Florence + the Machine

So a couple of months ago I was up late checking out random videos and I stumbled across something unlike anything I had seen in a very long time.  It was like modern day kabuki theatre (white makeup included) mashed up with tribal style costumes and little bit of a 60’s beehive backup singer feel (except the ladies were blue).

The video was for "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence + the Machine.  Instantly, I was smitten.  Florence + the Machine are based out of the UK and it’s difficult to pin this band into just one genre.  The lead singer, Florence Welch, has so much power behind her voice and in the debut album Lungs, she utilizes it on every single track.  Combined with the bands mass of instruments, Lungs is an album that I usually listen to cranked as loud as possible so I can hear every single detail in the songs.  Great songs for that include: "Dog Days Are Over", "Howl", "Drumming Song", "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)", and "Cosmic Love".  Another stand out track is "Kiss With a Fist".  It’s got a gritty, garage rock feel and has actually been the cause of some controversy due to the lyrical content.

“You hit me once, I hit you back. You gave a kick, I gave a slap. You smashed a plate over my head, then I set fire to our bed…”

With lyrics like that it is understandable how some people think the song is about domestic violence.  Florence says on the blog page of her myspace:

“Kiss with a fist is NOT a song about domestic violence.

it is about two people pushing each other to phsycological extremes because they love each other.  the song is not about one person being attacked, or any actual physical violence, there are no victims in this song. sometimes the love two people have for each other is a destructive force. but they cant have it any other way, because its what holds them together, they enjoy the drama and pushing each others buttons.  the only way to express these extreme emotions is with extreme imagery, all of which is fantasism and nothing in the song is based on reality.

leona lewis's bleeding love isn't actually about her bleeding. this isnt really about punching someone in the face. thank you and goodnight. x”

Florence + the Machine has been active in the UK since Lungs was released in July of 2009 and has recently gained momentum here in the US because some of the songs have been featured in the media.  "Dog Days Are Over" can be heard on the trailer of the film, Eat Pray Love.  Kiss With a Fist can be heard on the Jennifer’s Body soundtrack (I can’t name anyone who actually saw/enjoyed that movie).  "I’m Not Calling You A Liar" can be heard on the commercial for a new fall show on Fox, called Lone Star.  "Cosmic Love", the most recent single (and one of my standout favorites on the album), was heard on several shows like the 6th season of Grey’s Anatomy, the 7th season of one of my guilty pleasures, So You Think You Can Dance, and on the 1st season of the hit show V.  There’s even a song on the Twilight: Eclipse soundtrack, called "Heavy in Your Arms", which is not featured on the album Lungs.

Florence + the Machine has been announced as one the performing acts for one the biggest nights for music of the year, the MTV Video Music Awards next Sunday, September 12th.  Be sure to tune in for what I expect to be a stunning performance. 

Check out Florence + the Machine official site