By Sammy Collier
Before starting this review, I would like to publicly apologize to my dad. I was in 8th grade when Night Visions was released, and I became obsessed with Imagine Dragons. For the entire school year, I woke up to “Radioactive” as my alarm. I was not particularly good at getting up right away, so Dad had to listen to that song every morning as he tried to drag me out of bed. Since then, every time he’s heard that song come on the radio, he has turned to me and said, “It’s time to wake up, Sammy.” I may have ruined a great song for him, but hopefully this article will convince you that this album is just as relevant now as it was twelve years ago when I was obsessed with it.
The Super Deluxe edition of Night Visions came out in 2022 for the ten-year anniversary of the original album. This edition is jam-packed. It includes all songs from the original album, songs that have been released in other expanded editions, two demos from the time Night Visions was being recorded, a handful of live performances, and several remixes.
This edition captures the breakout success that Imagine Dragons experienced during their early days. The originals that are included were the hits that made them famous. The live performances help you feel how passionate their fanbase was as they heard those hits in person. The remixes show the widespread acceptance of Imagine Dragons into the mainstream as popular acts like Passion Pit and Bastille, among others, helped reimagine those same songs.
There is no way I could discuss this album without bringing up “It’s Time.” This song is the soundtrack of the 2010s. Nothing brings me back to that time more than this song. “It’s time to begin, isn’t it? / I get a little bit bigger but then I’ll admit I’m just the same as I was. / Now don’t you understand? I’m never changing who I am.” It’s interesting listening to this song with the past decade in the rearview mirror. They sure did get “a little bigger,” but with the re-release of this album they are ensuring that the statement “I’m never changing who I am” holds true.
My favorite live track from this edition was the Live London Sessions recording of “Demons.” The lyrics of this song have always been so vulnerable and transparent that they make this acoustic arrangement feel so natural. It brings you close in a way that I feel like the original wasn’t quite able to do. Imagine Dragons has been known for their loud, bombastic sound, so I was impressed with the versatility that the band showcased in these Live London Sessions tracks.
“Love Of Mine,” which was a demo from the time the band was recording Night Visions, is good enough to have been included in the original album. In an interview with People Magazine, Dan Reynolds said that this song is one that he wanted to have on the original album. Imagine Dragons has evolved a lot as a band in the years since this album, but hearing this song just put a huge smile on my face because you can hear the 2012 band so clearly.
Overall, this Super Deluxe edition is a welcome addition to their discography. It is a celebration of one of the best debut albums in recent memory, one that changed the trajectory of this band and put them on the path they are on today. They are somehow even bigger than they were twelve years ago when I was waking up to their music every morning. What an impressive twelve-year run this has been. It doesn’t look like they are stopping any time soon.
Be sure to follow Imagine Dragons on Instagram (if you don’t already) and give a listen to “Love of Mine” below!