If you’re anything like me, you were probably sitting on the edge of your seat when you heard that Mumford & Sons were releasing a new album. After the band declared an indefinite hiatus in 2013, I was ecstatic to hear that they were back on the scene. However, rumors started swirling that their new music was a huge shift from their signature, banjo-laden sound. I, for one, was nervous to hear this (are they *gasp* selling out?!), but upon hearing Wilder Mind for the first time, my concerns largely faded away. Released May 4, Wilder Mind is undoubtedly different than Babel and Sigh No More, but it is good. I listened to it as if it were the newest rock album, and as such it’s excellent. In fact, it’s currently the #1 album on the Billboard chart. My favorite songs are The Wolf, Wilder Mind, and Just Smoke.
Yes, they’ve dumped the banjos, toned down the harmonies and added pretty typical percussion, but I don’t think that the group lost their Mumford-ness in the process. However, many will disagree with me (including the author of this Pitchfork review.) Give it a listen below, and let me know what you think! If there were ever a musical conversation starter, this is it.
Its a transition into learning how to play and write good music with different instruments. If they have a decent album now, imagine how good the next one will be when they write in on the road away from “The National’s” studio.