I don’t remember how I found Florence Welch; she’s always just been there. I remember liking her in middle school, when my love for writing also began. I don’t remember discovering her, but I remember listening to Lungs over and over again. Her music has been intertwined with my upbringing. I love Florence + the Machine, and I’ll express this love in the form of an album review.
Every song on Lungs is unique and tells its own story. To paint a detailed picture, the picture Lungs deserves, I will individually review each of my favorite songs from the original 2009 release.
- Dog Days Are Over
This album starts with Florence’s most streamed song to date “Dog Days Are Over.” With over one billion streams it’s hard to believe that anyone hasn’t heard it. If you haven’t heard this song I’ll give you a (biased) rundown.
This was my favorite song for years and still is one of my favorites to this day. The gentle but exciting guitar strings open us up to the first verse. These few seconds build anticipation. For many, this is the first time they’ve heard Welch’s voice. It’s dark, but filled with an indescribable joy. It doesn’t hook you, it forcibly grips and demands your attention.
At first, the song is gentle, but then builds and builds upon itself to the chorus. And if you don’t think it can build anymore, the bridge takes your breath away. It’s a blend of euphoria and impatience.
- I’m Not Calling You a Liar
The song opens with these lyrics:
[Verse 1]
I’m not calling you a liar
Just don’t lie to me
I’m not calling you a thief
Just don’t steal from me
I’m not calling you a ghost
Just stop haunting me
And I love you so much
I’m gonna let you kill me
(Lyrics from Genius)
These lyrics confuse the listener in the best way. They seem to be in defense, but then take back their power by setting demands; only then do they relinquish it in the last line of the verse: “I’m gonna let you kill me.” It paints a complex picture of our speaker, who talks about the ghost of her past lover.
It’s one of the lesser-played songs on the album but is one of my long-time favorites.
- Kiss With A Fist
“Kiss With A Fist” is a violent telling of two lovers’ chaos. Bones get broken, plates get shattered, and the bed these two share is burnt down.
The song starts off with an open mic feeling, then electric guitars burst onto the scene. The song thrives on blunt lyrics and guitar riffs. It’s not a sad song, it’s vengeful and angry; each party trying to get back at one another; a game. Thankfully, it’s all metaphorical.
- Girl With One Eye
I had to include this one because it’s just so powerful in its execution. Florence’s vocals on this song are impressive, especially for a debut album. The belt-worthy bridge is the climax of this song, and worth the wait. The song itself is a cover, but you would never know because Welch makes it all her own.
It’s a little disturbing. Welch sings about cutting out a girl’s eye, bringing it home, and watching it wither away. I’m not sure of its meaning but Welch has a tendency to sing about darker subjects. There are many speculations about the lyrics’ meaning, though none seem to be confirmed.
- Drumming Song
This is one of my new favorites. I happened to listen to Lungs earlier this month and this song became a hit in my psyche. It plays over and over again, the live version is also a masterpiece. I played it so many times I memorized where it was spatially on the album. It became muscle memory.
As the title suggests we get a nice beat of drums and the rhythmic nature of them rubs off on the lyrics and the other elements of the song. It has a twirl-ability; it makes you want to move.
- My Boy Builds Coffins
My Boy Builds Coffins is a reminder of our own mortality, and does so in a graceful way. I wanted to quote multiple of the verses here, but I realized all the verses are quote-worthy. Welch sings about the temporary fate of his art form. The coffin is built, and then buried away forever. It hits me in the feelings every time. It’s not exactly a sad song, and it’s not real either, but it has an emotional authenticity that is just so special.
I admire Welch and her songs about love, death and being alive. Her music is something I’ve carried with me for a while, and will probably continue to stay with me for quite some time. It’s hard to put into words what music makes me feel like, especially hers. Euphoria is not a word I throw around. Euphoria is great, but terrifying in retrospect. To say her music scares me would be a misrepresentation, but all the best parts of Euphoria perfectly match what it feels like to listen to Florence and the Machine.
Image from florenceandthemachine.net.
