Mumford & Sons - A Wilder Mind
A Wilder Mind
Mumford & Sons
7.0 / 10
Not Neo Folk Anymore
Leading their joyful squadron, banjos & washboards aloft, wailing and foot-stomping something fierce in their sweaty checkered shirts, Marcus Mumford and his "sons" six years ago rode the waves of the neo folk resurgence all the way to their crashing conclusion on American soil. Their first album 'Sigh No More' soared out of Wimbledon and rippled out mightily, further than any would have foreseen. In 2012 their sophomore 'Babel' became the number one album in the States in the first week of it's release. Unfortunately this was near the end of the neo folk obsession and in a few short months after the release of that album, the barn dance was over. Alas. Trends are fickle things. Your fans today burn you at the stake tomorrow. One day every hipster will again shave his beard, hang up his braces and realize that organic food is overpriced and just buy bacon. There is that moment where, alone on the shore on foreign soil, abandoned by those who called themselves fans, we must extricate our aging selves from the wreckage of our once glorious vessel and navigate a new path. One that, winding and twisting, leads up mountains and through dark valleys. It is a lonely, often difficult journey and it is the one Mumford & Sons take on this their third album.
The banjos have thankfully faded out into non-existence and instead been replaced by electric guitars and a session drummer. Even on 'Broad Shouldered Beasts', when the song builds to the point where you are in toe curling anticipation of the banjos bursting forth triumphantly, they simply never do. That kind of restraint is not to be overlooked. Instead some muted tambourines, a beautifully tickled piano and a few snatches from a Fender are the stars of this show. It's probably the most familiar sound on what is otherwise a very different beast altogether for them.
Marcus' songwriting is brought center stage as he continues to battle through faith, doubt and fear. "And so we come to a place of no return" he sings on 'Monster'. "Yours is the face that makes my body burn". Whilst it is interesting to hear James Ford's and Aaron Dessner's production, it feels like Mr. Mumford has nothing new to say. There are some very fine tracks here - 'Snake Eyes', 'Cold Arms' and 'Hot Gates' being the stand outs - but, with the emphasis now shifted from their bluegrass roots and with the lyrics standing beneath the spotlight now, one would have hoped to hear some new sentiments or breakthroughs in the life of our once favourite hipsters.
All in all it is a very fine effort. It is as confident, focused and intentional as you could hope to be when you've lost your banjo. Let's hope they never find it again.
WVS
The banjos have thankfully faded out into non-existence and instead been replaced by electric guitars and a session drummer. Even on 'Broad Shouldered Beasts', when the song builds to the point where you are in toe curling anticipation of the banjos bursting forth triumphantly, they simply never do. That kind of restraint is not to be overlooked. Instead some muted tambourines, a beautifully tickled piano and a few snatches from a Fender are the stars of this show. It's probably the most familiar sound on what is otherwise a very different beast altogether for them.
Marcus' songwriting is brought center stage as he continues to battle through faith, doubt and fear. "And so we come to a place of no return" he sings on 'Monster'. "Yours is the face that makes my body burn". Whilst it is interesting to hear James Ford's and Aaron Dessner's production, it feels like Mr. Mumford has nothing new to say. There are some very fine tracks here - 'Snake Eyes', 'Cold Arms' and 'Hot Gates' being the stand outs - but, with the emphasis now shifted from their bluegrass roots and with the lyrics standing beneath the spotlight now, one would have hoped to hear some new sentiments or breakthroughs in the life of our once favourite hipsters.
All in all it is a very fine effort. It is as confident, focused and intentional as you could hope to be when you've lost your banjo. Let's hope they never find it again.
WVS
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