The debut album by Mumford and Sons, Sigh No More, is quite simply one of the most brilliant albums I have ever heard. Other than that very serious statement (one which I have pondered over for the past) I cannot figure out what else accurately captures the mood of this album. Far and away this has already become the album to beat for 2010 (and yes, I know it was released in 2009 in the UK, but as I’m currently based in the USA this will officially be on my list for 2010).
I’m struggling with how best to summarize an album that is beautiful, poignant, and brilliant throughout quite literally every single track. It’s an album so good, so compelling, it prompts me to go back to my old ways of burning copies of CDs and literally forcing everyone I know to listen to it from start to finish. It’s an album that is so well constructed that I’ve listened to it now about nine times and I honestly cannot figure out which two songs best represent the talent and craft that is apparent within each track.
For reference the following statements say nothing about the actual sound of the band, the type of music the create, but it’s the easiest way for me to explain how . This album reminds me a lot of the debut Third Eye Blind album in that every sing song is well crafted and worth listening to. This album reminds me a lot of Funeral by Arcade Fire in that the scope of the entire album is so epic and so moving you’re compelled to start it over again and again and again. This album reminds me a lot of Is This It by The Strokes in that the first time I heard it all I could think to do was to immediately run around forcing everyone I know to listen to this brilliance. This album reminds me a lot of The Weakerthans and Cloud Cult in that every song is infused with inventive storytelling. This album reminds me a lot of Sufjan Stevens in that the composition and frequent use of layered crescendos adds to the overall impact in a way that is genuinely smile inducing, foot bouncing, simply joyous fun.
mp3 : Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
mp3 : Mumford and Sons - The Cave
Perhaps the best way to sum up how I feel about the Mumford and Sons album Sigh No More (amazon) (itunes) is this; if I could I would force everyone who visits The World Forgot to download the entire album and listen to it before being allowed to visit any other website, go outside, or take a restroom break.
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If you’ve been hanging around these parts for any length of time you’ve probably come to accept the fact that I am quite the rabid supporter of all things Cloud Cult. Recently I’ve been digging through old mp3 discs that are stuffed in my car (I drive an ‘05 Scion xB that has a stock stereo capable of playing mp3’s directly from a CD). Lately I’ve been fascinated with my Best of 2007 disc that includes Cloud Cult’s album The Meaning of 8 (amazon) (itunes) as the best album released that year.
The song that has caught my attention lately has been Criag Minowa’s tribute track to his late son, entitled Your 8th Birthday, who passed away unexpectedly when he was only 2 years old. It’s quite brilliant lyrically and I cannot imagine the emotion that was poured into the writing and recording of this track (let alone the decision to include it on a studio album).
mp3 : Cloud Cult - Your 8th Birthday
Cloud Cult is currently on hiatus from touring as Craig and Connie are having a child. They plan to begin touring again in late spring of this year although there are no plans, as of yet, to record another album.
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I realize that this review is a full six months late. And if you’re going by the date the album was first leaked it’s probably close to nine to twelve months behind. But I care not. And neither will you after you listen to this little EP that could.
For most bands an EP signifies a brief flirtation with a new sound, a different path for the band to wander along for a handful of tracks. And that is exactly what Modest Mouse has done with No One’s First and You’re Next (amazon) (itunes). Except they’ve done it with a slight twist. You see this side path diversion they’ve taken is one they’ve been on before. And in fact it’s the best path they could be on. This EP takes them back to the raw grit that flowed deep into arguably their best overall album The Moon and Antarctica. Gone are the traces of pop influence and radio ready hooks that subliminally slipped into their previous two full length albums. What you’ll find here is a collection of tracks, their leftover brilliance, that easily could have been released as a proper full length last year.
mp3 : Modest Mouse - Satellite Skin
This is the lead off track from the album and it’s my favorite of the bunch. The venom that drips from Isaac Brock’s trademark vocal delivery is absolute perfection (especially during the second verse).
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If you’ve watched TV in the states over the past year or so there’s a good to great chance that you’ve become familiar with this track on a Lincoln MKV commercial. I personally don’t watch live TV (basically I don’t watch commercials anymore) so it took me longer than most to figure out that Lincoln had chosen to go with Shiny Toy Guns to propagate the idea that their flagship car is more of a spaceship and less of a boring old sedan. I must give kudos to the ad wizards who came up with this one. Not only is the song choice spot on but the commercial is actually rather effective.
mp3 : Shiny Toy Guns - Major Tom (Welcome Home) (Shiny Toy Guns Remix)
For the curious three that are still reading after the music link has been posted I would like to point out that Major Tom is originally a track recorded by German artist Peter Schilling who was essentially retelling the story behind the track Space Oddity by David Bowie. Yes folks, it’s true, everything has already been created, we’re simply rehashing history now. (But honestly, who cares if a rehash sounds this good).
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I will freely admit that when I heard a single track from Freelance Whales I audibly groaned “oh no, not another derivative, sappy, knock off no talent hack like Owl City.” Thankfully I was wrong in assuming that this band was going to become as simple pop attention whore with a laptop. Their debut album, Weathervanes (which is out already as a download) (amazon) (itunes) is a solid trip through musical adventures akin to mashing together Postal Service and Sufjan Stevens. That really is the best way to describe their sound. Listen for yourself.
mp3 : Freelance Whales - Generator First Floor
mp3 : Freelance Whales - Broken Horse
I know I’m a scant few weeks from proclaiming my best albums of 2009, but I’m not sure I can imagine a future where this album doesn’t make it onto the best of 2010. It would have to be a mighty fine year in music to knock this to number eleven or below. (note : yes the album has been out as an mp3 download for awhile but I usually count an album’s release year as the year it was first published in a physical format. And yes, I acknowledge the physical format is dead or dying, but that’s an easy way to keep everything level across the board for now).
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