J_Boyd posted on September 19, 2012 16:02
Mumford & Sons is a band that defies convention in today's music industry. In a world of Justin Beiber's, Chris Brown's and the awfulness of Nicki Minaj, it is promising that Mumford has grasped the hearts and ears of the world with a different sound and something that is sorely lacking in music today: Musicianship.
Coming off the enormous success of their Grammy nominated first album 'Sign No More' which featured smash hits like 'Little Lion Man' and 'The Cave', the lads from England are back with their sophomore effort titled 'Babel' due out next week on Glassnote Records. 
The new album is most definitely the distinct Mumford sound but with an extra explosion of energy and more of a confidence this time around. From the opening notes of the title track 'Babel', you get right back into that Mumford groove. This song and its explosive sound are a perfect way to kick off what will surely be one of the best albums of the year.
A soft and elegant intro lead into the next track on the album as the strong voice of front man Marcus Mumford and striking banjos compliment 'Whispers In The Dark' almost perfectly. The energy ramps up 5 notches for the next as the huge sound of "I Will Wait" comes firing out of the gate with a palpable energy and a most memorable hook which should be a highlight of any Mumford & Sons live show moving forward. If you have not yet seen the live video for this song recorded earlier this Summer at Red Rocks in Colorado, it is most definitely worth the watch. This could be the best and most energetic song from the album that will most likely be blaring from radios and iPods for the foreseeable future.
'Holland Road' brings the energy down a notch as a wonderful piano compliments the harmonies of this band perfectly and ends with huge percussion and brass sections doing what they do so well. A simple acoustic intro leads the album into the mysterious sound of 'Ghosts That We Knew' which drips with emotion and angst as Mumford howls "Just promise me that we'll be alright". This song is almost perfect and it is definitely an album highlight. A hushed guitar chord leads into "Lovers Eyes" about the tangled web of love and feeling. Pianos, banjos, brass complement each other perfectly as the band gathers to soar to a crescendo of "I walk slow/Take my hand/I'll Be On My Way".
As the album moves to the later stages, that distinct Mumford sound is more evident than ever. A simple song about lost love called 'Reminder' really highlights the near perfect voice of Marcus Mumford as he strums an acoustic guitar with emotional lyrics "A constant reminder of where I can find her/A light that might give up the way/Is all that I am asking for without her I'm lost/Hope my love don't fade away". A big piano intro leads us next into 'Hopeless Wanderer' which takes on a decidedly heavier feel than most previous Mumford tunes with huge percussion elements and tambourines.
The album concludes with 3 great tunes including a banjo picking diddy called 'Broken Crown' which has a bit darker feel as the band digs a little deeper in combining elements to form an angry savage of a song with a few "fucks" thrown in for good measure. A song about life lost and a glimmer of hope called 'Below My Feet' starts slow but explodes into a ball of energy as the entire band harmonizes "Keep the earth below my feet" with big sound and confident tones. 'Babel' concludes with a song titled 'Not With Haste' which is just so perfectly Mumford. All of the elements of this great band combine to form a fitting conclusion to a great album most Mumford fans will be ecstatic with.
With a new take on their signature sound, Mumford & Sons has most definitely delivered with this 12 song offering . This album is certainly a perfect mix of everything that makes this eclectic band great. From soaring banjos and explosive vocals that make it impossible NOT to tap your foot to dark, deep and emotional tracks that let you feel the pain through music, 'Babel' has a little bit of everything but mostly, it has the great (and different) sounds of a band most assuredly on top of their game. Definitely pick up a copy of 'Babel', your life will be better with a little bit of Mumford in it. I promise.
RATING: 4/5
Get more info on Mumford & Sons on their website by clicking HERE.
RELATED:
LIVE REVIEW: Mumford & Sons - The Lion Roars
--
Check out past interviews and reviews in the archive by clicking HERE.
Follow my ramblings on Twitter: @JBoyd024