ifightdragons

First(ish) Listen: I Fight Dragons

I Fight Dragons are described as a “chiptune” band, which means they make some crazy beats or something using Nintendos and Game Boys and other fun stuff (like my super-technical definition? yeah, that's what I thought). I was never much of a gamer, so “chip” mostly just makes me think of lunch. However, one of the games my brother and I were obsessed with when we were kids was Zelda. We seriously played (and defeated, boo-ya!) Link's Awakening on an old-skool Game Boy. So obviously, this video by the six-piece Chicago band immediately endeared them to me:

 

That video kicks so much booty, I shouldn't have to say another thing. You should immediately go out and buy everything you can from this band. But honestly, they're super great. I am all about their EP (mini album? Long EP? What are we calling these things anyway? It has seven tracks, so yeah), Cool Is Just A Number, which came out last year on Photo Finish. They also released some bonus tracks this year that you can conjure up online. And while they play into the chiptune thing, it's not overpowering or obnoxious. They are a tight pop-rock band who have a more than decent grasp on how to use bleeps and bloops as accents, and not centerpieces. “Heads Up, Hearts Down” and “Don't You” are radio-ready and they even throw in a touching acoustic ballad (“With You”) that further shows their range. 

I think these young Chicagoans have lots of promise, and I'm pretty stoked for their full-length. And now I really want to go home and play some Zelda. Who's with me?

Categories: