Aim and Ignite is my anthem to late summer nights bar-hopping in Allston and Somerville. Even the ballads have a driving nostalgia that makes one feel like saluting. The lyrics reflect on past lives and failures with a decidedly sad optimism, but it's the vocal lines that shine. Every song is multi-faceted, sliding between sections of distinct rhythm and harmony led by the vocal melody.

The opener, Be Calm, is grandiose and theatrical, giving you a taste for fun.'s many-part songwriting within the first minute and a half. It also showcases Ruess' vocal range, from barely-accompanied soft falsetto to a strained and cracking emotional climax, matching the distortion on the electric guitars.

On All The Pretty Girls, fun. weaves ELO-like backing vocals through the second verse (for the mega dose of ELO, listen for the "over and over and oh-"). Light A Roman Candle With Me is a cute, if simple, pre-love song, while The Gambler is a look at the love of one's life from the other end, with tender reminiscence and defiant perseverance.

Although this is certainly a vocal-led album, don't be misled into thinking it's an array of quavering lines over a cookie-cutter rhythm section. Every instrument's line feels chosen specifically for its moment, giving the songs an immersive completeness. This album gets into the Hall of Fame on the merit of its cohesion (a term you'll hear me use a lot when talking about my favorite music), and its special place in my life, marked by a special edition gift from my wife on my 28th birthday.

You swore you'd be here 'til we decide that it's our time
But it's not time, you never quit in all your life
So just take my hand, you know that I will never leave your side
You're the love of my life, you know that I will never leave your side

Hits: Be Calm, Barlights, The Gambler
Skips: Stitch Me Up (Deluxe Edition)