Are Question Titles Getting Annoying?
There comes a time in every man’s life where he must confess that he has lied to a person (how about that for politically correct) that he’s attracted to, and I am no exception. A few months ago I was chatting up one such lovely lady, tossing music knowledge grenades aplenty, with my infantry of charm and wit making coordinated assaults. While this is normally a flawless wooing technique, the expansive galaxy of music, especially the ever-expanding indie planet, leaves colossal room for error. When my splendiferous female mentioned Mumford & Sons, I nodded and confirmed my shared affinity for their music. Sadly, my ears had not yet been graced by their stirring and refreshing debut Sigh No More.
Obviously, I sprinted (read: hopped in the Prius) home to uncover these burgeoning stars. What I discovered on that snowy January day will forever change my perceptions of time and space (or maybe just introduce me to a new enticing group, your call). They don’t employ synthesizers or production heavy beats but rather mandolins and a folk-induced country sound. Fronted by Marcus Mumford, Mumford & Sons are an older, more British, folk-heavy and entirely gentlemanly populated Nickel Creek. While I am certainly not suggesting that Mr. Mumford boasts the same Mandolin prowess as your favorite and mine, Chris Thile, I do believe that Mumford & Sons possess the same pop/country crossover that led one southern trio of prodigies into all our hearts.
The Irish-bred folkers released their rousing debut in February (in the US) and have been steadily acquiring their deserved following since. With poignant lyrics chronicling the more tumultuous times in their private lives, the listener senses the intense potency of each word. Beyond quality song writing and stirring vocal performances, Mumford & Sons also turn in harmonious and affecting instrumental accompaniment. The only glaring fault of their otherwise enchanting freshman album is the monotone sound that their lesser tracks take on. The weaker songs become lost in a sea of folk, without even a lifeguard of lyricism to buoy them. However, those tracks are doubtlessly the minority and the album is nonetheless magnificent. After all, when Ray Davies (who you all knew was the front man for The Kinks) heard Mumford & Sons would be collaborating on his latest album, he announced that he was “more excited about that than [he has] been about anything before in [his] life.”
The Cave – Mumford & Sons (YSI)
White Blank Page – Mumford & Sons (YSI)
Even though I simply admitted that I didn’t know a song called ‘The Cave’, my ‘ life is better if you heard ‘Sigh No More” story also began with a girl.
BUT, I was to lazy to write a post. And I now that it was better that I didn’t, because yours says it all.
prippidid props!
Mumford and Sons Secret Show Experiment in Vancouver: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivuPYbNOU4