If Muse and Ben Folds threw a party in Thom Yorke’s head while he listened to “Rubber Soul” on repeat, it might sound a bit like The Fire Tonight’s debut album, “No One Is Fine.” Subtle and anthemic and why-the-hell-can’t-I-stop-listening catchy, “No One Is Fine” tiptoes into your headspace and refuses to leave. But after listening to all 10 tracks – thrashing rock-riffs and soulful piano licks side by side – you won’t want it to. And it almost didn’t get made. “We’ll either make it at this or fail – no middle ground.” Drummer and co-producer Stephen Russ’ ultimatum to the band was the don’t-look-back catalyst that kicked The Fire Tonight into high gear. Over the course of a year, the band stole every free moment to craft the tracks on “No One Is Fine”: Lead singer Collin Derrick crafted anti-emo lyrics backed by emotive melodies; guitarist Jamie Heiting injected his signature gusto into the album’s irresistible riffs and solos; and Russ glued it together with addictive beats birthed out of his “happy place.” In between full time jobs and grueling weekend gigs they snatched snippets of studio time; and – a bit here, a bit there – recorded and mixed their labor of love. Each track references the album’s common theme: everyone pretends to be fine, but no one really is. It’s a throwback to when albums were coherent creations rather than glorified mix-tapes stacked with radio-happy singles. “And then it came time to master the album and, well, the band was broke. Free beer from gigs only goes so far.” So they dug deep and financed “No One is Fine” on their own dime. Derrick: “We could’ve waited indefinitely for financing, or we could just get it done. Easy choice, since we truly believe in the album. It’s got our blood in it, quite literally.”