Evolve
by Imagine Dragons
User Score
6.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 467 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 309 out of 467
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 467
  3. Negative: 87 out of 467
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  1. Wendigoat
    Jul 17, 2017
    3
    Imagine Dragons continue to go there downward, pop-rock trend with Evolve. There isn't much distinction between many of the songs, they incorporate electronic music into their music in the most uninteresting of ways and do as little as they can to set themselves apart from other popular contemporaries. I wasn't expecting much but was still disappointed.
  2. Tom_MS
    Jun 24, 2017
    3
    A marked decrease in quality since their last two albums, this bland collection of want-to-be hits disappoints. It opens with "I Don't Know Why", a song with lacking, generic lyrics and what has (if I'm speaking generously) an only okay tune. If your looking for the style of "I Bet my Life" or the energy of "I'm So Sorry" and "Friction", you'll miss it on this album. Songs like "Believer",A marked decrease in quality since their last two albums, this bland collection of want-to-be hits disappoints. It opens with "I Don't Know Why", a song with lacking, generic lyrics and what has (if I'm speaking generously) an only okay tune. If your looking for the style of "I Bet my Life" or the energy of "I'm So Sorry" and "Friction", you'll miss it on this album. Songs like "Believer", "Whatever It Takes", and "Rise Up" have a catchy, manufactured chorus that just repeats endlessly with, once again, no lyrical content. These songs as well as really this whole album seems to be a clear grab at regaining popularity after their last album.
    The few redeeming songs on this album include "Walking the Wire" and "Start Over" which are actually somewhat interesting and do not sound completely superficial, however, both still manage to mind-numbingly boring lyrically and musically.
    In conclusion, I miss the old stuff on "Night Visions" with actual songs like "Amsterdam", which yes aren't as sellable to advertisers, but is nevertheless what attracts long-time fans. "Smoke and Mirrors" experimented with energetic new styles with the previously mentioned "I'm So Sorry" and "Friction". This album, however, was re-manufactured.
    By the way, did anyone else notice the similarity between "Believer" and "Sucker for Pain"?    … Expand
  3. useless_world
    Jun 23, 2017
    2
    Evolve is the worst Album. Im totally disappointed. The only two good one are Believer and Thunder. I like the music from Imagine Dragons but with this is a total disaster. So 2 Points for Believer and Thunder.
  4. YT_Guyyy
    Jun 23, 2017
    2
    I'm not really a fan of Imagine Dragons, never been. They have some alright, catchy singles, and I've heard a couple songs from Smoke + Mirrors and Night Visions, and they were kinda OK, but not really all that impressive. So I wouldn't have listened to this album if it weren't for some of my friends telling me to listen to it. I thought why not, since at the time there hadn't been allI'm not really a fan of Imagine Dragons, never been. They have some alright, catchy singles, and I've heard a couple songs from Smoke + Mirrors and Night Visions, and they were kinda OK, but not really all that impressive. So I wouldn't have listened to this album if it weren't for some of my friends telling me to listen to it. I thought why not, since at the time there hadn't been all that many good albums released, and I was going to listen to pretty much anything, since I just wanted some good music. ANY good music from this year.

    I didn't really find it here. The songs are generally the same quality, not many standout songs in terms of quality. I Don't Know Why would probably be my favorite song, were I to pick one. Start Over and I'll Make It Up To You could maybe challenge for that title.

    The worst song on the other hand is hard to pick. Dancing In the Dark, Yesterday, Rise Up, Walking the Wire.

    The style is pretty similar to their previous material. Similar pop-rock and alternative rock. Maybe a little livelier and more pop. Not necessarily a bad thing, unless you do it badly.

    Overall I wasn't very impressed by the album. There were a few decent songs in here, but overall it's a pretty bad album.    … Expand
  5. SirFaulty
    Jun 29, 2017
    1
    Absolutely terrible album. Enjoyed their first album quite a bit, but sorry this is just **** You can no longer count me as a fan. None of the songs have a catchy melody and the song writing is lazy. Sounds like these guys are flash in the pans. I don't expect them to be around much longer nor anybody actually giving a **** about their music in a few years time.
  6. JohnJames
    Jul 29, 2017
    3
    You can put songs in a Trailer or a commercial with a lot of effort especially mixing & editing to fit perfectly and let the song bring life to your trailer, take note to find a song that perfectly fits to the output you make . But for Imagine Dragons songs just paste it on to your trailer/commercial without any effort it will fit to any genre and boom your done,the trailer/commercial wilYou can put songs in a Trailer or a commercial with a lot of effort especially mixing & editing to fit perfectly and let the song bring life to your trailer, take note to find a song that perfectly fits to the output you make . But for Imagine Dragons songs just paste it on to your trailer/commercial without any effort it will fit to any genre and boom your done,the trailer/commercial wil be lifeless ,dull and pretentious.… Expand
  7. Panchogul
    Jul 22, 2022
    2
    Buenas letras, buen sonido, pésimas voces, no tienen nada de armonía ni encanto.
  8. Tabor
    Jul 2, 2017
    3
    The good gone horrid alt group, comes back with another failure in music. The last album, "Smoke + Mirrors" followed the same formulaic approach that became "Evolve"'s Doom . That Same old, same old "We are superhuman we can do anything" pattern that drives every piece of Imagine Dragons' work, was good at first (in their OK 2012 debut "Night Visions"), but the more they exploit it, theThe good gone horrid alt group, comes back with another failure in music. The last album, "Smoke + Mirrors" followed the same formulaic approach that became "Evolve"'s Doom . That Same old, same old "We are superhuman we can do anything" pattern that drives every piece of Imagine Dragons' work, was good at first (in their OK 2012 debut "Night Visions"), but the more they exploit it, the worse they get. To add their uninteresting concepts, we also have boring music that we have heard before, and overused melodic patterns that do not help their case. If imagine Dragons wants to be a not just commercial, but critical success, they need to turn to original material and less conventional melodies and music. Dear, Imagine Dragons come back to me when you are fully Evolved.… Expand
  9. bljak
    Aug 10, 2017
    3
    This album was pretty disappointing, and I can't figure out why. It was annoying to the point that it made me look at their two previous albums to see if I'd missed something...
    I wasn't feeling the music like in Night Visions, and I wasn't feeling the lyrics like in Smoke and Mirrors. It seemed experimental, which is fine, but it didn't work for me. I liked Believer, and Thunder is    This album was pretty disappointing, and I can't figure out why. It was annoying to the point that it made me look at their two previous albums to see if I'd missed something...
    I wasn't feeling the music like in Night Visions, and I wasn't feeling the lyrics like in Smoke and Mirrors. It seemed experimental, which is fine, but it didn't work for me. I liked Believer, and Thunder is catchy but I don't like the lyrics (seemed almost arrogant) so...I don't know where this band is going anymore. Maybe they should take their time.    … Expand
  10. HyanHythalo
    Jul 27, 2017
    1
    A real lazy job, where it shows that making great songs is worse than making songs for the radios, this album being a boring, weak and bland stadium rock. Not a good companion to Smoke + Mirrors (2015), which did have some good times.
  11. RedHotRock20
    Sep 16, 2017
    3
    Due to an intriguing and unique reputation they developed for themselves over their two previous records, "Night Visions" and "Smoke + Mirrors", it is likely safe to say that expectations for their junior effort were fairly high to say the least. With front man Dan Reynolds having at last escaped his persisting depression in 2016 to add to this already potent mix, a bright future seemedDue to an intriguing and unique reputation they developed for themselves over their two previous records, "Night Visions" and "Smoke + Mirrors", it is likely safe to say that expectations for their junior effort were fairly high to say the least. With front man Dan Reynolds having at last escaped his persisting depression in 2016 to add to this already potent mix, a bright future seemed imminent for the group of alt. rockers. Unfortunately, these hopes were quickly put to rest upon the release of preview singles, "Thunder" and "Whatever It Takes", as it became clear that the band was headed in a completely different direction than many critics and fans alike had hoped. Over the course of a mere six month period between January and June of 2017, Imagine Dragons managed to nearly throw away their entire alternative-fueled background and fall victim to the mainstream of pop culture madness. If anything, their third album is the opposite of the evolution it claims to be and should represent a serious warning to the band of where their genre boundaries truly lie. With the lone signs of their old selves shown in "Mouth Of The River", "I'll Make It Up To You", and to an extent, "Believer", perhaps the group should search for inspirational advice in some of their older lyrics and "Go back to their roots".… Expand
  12. PussayBeast
    May 20, 2018
    0
    A total disaster. It came out as such a big disappointment after two beautiful albums, especially the debut one. They really need to change the producer, because this album is the opposite to evolution.
  13. TrenchSave2018
    Sep 25, 2018
    0
    Pobres las sirvientas de Twenty One Pilots, horrora con su aborto.
    Buy Trench on iTunes
  14. juanselopez340
    May 14, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. bad bad bad bad, this is a response to how badly done an album is, it would just come out if I listened to it again in its entirety because it's not made to do it, (MEDIOCRE MEANINGLESS THE WORST)… Expand
  15. All_ButTrU4
    Aug 24, 2022
    0
    Don't believe the album title because nothing shows evolution here. Not only do they sound like a horrific U2 coverband but they still haven't managed a single satisfactory release. an example of band that tries to take every single trend in music, throw it together on a canvas, and see what happens. I hated thunder and beliver the most.
  16. Codeling
    Aug 7, 2021
    2
    It's **** awful. Two good songs and others are average or below. Dancing in the Dark is one of the worst songs I've ever heard.
    Best songs: Whatever It Takes, Believer
    Worst songs: Dancing in the Dark
  17. Zixon
    Aug 14, 2022
    1
    Thunder, thunder
    Thunder, thun-, thunder
    Thun-thun-thunder, thunder
    Thunder, thunder, thun-, thunder
    Thun-thun-thunder, thunder
  18. IMBboy
    Feb 13, 2021
    0
    a rock band that makes edm. this is a **** joke. i always hated them and this album was the last straw

Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Most Discussed Album of 2017
66
#66 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
47

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. musicOMH.com
    Jun 26, 2017
    50
    There’s not enough quality across the whole of Evolve to convincingly make the case that Imagine Dragons actually have, or to attract an audience of new listeners. Evolve is a good idea, but in practise it turns out that it doesn’t really work.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    Jun 23, 2017
    40
    Their [producers Mattman & Robin's] spacious productions are an odd fit for Dan Reynolds' tortured dude-isms.
    Read full review
  3. The Guardian
    Jun 22, 2017
    40
    Evolve sounds, almost impressively so, as though it’s been created with telly music coordinators in mind--and few others besides.
    Read full review
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