'Wilder Mind’ has really gone above and beyond any expectation. Mumford and Sons have grown as musicians and have upped their game in terms of sound, precision and experimenting. They have infused their folk roots into a progressive rock and transferred their story telling and elegant penmanship onto a new playing field. The verdict is in, and all you Mumford and Sons fan can be rest assured, despite any changes, the album is everything we could’ve hoped for.
From the seamless transition ofTompkins Square Park to the premier single Believe, the record opens with leaps and bounds. Even with the ‘new sound’, this record has everything we fell in love with about Mumford and Sons but just through a new lens. It still combines heart wrenching lyricism with powerful guitar driven tracks, blending this new heavy sound with both Marcus Mumford’s raw vocals and story telling.
The Wolf is the sophomore single dropped from the album and it definitely one that we need to talk about. Whacking you in the face with some cracking drums and heavy guitar, the track opens with a bang, it is one of the gems of the record. The Wolf is so catchy and filled with such fiery passion that you can’t help but get caught up in it. You’ll be screaming YOU WERE ALL I EVER LOOOOOONGED FOR and going mental at the drop in no time.
There are a number of ‘moments’ on the record that make you stop and sigh. Whether it’s when you’re so caught up in the roaring vocal passion of Marcus Mumford or you’re lost in the spacey instruments, this record is riddled with some genuinely blissful musical moments.
Monster is another track that stands out on the record, taking takes down a notch. The beautifully penned lyrics and powerfully raw harmonies shine through on this melancholic masterpiece. This track is reminiscent of Timshel and Where Are You Now? proving that Mumford and Sons are still able to make us want to rip our hearts at and never love again.
The gorgeous finale comes in form of Hot Gate and is without a doubt the best way they have concluded a record. Opening with some beautiful piano that I’m pretty sure was played on my heart strings, it’s classic layered Mumford harmonies that strip away every heavy vibe we’ve heard on the record so far and leaves us with just powerful vocals and simplistic instrumentals that crescendo into an aura of sound that vibrates into your very core. The band has always been good at writing music for the soul, but they’ve outdone themselves on this one. The final outro hurts; it’s too beautiful.
Whilst they nailed their folk rock, they were never going to grow as musicians if they produced the same album for the third time. ‘Wilder Minds’ is not a new sound, it’s the next level. Turning it up a notch, the British boys have stepped up the plate and knocked it (and our hearts) out of the park. As a Mumford and Sons fan, I must admit I was worried when I first heard Believe I had my reservations about this ‘new sound’ but I couldn’t have been more wrong. One listen to the album and whether you love them or hate them, you can’t deny that Mumford and Sons have created something special with this one.
8.5/10
Propelled by a slew of successful singles, including the Triple Platinum ‘I Will Wait’, Mumford & Sons’ sophomore album is one that boasts multi-million sales, #1 status on both sides of the...
Yacht Club DJs are hitting the road (via US airways) with Mumford & Sons for a series of SOLD OUT Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers in the States!
With twelve years passing since José González debut onto the airwaves with his solo record, we have witnessed the growth and blossom of one of the most talented and rawfully beautiful acoustic folk...
