2010 Music Year in Review: Mumford and Sons

#9

Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More

Release Date – February 16, 2010

My Rating: 8.0/10

Pitchfork's Rating: 2.1/10

If you are on a college campus and you haven't heard of Mumford & Sons, then you probably live in The Cave and you better Roll Away Your Stone. Currently, Mumford & Sons fanaticism is spreading throughout the US, and their album has been in the top 20 for iTunes and Amazon for some time now. What intriugues people into listening and enjoying Mumford & Sons is their usage of the banjo in the majority of their songs. Mumford & Sons beautifully incorporates the banjo into their songs and the banjo is especially enjoyable in mainstream hits The Cave and Little Lion Man. In Winter Winds, Mumford & Sons even includes a great brass section in addition to the banjo, guitar, bass, and drums. Marcus Mumford may also have one of the most memorable voices of 2010, and I expect good things to come from him because of the power of his voice and the passion and emotion that he sings with as well. So, if there are all these good things about Mumford & Sons, why do I give them a 8.0/10 rating? Well, mainly I attributed this rating to them due to their simple lyrics and the fact that they the lack a diversity in their sound. Don't get me wrong, I believe Mumford & Sons are an upcoming band and I feel they will only get better from here, but their lyrics weren't anything extraordinary or moving. Mumford & Sons should learn from a similar sounding band Fleet Foxes, who not only are musically gifted like Mumford & Sons, but also have meaningful lyrics and diversity in their sound. I would recommend Mumford & Sons to anyone who wants to be that person who “discovers a band before they become big” and to anyone who enjoys some quality folk music.

Key Tracks: The Cave, Little Lion Man, Winter Winds, I Gave You All

The Cave: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KkUeRPjc-Y

Little Lion Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYSOJ-jClaY