The album does have a few shining moments like “Natural,” but they are rare. “West Coast” is fairly similar to songs on Phillip Phillips album, “The World from the Side of the Moon,” with plucked guitar and Reynolds effort for a soulful sound. Pop clichés are another thing that Imagine Dragons attempts to avoid but they are all over the place in “Origins.” With its sappy lyrics like “You were my one,” the song “Stuck” sounds like it could have been created by Maroon 5. There are very few upbeat songs on the album which is strange for Imagine Dragons as they usually have less slow songs and more intense anthems that fans can belt out. The album bounces back and forth between slow songs with rhythmic guitars to songs like “Digital.” This makes for a tough album to listen to. You could easily take lead singer Dan Reynolds’ vocals out and not notice. “Bullet in a Gun” sounds like it was thrown together in Garageband with its synth and echoey vocal effects. The lyrical delivery is slow paced and feels disjointed. Much of the album feels out of place and awkwardly stitched together.
Much of the album consists of synthesized beats and repetitive lyrics that lack creativity. Thus, “Origins,” even with the hype set up around it, does not make for a well-crafted album.
The band had been on tour for the majority of the fall in 2017 to promote “Evolve,” which did not allow much time in between to create another album. It sets up the rest of the album for success, but it is all a ruse. “Natural” is alluring with powerful piano rhythms and chilling choral group vocals. The lyrics reference the sacrifices that must be made in order to “make it” in the industry and how one can change over the years while being part of the scene. Imagine Dragons have always made themselves out to be brash philosophers of the music industry and “Natural” is a great example of their ideology. The album begins with the most Imagine Dragons-esque song, “Natural.” Similar to past songs “Believer” and “Radioactive,” “Natural” is heavy hitting and lyrically beautiful. But with the quick fame of their 2017 album, “Evolve,” Imagine Dragons seemed a bit too eager to get back in the studio. Their popularity began with the apocalyptic “Radioactive” and since then they have yet to disappoint their fans. Imagine Dragons has been pumping out hits for the past ten years and has made quite the name for themselves.
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