Lover of the Light - Mumford and Sons

Track on Tuesday: Babel Release

With Babel releasing today in the states, I've decided to forgo a Track on Tuesday (as the track would be something from this album, and that would be redundant).  So just go out and let this incredible album infiltrate your life?

Everybody's doing it.

Seriously.

My favorite tracks currently are: 

Lover's Eyes

Hopeless Wanderer

Not With Haste

Where are You Now

Which ones are yours?

-E

LP Sunday - Sigh No More

 Artist: Mumford and Sons

Genre: Folk and Roll

Label: Glassnote (US) Island/Universal (UK)

Released: 5 October 2009 (UK) 16 February 2010 (UK)

Okay, I won't lie.  If you didn't know that this was coming by now, than you must be crazy.  I have a lot of feelings attached to this album, and this band, which is one of the reasons why I've resisted reviewing it.  There is a fine line between making a review personal and making it professional.  Although this is a blog, and a completely unprofessional outlet, I do try and keep on the professional side with my reviews.  Unfortunately this will most likely veer into the more personal side of things.  I first got wind of Sigh No More in 2009 through Greg James' radio show on BBC Radio 1 that September.

The song was Winter Winds, and I have to admit.  It wasn't really my favorite at first, Greg James had made such a huge deal out of it, and it totally wasn't my kind of thing.  But I kept on listening to his show (I'm a fan) and he kept on playing that song, and finally after listening to it four or five times I understood it.

Do you get it?  It's okay, you can just keep repeating it until you do...

Anyways, I got my hands on a copy of Sigh No More when it came out in the beginning of October that year (I'm not going to tell you how. I guess you could say I have connections) and I honestly have not stopped listening to it since.  They make an appearance on every single mix tape, and it is through them that I have found out about so many incredible other artists like Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn and the Sussex Wit, Daughter, The Staves, Beans on Toast, Marcus Foster, Ben Howard . . . I could go on and on.  I had been listening to quieter folkish stuff (Bon Iver, The Decemberists, etc.) for a while, but Mumford and Sons was really the catalyst into a whole world of British Folk and Roll (there really is no other term for it, because Nu-Folk sounds idiotic and vague).

Seriously, Folk and Roll is, obviously, the better term . . .

P.S. This song is a live recording of a track off their upcoming release Babel on 24th September

This one gets crazy too.  Just have a listen.

Reminds you of The Grapes of Wrath, right?

Sigh No More has some of the most powerful lyrics that I have ever heard.  Not only because they have the backdrop of some incredible tunes (producer Markus Dravs has worked with Arcade Fire and Coldplay) but also because they can mean an array of things.  If you listen, truly listen, to every lyric, every song, you discover something new every time. (At least I do).  If any one asks me for a recommendation on something to listen to, this is always, always the first group that I recommend.  They have impacted in some way everything that I listen to know, whether physically (a lot of what I listen to is coming off of the Communion label which was co-founded by a member of the band) as in, one or more members had a direct hand in putting an artist on their compilation (The Flowerpot Sessions is one of my most favorite compilations of all time) or performing with an artist (too many to name, but the collaborations are incredible).

See what I mean?

I understand that this has totally crossed into gushing territory, so I'm going to wind it down.  Let me just say that as musicians, I feel like what this band has brought to the forefront of the airwaves and iTunes mixes has been incredible.  That they have been able to bring some humanity, wit, charm, and all around intelligence back to the forefront of music is remarkable.  Sheesh, it is because of them that I picked up my first Michael Chabon, John Steinbeck and Cormac McCarthy novels (we were only required to read Shakespeare in school - and a Mark Twain novel. Not joking.)  If you haven't already begun listening to them, do something about it.  I cannot recommend them highly enough.   Plus, they seem pretty nice.

Also, catch them on tour.  I got the opportunity to see them live recently and I am still smiling.  I've been to a lot of concerts, and nothing really matches the sound that they brought with them, their opening acts were totally class, the venue was incredible, and the band.  Well, they were everything that I had hoped they would be, and more.

Track on Tuesday: I Will Wait

Artist: Mumford and Sons

Genre: Folk and Roll

Label: Glassnote

Released: 25 September 2012

My Review: This track really speaks for itself.  First released a few (like two and a half-ish?) years ago at a Toad Session under the moniker “Untitled” and then later, after fans had live recordings it garnered the name “Nothing is Written” But I have to admit, "I Will Wait" has a special ring to it.  I can’t talk about Mumford and Sons enough, they truly are a remarkable band, and I love them with all my heart.  This track is truly a gem.  The video is incredible because it gives you the opportunity to really focus on the music.  The track had its world premiere on Zane Lowe’s BBC Radio 1 Show (one of my favorite shows to stream – seriously check it out) last Wednesday, and I think it’s safe to say I’ve had it on constant repeat since.

Well I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of dust
Which we've known
Will blow away with this new sun

But I'll kneel down wait for now
And I'll kneel down
Know my ground

And I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you

So break my step
And relent
Well you forgave and I won't forget
Know what we've seen
And him with less
Now in some way shake the excess

And I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you

Now I'll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes
A tethered mind freed from the lies

And I'll kneel down
Wait for now
I'll kneel down
Know my ground

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Feel my heart slow

Cause I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you
And I will wait I will wait for you

Notes from the Internet

I really cannot keep away from you lovelies!
Interrupting my brief hiatus to bring you these two bits of amazing.

First a book-related thing:

And now, the most anticipated single in (my) world

I Will Wait

Mumford and Sons

From the album Babel.

Out September 25th.

Enjoy.

See you Saturday...

Track on Tuesday: White Lies

Album: Triple J Like a Version 6

Artist: Mumford and Sons

Genre: Folk Rock

Label: Triple J Live

Released: February 2010

My Review: I heard this track for the first time about two days after I found out that Mumford and Sons would be participating in the Wuthering Heights soundtrack, so naturally I assumed that this song was the one they were planning on using for that album. I was totally, unconventionally, irrevocably wrong. This is, in fact a cover by a band called White Lies. I don't feel like I have the right to judge the White Lies song because I heard this one first, and because it's by my favorite band of course I'm going to like this version better. There's just something about Mumford's voice that really gets to me. I don't know if I could explain it if I tried, I just know that they are by far one of my favorite musical acts out there.  And that this is my number one played song in iTunes (hoovering around 3000 plays) I am anxiously awaiting the release of their second album in September! (After what...four years of waiting?) Seriously though, listen to Marcus and Co. belt out this tune, can you guess which line is my favorite? 

Just give me a second, darling, to clear my head.
Just put down those scissors, baby,
On the single bed.
The sand in the hour glass is running low,
I came through thunder, the cold wind, the rain and the snow,
To find you awake by your window sill,
A sight for sore eyes, and a view to kill.

I broke down in horror at you standing there,
The glow from the moon shone through cracks in your hair.
I shouted with passion “I love you so much”,
But feeling my skin, it was cold to the touch.
You whispered "Where are you?",
I questioned your doubt,
But soon realized you were talking to God now.

You got blood your hands and I know it’s mine,
I just need more time.
So get off your low, let’s dance like we used to.
But there’s a light in the distance, waiting for me,
I will wait for you.
So get off your low, let’s kiss like we used to.

I looked in the mirror, but something was wrong.
I saw you behind, but my reflection was gone.
There was smoke in the fireplace as white as the snow.
A voice beckoned gently “Now it's time to go”.
A requiem played as you begged for forgiveness.
“Don’t touch me!” I screamed,
"I’ve got unfinished business."

You got blood your hands and I know it’s mine,
I just need more time.
So get off your low, let’s dance like we used to.
But there’s a light in the distance, waiting for me,
I will wait for you.
So get off your low, let’s kiss like we used to.

You got blood your hands and I know it’s mine,
I just need more time.
So get off your low, let’s dance like we used to.
But there’s a light in the distance, waiting for me,
I will wait for you.
So get off your low, let’s kiss like we used to.