It’s a very folk revival sort of time, isn’t it?
If you’re out of touch, “Mumford & Sons” is quite possibly one of the most well-known folk rock bands of the past several years. If you haven’t heard of them, you might not have turned on your radio recently, or checked the all-too common mentions about them on music sites or anything related to today’s folk rock bands.
Formed in 2007 and debuting in 2009 with the album “Sigh No More” hitting up the #2 spots on the UK Album Chart and US Billboard 200, they seemed to have only continued with that momentum, having recently won a Grammy for Best New Artist and Best Rock Song in 2010. They’ve also just released a new album entitled “Babel” this past September, which crushed the competition, being the fastest selling album of 2012 in the UK and the biggest selling debut in 2012 in the US, obtaining 4x Platinum and 2x Platinum status in each nation listed respectively.
Composed of band members Marcus Mumford, after whom the band is titled, Country Winston Marshall, Ben Lovett, and Ted Dwane, “Mumford & Sons” is beloved for their charming, powerful, and moving folk songs consisting of banjo, upright bass, mandolin, and piano, all the while giving a modern twist to a classic folk sound.
Though they just debuted in 2009, they’ve managed to amass a large following from listeners of all walks of life and hold a strong fandom in the States, despite being of English origin, having formed in London, England.
If you’re going to check them out, I recommend looking up some of their big hits, such as “Little Lion Man” (the Grammy winner), and “I Will Wait,” both romantic, fast-paced songs that grab you by the ears. “Babel,” the title track off their newest album, is also glorious.
Like any band, they might not be for you, but I certainly recommend giving them a listen before judging. “Pitchfork,” the infamous music review site, listed a 2.1 on their debut album review (to no-one’s surprise, “Pitchfork” is known for being unnecessarily harsh to anyone they don’t love), whereas many others rank them with some of the best in their genre.
So needless to say, your mileage will vary, but the best thing to do is give Mumford more than one try if you’re not certain at first. Other bands that hail from the same background include “Laura Marling” and “Johnny Flynn,” as well “Noah and the Whale.”
Other good comparisons and/or similar acts include “Dan Mangan,” “Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes,” “Fleet Foxes,” and “Bon Iver.”
Wednesday, June 25, 2025