Album artwork for Babel
In general, I try to write about fairly unknown artists in an effort to promote new and unique music to the masses. This policy does not exclude more famous bands from the realm of noteworthy music creation, however. On the contrary, the new album from Mumford & Sons, Babel, is a shining example of how reaching number one on the Billboard charts and being nominated for Grammy awards does not necessarily mean you’ve sold out. In the case of this particular British folk rock quartet, the media attention and critical acclaim is unquestionably deserved. They did an outstanding job of staying true to their roots and keeping intact the musical integrity that makes their songs so great. Many of you reading this have probably already heard this album, however I believe that its exceptional quality is deserving of a blog post nonetheless.
There’s something about this group that is definitively British. Maybe it’s their fashion sense, or their lyrics, or just a combination of the many eccentricities that make Mumford & Songs unique. They take advantage of their talent for beautiful songwriting and dress it up in a bluegrass outfit. Not only do are they keeping the folk tradition alive, but they are revamping it with modern production value and pop sensibilities. This is a band that can hold their own in any situation, whether it’s a hoedown in Nashville, a broadcast on pop radio, or a pub back in London.
Audio Intimacy 