Recommended Tracks: “Holy Roller,” “No You Don’t,” “Leave It Alone (Till the Morning)”
Artists You Might Like: Motion City Soundtrack, The Wrecks, The Starting Line
When I first heard The Format, it was in 2009. My brother had just gone through a bad breakup, and he was listening to “The First Single (You Know Me)” from the band’s 2003 album, Interventions and Lullabies. When I say he was listening to this song, I mean he had it on repeat. For days. For weeks. I got very familiar with Nate Ruess’s voice, so when Nate reemerged a couple years later with a different band and a hit single, I was instantly engaged. Curious. This band was fun. and this hit song was “We Are Young,” a pure pop culture anthem. It doesn’t matter where you were or what you listened to—you heard this song and you loved this song. But as good as the music was, fun.’s popularity only lasted so long. The members became busy with other projects, and fans were left to wonder what would happen next.
In recent years, The Format have teased a return, but it wasn’t until last summer when things got real. Shows and appearances were happening, and fans of fun. and The Format could once again get lost in Nate’s distinct folk-rock timbre. And when October rolled around, the band made a big announcement. A new album—their first in 20 years—would be dropping in January. The holidays came and went, more singles were released, the hype grew, and—oh, look at that. This new album, Boycott Heaven, has arrived.
In a way, Boycott Heaven is a fresh start for The Format, and we can feel this throughout the album. With the opening track “No Gold at the Top,” the band invite us in and let us know that they are as ready for this moment as we are. Guided by twangy guitar riffs, Nate sings, “I can feel you in my blood / I wanna hold your hand / One night is just enough so / Let go and let’s begin.” Whether it’s his enthusiasm, the mellow indie-rock music, or the hopeful lyrics, there’s a familiar quality to the track—almost as if we are the ones returning to The Format, not them returning to us.
A notable aspect of The Format’s music is the way they speak on the highs and lows of life. Tracks like “Shot in the Dark” and “Right Where I Belong” are reflective, with themes of gratitude and love. The former gets in your face right off the bat, with its high energy strumming and Nate’s exclamatory vocals. All the while, he drops lines like, “Oh, how would I know I’d get all this love / From just a shot in the dark” and “Lived my whole life like I was ready to die / Till I finally caught a piece of the sun,” aware of how far he’s come. The latter, “Right Where I Belong,” is tender and affectionate, setting a perfect example of how love should feel and be expressed. Nate sings, “Julia, what did you do? / ‘Cause now I’m waking up sober, brushing teeth, tying shoes / And I don’t say it enough, love, the way I feel for you,” accepting that these changes were for the better. Other tracks like “Forever” and “Depressed” provide a contrast to these themes, touching on identity and gloom. On “Forever,” a scene unfolds before us through bits of lyrics like, “At the door / On your floor,” “Magazines / And kerosene,” and “Big sips / ‘How you been’s / And ‘where’d you go’s.” All the while, Nate observes, “I fear that I am not like anyone / But I don’t know” and “I feel that I am just like everyone / But I don’t know.” The change in lyrics offers a change of perspective, much like the way The Format changes genres on “Depressed.” Here, the song starts out thrashy and bitter. It then drops that for a light, tropical sound, representing how emotions and moods aren’t always predictable.
And as emotions can change, it makes sense to pause certain situations or leave them behind until further notice. The anthemic “Holy Roller” believes that you can’t resurrect what’s dead; if it’s time to call it quits, then call it quits. The lyrics come across as defeated as Nate sings, “Holy roller / Don’t go wasting all your time / Praying for a sign,” while the music builds and builds. Meanwhile, “No You Don’t” fights back, unafraid to expose the truth. Its calm yet restless dynamic makes it a standout on the album, which is enhanced by the emotional delivery of the lyrics. We hear, “Who are you to say you love me, baby? / Even though you know you don’t / And who are you to laugh behind my back / And tell me nothing’s wrong?” In the end, Nate is “through with giving you all of my time,” bringing this relationship to a close. This is opposite to what we get on “Human Nature” and “Leave It Alone (Till the Morning),” which remain open-ended. When all comes to a head, sometimes you have to “spend some time alone” or “just leave it alone till the morning,” after all has settled.
The album ends with new possibilities, making a perfect bookend to “No Gold at the Top.” With the title track, The Format give us a cinematic alt-rock ballad. The band knows when to be loud and when to be soft, and when it comes down to it, they always remain expressive. The song fluctuates between having nothing to believe in and having something to believe in, making the case that life is best when it just comes to you. It almost feels right to end the album here, but “Back to Life” is the one that solidifies The Format’s return. Nate almost sounds as if he is in disbelief when he sings the repeated line, “I’m back to life,” reinforcing the statement made with this album.
Overall, Boycott Heaven is a dynamic continuation of The Format’s story. It’s crazy to think that it has been two decades since they released an album, as Boycott Heaven could have been recorded right after their previous album dropped. It’s fresh but not too fresh, and nostalgic but not too nostalgic. It’s an album for those who don’t belong but want to do what is right. It’s very much The Format, giving listeners much to think about. From the bold lyrics to the valiant vocals to the musical experimentation, the album presents fans with a lot to take in, as worthy art should. So, boycott heaven—or don’t. The choice, ultimately, is up to you.
You can listen to Boycott Heaven here.
Catch The Format on tour here.
Keep up with The Format: Instagram // Facebook // X // TikTok // YouTube // Website
