"Florence + The Machine - Lungs" Absolutely Enchanting

    I remember how I first discovered Florence + The Machine. I was doing a re-watch of all of the Christmas themed episodes from my favourite show of all time, and during the very first one, Comparative Religion, a fight breaks out between the study group and the bullies. During this fight scene, one song, A Kiss with A Fist plays, and the rest is history. I put on the album, immediately stopped putting it on to listen to/enjoy Dog Days Are Over for a day because it's an amazing song, and then put on the rest of the album while keeping up with the 2022 World Cup. And now, in 2024, I've finally finished going through all of Florence's discography, and suffice to say, nothing has quite enamored me as her debut album, Lungs had. In fact, I'd go so far to say that there's a small part of me that thinks this might be one of my favourite albums of all time. Of course, I've hardly known this album for a year, and I'm a bit wary putting something so new so high, but I'd be lying if I said I don't enjoy the hell out of this album. So now's the perfect time to see just how well it stacks up, and without further ado, my track-by-track review.

Lungs - Florence + The Machine

Dog Days Are Over - 100/100 This song is so immediately catchy it's kind of insane. Every time I hear this song I have such a strong desire to clap along to the beat just like in the song, this is the perfect song to hook viewers into your music it's absurdly amazing.  I know a lot of people think that you shouldn't start off your albums with the strongest tracks, especially if that means you don't care about track listing/frontload it with singles, but this song is so good I would make it the intro track too.

Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) - 90/100 Oddly enough, I like this song, but sometimes I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with it. When I first heard it I loved it, and then for a little bit I was kind of annoyed when I listened to it, but I think I've come back around to this song, the chorus is just too good, the way the piano and her voice meld so furiously is just perfect.

I'm Not Calling You A Liar - 92/100 This is one of those songs that helped me realize how much I loved this album, because every time I'd find new ways to fall in love with it, and this is one of those songs. I remember there was a week that I'd play this song constantly, because it was just so beautiful to me. The way Florence sings, to the strings plucking in the background, to the way the song slowly builds itself up, it just hit all the right notes for me.

Howl - 90/100 This is also one of those songs that I just kept coming back to after everything was said and done. The thumping drums, the soaring refrains, I hate to say an artist peaked at their debut, but this album really does feel like peak Florence + The Machine to me, and it's songs like these that seal the deal.

Kiss With A Fist - 88/100 Once again this is the song that got me into Florence + The Machine so of course I'm a little biased towards it. Does it sound a little dated to the 2000's? Of course, but to be fair this entire album gives me 2000's indie vibes anyways so I suppose it fits. A short and sweet fun track.

Girl With One Eye - 83/100 Does the album start to drop off a little at this point? Yes but that's mainly because I just think the album starts off so strongly. I'm going to be honest I didn't even realize this song was a cover of a song until today. 

Drumming Song - 80/100 I still enjoy this song but I definitely do think it's one of the "weaker" tracks compared to the rest of the faster-paced tracks on this album. I think what separates this song from the stronger tracks on this album is that it simply isn't as catchy as the rest of the tracks on this album? The rest of the tracks I've rated higher have most definitely been stuck in my head at one point or another and I don't think I've ever felt that about this track.

Between Two Lungs - 92/100 Like Howl, or I'm Not Calling You a Liar, this is just one of those slower songs that sort of get stuck in your head for days on end. Sometimes, randomly, I'll start thinking about this song, lie in bed, play it and just listen to the music, the instrumentation, the beat, the way it gets progressively faster, all of it just clicks for me.

Cosmic Love - 75/100 I think my favourite part of this song is the bridge. I do think this is one of the weaker tracks off of the album, but I don't necessarily hate it, it just doesn't wow me in the same way the other songs off this album do.

My Boy Builds Coffins - 78/100 Once again I find myself impressed with the way Florence songs slowly build themselves up to this big climax at the end. Also I remember someone saying that this is by far her most inventive album at least lyrically, and I think I'd have to agree with that sentiment.

Hurricane Drunk - 79/100 This song does the quiet/loud alternating chorus/verse structure and I think the chorus/bridge end up being by far the strongest parts of this song. I think the transition is a bit jarring but the song is still good nonetheless especially the bridge it's just immaculate.

Blinding - 70/100 By my estimations this is the weakest song on the album, it feels more like one of those transition songs there's never really any sort of energy shift it all stays on the sameish tone the entire time and for that reason it's just fine to me.

You've Got The Love - 90/100 I did not realize that this song is also a cover but it's still a fantastic track nonetheless. Sometimes this track is like Rabbit Heart in which I have a love/hate relationship with it. But when I'm craving this song I'm absolutely in love with it and I cannot get enough of the chorus.

Final Score: 87/100

    Listening t this album, I must admit, it really is that good. I would most definitely go bat for it if required, and I do think it is that good. Sure, it has some weak tracks, but it has all the ingredients to make an amazing album for me. It's deep enough that there are multiple different tracks that I'd go back to repeatedly time after time to listen to. It has an amazing track in Dog Days Are Over which might be one of my favourite songs of all time if we're being honest. It's dramatic, it sounds lush, it has pretty much everything I'd want from an art pop/indie album. It's kind of a shame that nothing she has released has really lived up to the standard that Lungs set, though I have to admit Ceremonials is the only one that really manages to itch those same spots for me. Even still, this album is an accomplishment, not just for a debut album, but in general, and I really do think it's fantastic enough to sniff my top 10 favourite albums of all time, at least for right now.