“Spark” is a fantastic song with a great beat, fun vocals, and and exploding chorus. “Fools Gold” is another good one. It has pleasant duets that you just want to sing along to. “Last Raindrop” starts with a cool keyboard sound and comes in with kickin’ drums.
The only track that was not as good as the other was “House on Fire.” The song wasn’t terrible. It starts with a promising beat but has a disappointing and odd chorus. The track just doesn’t sound like it fits on the album.
Overall, fans and new listeners will really enjoy the More Than Just a Dream album. This is a solid compilation of songs that are perfect for the school year and pumping you up to study. To new listeners, the songs can have a similar sound, but once you become more familiar with them, it isn’t so bad. The songs are very catchy, and if you don’t know the words, you wish you did. I give a 4.5 out of 5 stars for the upbeat, retro, catchy album.
You can buy More Than Just a Dream on iTunes for $9.99 (regular), $11.99 (deluxe), and at Target for a hard copy for $9.99.
Fitz and the Tantrums has a unique sound, so it is hard to compare them to other bands, but according to Spotify and iTunes, listeners who like Fitz and the Tantrums listen to the following musical artists/groups: Foster the People, FUN, Grouplove, Broken Bells, Of Monsters and Men, Atlas Genius, The Neighborhood, KONGOS, and Passion Pit.
