I’ve made it pretty clear that I’m a huge Florence + The Machine fan and I love everything they do. But without bias, and my huge love for their music aside, their new album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, is their best album yet. Florence + The Machine has evolved yet again but stuck true to their musical vision and produced an album that I can say is my favorite album of the year so far.

It begins with “Ship To Wreck,” a homage to classic rock and anthem for the lost. “Did I drink to much/Am I losing touch/Did a build a ship to wreck,” Florence shouts over the classic guitar and moving drum beat. It’s a solid way to start the album because it lays down a couple main themes for the album, mainly the more rock-oriented aspects. This song also is used for her most recent music video, which feels like a continuation of the past two (here and here), due to similar cast and dance features.

The title track, “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,” is an amazing encompassing song for this album. It’s pretty much an ahem to the beauty of the earth and sky, “Every city was a gift/And every skyline was like a kiss upon the lips.” It ends with a cacophony of horns that was featured in the announcement video for the album earlier this year. I was thrilled to hear this still used because it blows me away.

Slowing it down, “Various Storms & Saints” is a beautiful ballad including orchestral and rock facets. This song also shows off Florence’s vocal prowess and pure power. She builds from a modest whisper to her full dominant belt. It’s the subtle and uncomplicated nature of the song that really makes it shine through, it’s nothing too extravagant; it just lays groundwork for an emotional poem that flows out of Florence.

“Third Eye” is also a song to note. It’s upbeat and powerful and includes brass melodies, which come up in other songs, like the title track “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” and “What Kind Of Man.” “Third Eye” fuels the stark realism that is found throughout the album and I can see being a top track of the album.

I would also recommend all of the bonus tracks found on the deluxe version. Out of the five bonus songs, three of them are demos, meaning they are the original pitch to the producers of the song, including the demos for “Third Eye” and “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.” There is also an entirely new song “Which Witch (Demo)” that was obviously so good during the demo stage they didn’t need to do much more.

I could try to tell you my favorite song on the album but every time I listen to another one it becomes my favorite. How Big… is the natural transition from their sophomore album, Ceremonials, and feels like the pinnacle for Florence + The Machine. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if I say that exact same thing with their next album.

https://open.spotify.com/user/dutastyjams/playlist/0xQaYqzvhaoHTPDxgr9HtT