Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More Album Review

23 Feb

CD giveaway details at the end of the review.
Mumford and Sons <i>Sigh No More</i> Album Review albumreviewsMumford & Sons
Sigh No More
Glassnote Records
out February 16th
71/100
[Rating Scale]
Buy it at Insound!

I’m of two minds about Mumford & Sons’ debut album, Sigh No More. If you played me a single track from the album – any track at all, mind you – I would say to you “I would love to hear this album!” Every single track, digested in a single bite, is delicious. If you fed me four songs from the LP – any four songs, mind you – I would say “I am going to love this album!” The songs are consistently good, and taken in a reasonable portion they hit the spot.

So why, after listening to the album in its entirety multiple times, am I uncomfortably full? I find myself pushing away from the table having eaten a few bites too many, engorged and over-sated. To use a cliché, the album is just a little too much of a good thing.

Take, for example, the album’s title track, the opening tune. On a normal album, a song like “Sigh No More” would be a zenith, an epic climax that became the focal track of the record. In the context of Sigh No More the album, however, it is merely the first in a series of slow starting, crescendo-ing tracks that drop away to nearly a cappella breaks before building back to a finish. Mumford & Sons has identified the formula used so well (sparingly) by bands like Arcade Fire and Freelance Whales, and they have replicated it beautifully. On every song.

In essence, over the course of Sigh No More, Mumford & Sons plays itself out. Because each song follows the same parabola, my ears feel like they’re walking down familiar paths on each new tune. By the time the album’s twelve songs have come to a close, I’ve heard the same structure repeated so many times that it feels like I’ve listened to a handful of songs three times each. After five listens, it feels like I’ve had this album on repeat for a month. It’s predictable and programmatic, which frustrates me to no end.

Because here’s the thing – there isn’t anything bad about the album. Who am I to begrudge an album full of epic moments and grandiose soars? Lead singer Marcus Mumford has a great voice – not dissimilar to Noah and the Whales’ Charlie Fink’s – and his lyrics are wonderful. Winston Marshall plays a mean banjo, and I’m a sucker for that instrument in any context. “Lion Little Man” is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a long time. The album’s downfall is that it always strives for monumental – after eating steak for dinner every night, doesn’t it lose some of its appeal?

When Mumford & Sons step away from the pomp, they’re still really damn good. Their sound has a polished grit to it which, when combined with layered vocal harmonies, instantly hooks me. They don’t always need to shoot for movie trailers and epic peaks.  “Awake My Soul” shows them in a slower, more introspective light for a brief moment, and it’s a stellar track. “Roll Away Your Stone” lets Mumford ease off on the vocals for a bit, and the song shines through nicely. There are glimpses here and there of a band that can take many forms and excel at all of them.

But in the end, Sigh No More just plain wears me out. Is it worth listening to? Absolutely. Will I keep its tracks in rotation in the months to come? Absolutely. But I will do it in moderation, providing the filter that should have been applied to the album prior to release. By overplaying the formula for brilliance, Mumford & Sons have cheapened it to my ears, transforming greatness into grating. Strip away the scaffolding of colossally structured songs, and show me what’s underneath.

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Rating: 9.3/10 (11 votes cast)

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- Sigh No More Album Review, 9.3 out of 10 based on 11 ratings


27 Responses to “Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More Album Review”

  1. pmablog
    pmablog 23. Feb, 2010 #

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  2. Josh 23. Feb, 2010 #

    From what I’ve heard, this is exactly what I expected this album to sound like. Slight breaks from the fast-paced, folky souding songs using slower, more melodic tunes. Over all a great album that’s bringing this group close to perfecting the sort of music that simply isn’t meant to be perfect.

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  3. Jeremie 23. Feb, 2010 #

    I absolutely agree with your review. I love Mumford & Sons’ sound… I often bitch about how some albums have no songs with big climaxes and M&S offer a dozen of them… However, it does get incredibly repetitive after a couple of listens.

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  4. Josh Hungate 23. Feb, 2010 #

    A little bit Avett Bros, a little bit Freelance Whales/Arcade Fire. Sounds like a winning combination to me–can’t wait to give it a solid listen.

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  5. Alex 23. Feb, 2010 #

    As someone who has only herd the singles in passing, but its getting progressively more and more into the band I am particularly exited about hearing it in its entirety. In fact I might have to load it up on spoitfy right now… I herd a review by another musician (I can’t remember which one sorry) who said the band were a “poor man’s elbow” however listening to the lead singles I would say that this seems highly inaccurate with the chord changes and beautiful folk moments making you only want to listen to it more.

    And I don’t have a twitter, I have posted it on my facebook so all my friends will see it on their homepage.

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  6. pmablog
    pmablog 23. Feb, 2010 #

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  7. pmablog (L) 23. Feb, 2010 #

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  10. Jared 23. Feb, 2010 #

    I heard these guys a month or so back on the BBC Radio1 program RobDaBank, I fell in love with the song “Cave” — And lately I’ve found a few friends of mine have also discovered and enjoy Mumford & Sons.

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  11. Omar 23. Feb, 2010 #

    Best album of twenty-ten so far!

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  12. pmablog (L) 23. Feb, 2010 #

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  13. joshhungate (Josh Hungate) 23. Feb, 2010 #

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  14. adam 23. Feb, 2010 #

    “Winter Winds” is my personal favorite. Really solid album, totally agree with your review.

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  15. Nic 23. Feb, 2010 #

    I don’t get sick of the album at all.. I absolutely love the dynamics and the fact that the formula is used so often but with unique timbre choices to make it different than the one before.. ie trumpets are a solid climax instrument.

    I listen to this album on repeat constantly and have not gotten the least bit sick of it yet.

    Reply
  16. John Edwards 23. Feb, 2010 #

    I haven’t tired of this album yet – it is magnificent. Favourite track: Roll Away Your Stone
    Rating: 90/100

    Reply
  17. Charlie 24. Feb, 2010 #

    I totally see where you’re coming from, but in my review (www.marinahipsters.blogspot.com) I chose to focus on the way the album speaks to me about love, and the pains and joys (mostly pains) involved.

    I did see them live in san francisco two weeks ago and was absolutely flored, which definitely added to my appreciation of the album. and marcus is fantastic on the kick drum.

    And ‘dustbowl dance’ is a fantastic song unlike any other on the album. A definite barroom whisky drinking ballad. other favorites of mine are ‘the cave’ and ‘awake my soul’

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  18. MattKlomp 27. Feb, 2010 #

    Very fair review- totally agree that everyone needs to give this one a listen. “White Blank Page” and “Little Lion Man” are fantastic songs. Here’s a video for “Little Lion Man.” Good stuff! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLJf9qJHR3E

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