Smoke + Mirrors
by Imagine Dragons
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 366 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 274 out of 366
  2. Mixed: 54 out of 366
  3. Negative: 38 out of 366
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. GiaccoU
    Feb 17, 2015
    6
    They definitely changed and evolved from their last album, it feels like Smoke + Mirrors should be a huge thing (and the first half it certainly starts it well), but it ends up disappointing.
  2. Prosmooth
    Feb 17, 2015
    5
    I've heard them sound like U2, Radiohead, Muse, and Coldplay. Will be nice when they sound like Imagine Dragons. Not on this album though. No idea what identity this band is striving for. A huge, messy, overproduced record.
  3. gameboy673
    Feb 18, 2015
    6
    The songs themselves aren't that bad, but Smoke + Mirrors doesn't have any cohesion as an album. It seems like Imagine Dragons may not have hit a sophomore slump as much as a sophomore identity crisis.
  4. brockcheese
    Feb 18, 2015
    6
    This album is certainly their best yet, although that is not really saying much, considering the quality of their previous work. The production of this album is much messier than before, which has both positives and negatives. For one, it sounds fresh and new compared to their previous style which was just a retread on power anthems and christian rock. However, this also works against theThis album is certainly their best yet, although that is not really saying much, considering the quality of their previous work. The production of this album is much messier than before, which has both positives and negatives. For one, it sounds fresh and new compared to their previous style which was just a retread on power anthems and christian rock. However, this also works against the album because some parts of the song are incredibly annoying to listen to, especially the ending of The Fall. Overall this is a messy album that has its high points, but ultimately comes down to about as much a failure as their previous work.… Expand
  5. jyo_tirmaya
    Feb 17, 2015
    4
    Imagine Dragons will be so irrelevant in one or two years that it hardly seems necessary to write a review for them. Of course, being nominated for a Grammy and losing didn't help matters much. I just hope they haven't given up their day jobs.
  6. Mab_987
    Feb 20, 2015
    6
    Unfortunately, Imagine Dragons followed up their acclaimed breakthrough hits with a confused unfocused mess. Some great bits of experimentation, some that don't work out as well, some mediocre radio grabs, etc. Textbook case of the sophomore slump following the fantastic Nigh Visions, though worth a listen for the better moments.

    (If you wanna see a longer in-depth track-by-track    Unfortunately, Imagine Dragons followed up their acclaimed breakthrough hits with a confused unfocused mess. Some great bits of experimentation, some that don't work out as well, some mediocre radio grabs, etc. Textbook case of the sophomore slump following the fantastic Nigh Visions, though worth a listen for the better moments.

    (If you wanna see a longer in-depth track-by-track review, look up "Spin It Reviews" on YouTube.)    … Expand
  7. himynameisart
    Feb 18, 2015
    5
    Huge fan of their first album, this one is very MEH! feels rushed and soulless, it lacks those hooks from their first album. Very disappointing. Guess their best work is behind them.
  8. lucas24
    Feb 17, 2015
    6
    Imagine dragons é uma ótima banda pra seu estilo. o album é bem interessante mas, o conjunto não me conquistou todo. Shots sem duvida é perfeita! Creio que terá uma nota maior que o NV.
  9. Clucktastic
    Feb 20, 2015
    4
    The album is hard to listen to. As The Dragons try to cover a variety of different styles, the flow of each messy song to another seems like a mishmash of half-cooked songs thrown together. It feels like they were trying to make every song sound different, but they're all overproduced and unrelated.

    Best song: Shots

    Worst song: Polaroid
  10. GoldenPlague
    Feb 23, 2015
    5
    I honestly don't know how to feel about the new album -- I understand they've 'evolved' as musicians, but I expected Smoke + Mirrors to be on par, or better than the previous release. There are a few good tracks, like "I Bet My Life", but overall I can't help but say I'm a little disappointed.
  11. teqkira
    Jun 19, 2016
    5
    O Imagine Dragons já é grande conhecido de todo mundo, apareceu e ganhou visibilidade logo quando surgiu com “It’s Time”, o primeiro single de seu disco de estréia, o Night Visions de 2012, produzido pela banda em conjunto com Alex Da Kid. O disco estreou em 2º lugar na lista da Billboard e ficou no topo dos charts de rock de vários países. Daí pra frente foram colhendo os frutos dosO Imagine Dragons já é grande conhecido de todo mundo, apareceu e ganhou visibilidade logo quando surgiu com “It’s Time”, o primeiro single de seu disco de estréia, o Night Visions de 2012, produzido pela banda em conjunto com Alex Da Kid. O disco estreou em 2º lugar na lista da Billboard e ficou no topo dos charts de rock de vários países. Daí pra frente foram colhendo os frutos dos singles seguintes como “Demons” e o super hit “Radioactive”.

    Após o sucesso da Into The Night Tour, que teve seu encerramento num show incrível e cheio de energia no Lollapalooza Brasil do ano passado, a banda deu uma pausa nas atividades para começar as gravações de seu segundo disco, o Smoke + Mirrors, que teve boa parte do seu material escrito enquanto a banda estava na estrada com a turnê.A faixa escolhida para ser o carro chefe do novo álbum foi “I Bet My Life” que apesar da letra sensacional (que Dan explicou ser sobre a sua relação com os pais), não trouxe grandes mudanças ou evolução na sonoridade da banda. O single seguinte foi a maravilhosa “Gold”, que é impecável em todos os sentidos e a grande responsável pela decepção que foi o disco.

    Depois da abertura “Shots” e a já citada “Gold”, chega a faixa que dá nome ao álbum, a primeira que começa com uma ambientação muito boa e chega num refrão gritado que não mantém o fôlego. Em seguida, em “Im So Sorry”, vem uma esperança com o instrumental pesado pra cantar bem alto o que talvez seja uma das melhores frases do disco e que cresce para um solo de guitarra que acaba antes de chegar aonde deveria e novamente quebra o clima.

    O Smoke + Mirrors segue nesse clima de músicas épicas, com instrumentais que crescem e ficam prestes a estourar no clímax, mas que no fim das contas não chegam em lugar nenhum. Além de boa parte dele me dar a impressão de já ter escutado aquelas músicas em algum lugar. Talvez isso tudo seja causado pela pressão em fazer um novo álbum logo para aproveitar o hype colossal que foi colocado em cima deles e por esse material ter sido produzido em grande parte ainda com os integrantes da banda imersos no clima do “Night Visions”.

    Pra não falar só de defeitos, posso destacar a “Friction” e quase no fim, “Hopeless Opus” que me arrepiaram todo e conseguiram dar uma salvada no disco. Além de tudo, não há como negar que a produção do disco melhorou muito em termos técnicos, o que é um avanço, já que o disco foi praticamente inteiro escrito e produzido pela banda, contando com a ajuda de Alex Da Kid somente em duas faixas.

    Apesar do disco de estúdio ter sido esse banho de água fria, sei que ao vivo eles conseguem dar um gás absurdo nas músicas, além de trazer os hits do trabalho anterior pra animar mais ainda seu púbico e mostrar que são mais que só um truque de fumaça e espelhos.    … Expand
  12. mrdr4gon
    Nov 15, 2017
    5
    WAY too similar to their debut, far too samey across the album itself, and full of empty, vacuous songwriting. A couple of highlights manage to scrape this back up to average.

Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Most Discussed Album of 2015
71
#71 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. AllMusic
    Feb 20, 2015
    70
    These guys are shameless and that's what makes them more fun than your average arena rockers.
    Read full review
  2. Boston Globe
    Feb 17, 2015
    70
    Evocations of everyone from Coldplay to Peter Gabriel to Queen remain intact, with that first band’s specter looming largest over the moody, dirge-y, electro-tweaked proceedings. The album hits its most interesting and feverish spike with the furtive yelps and rhythms of “Friction.”
    Read full review
  3. Billboard.com
    Feb 17, 2015
    50
    Smoke + Mirrors may seem too recycled and belabored to entice the unconverted, but the hints of hidden depths are a pleasant surprise.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »