Mumford & Sons is a UK folk-rock band that released this, their debut album, earlier this year here in the US and I have to say that they have won me over and I am a big fan of this record. What can sometimes be described as a banjo-rock out twists and turns through a record with blue-collar, mountain man folk songs about everything that goes right along with picking your banjo and rocking out. The album has transcendant moments (“Little Lion Man” is one of my favorite songs on the year so far) but plays at an extremely high level throughout. This is one band to certainly be aware of and keep an eye out for, and if you dig this type of sound, this album is an absolute must.
The album features mostly gruff, weathered sounding vocals and harmonies from the group all carried along on this journey by more measured acoustic moments and upbeat, foot-stomping rousing banjo rock out numbers, and usually featuring both within the same song. The feel of the record is remarkable because it feels weather, it feels folk, it oozes tree sap and flannel shirts and just really has no pretense of being modern, sounding edgy or indie, or anything like that. It has a weighty honesty about the songs, but it isn’t usually overly heavy-handed or morose, rather they pick you up and get you barn-stomping with the best of them. But the way the songs are put together this is anything but ordinary mountain man music, this is celebration, desolation all wrapped into one awesome package of a fury of stomping, picking and singing.
“Sigh No More” opens the album in a hushed tone, but quickly sets the broader flavor of the album by transistioning into a stomping, banjo and organ rousing number by the end. “The Cave” similarly inauspiciously begins again, and is impeccably reverent to begin, but just as soon as you feel soothed by a softer side, the banjo-picking fires back up again and you are forced to take notice. This is a trend that becomes evident on the album, songs that build into rousing stomping numbers. There are moments that transcend the norm on the album even though. As I mentioned before, “Little Lion Man” midway through the album is a superbly put together song that builds to a great crescendo towards the end of the song. Similarly, “Awake My Soul” is extremely well done, once again starting with a folksy, old timey flavor but leading into some serious banjo pickin’ and singin’.
Ultimately, the stomping banjo rock out is where this album makes its mark, but it is also where it leaves it as well. There is not much variety here, and the songs all sound very similar, with hushed awed beginnings rising into triumphant stomping rousing songs by the end. There is much drama and tension throughout and while the hoedowns strike a certain levity, the majority of the material is very dramatic and bombastic, which can become a bit much through the course of the album. The album never really tones down, or slows down, and feels at times like it is a bit overwrought with intensity and stomping and hoedowns. That being said, for what the album does, it does it extremely well and the rousing stomping nature of the album invariably wins over in the end. It isn’t edgy, it isn’t quiet or hushed, it is an album that begs you to get up and join the hoedown.
Few other albums really match the passion and intensity put into the renditions of the songs here, and while it can be a bit much at times, and is somewhat overpowering, ultimately the album is still incredibly strong and produces some great, great moments. The band has captured a feel and an ethos for the large part on the album that serves alongside some pretty stout songwriting to create a fuller mood and feel of the folk rock out, or the banjo rock out. The overall album is very strong and is certainly worth keeping an eye out for, just as it is certainly worth being on the lookout for more from this band. They have shown an ability to put together some impressive material here and hopefully this is just a tip of the iceberg for what’s to come from them.
I have to say that one thing about this album is it really makes me want to see them live, so luckily Mumford & Sons are on tour around the US this summer (including here in Dallas on June 10th at House of Blues [Tickets]). Check them out.
Mumford & Sons – Little Lion Man – From Sigh No More (CD, MP3, iTunes)
Mumford & Sons – Awake My Soul – From Sigh No More (CD, MP3, iTunes)
