Mumford and Sons’ newest album Wilder Mind has everyone talking. The band took their unique sound in a completely new direction that many didn’t expect. The folky, blue-grass sound that we have so long associated with Mumford and Sons has been replaced with a more rock and roll/pop sound that has received mixed reviews from fans.
Mumford and Sons’ made a big splash in the music scene in the summer of 2009 with their single “Little Lion Man” from their debut album Sigh No More. This song and the rest of the album were an instant hit because of the band’s unique sound that stood out from traditional alternative music of that time. The excitement after the release of their first album was matched when their second album Babel came out in 2012.
The radically different sound of Mumford and Sons’ new album definitely struck fans by surprise. According to online ratings of the album, some fans feel that Mumford and Sons’ move to a more electric sound takes away from their uniqueness and makes them sound too similar to other alternative bands. On the other hand, some appreciate that the band took a risk to try something new and are thrilled with the result. It is hard to tell by the varied individual ratings but overall the album was well received with 4/5 stars on iTunes.
Even though some fans were disappointed, the band was glad to move away from their old sound and branch out. “We just felt that doing the same thing, or the same instrumentation again, just wasn’t for us,” said Marcus Mumford in an interview with Rolling Stone. Trading in their banjos for synthesizers and electric guitars was a bold move, but as bassist Ted Dwayne said in the same interview “none of us had really any interest in doing a sort of Babel 2.”
Wilder Mind shows us a new side of Mumford and Sons and it is clear that this band has versatility. With one radical transformation under their belt, it will be interesting to see how the band continues to develop their style and sound in the future. Until then we can only wait and enjoy their new sound on Wilder Mind. Also be sure to check out Mumford and Sons on their tour this summer!
Mumford and Sons’ made a big splash in the music scene in the summer of 2009 with their single “Little Lion Man” from their debut album Sigh No More. This song and the rest of the album were an instant hit because of the band’s unique sound that stood out from traditional alternative music of that time. The excitement after the release of their first album was matched when their second album Babel came out in 2012.
The radically different sound of Mumford and Sons’ new album definitely struck fans by surprise. According to online ratings of the album, some fans feel that Mumford and Sons’ move to a more electric sound takes away from their uniqueness and makes them sound too similar to other alternative bands. On the other hand, some appreciate that the band took a risk to try something new and are thrilled with the result. It is hard to tell by the varied individual ratings but overall the album was well received with 4/5 stars on iTunes.
Even though some fans were disappointed, the band was glad to move away from their old sound and branch out. “We just felt that doing the same thing, or the same instrumentation again, just wasn’t for us,” said Marcus Mumford in an interview with Rolling Stone. Trading in their banjos for synthesizers and electric guitars was a bold move, but as bassist Ted Dwayne said in the same interview “none of us had really any interest in doing a sort of Babel 2.”
Wilder Mind shows us a new side of Mumford and Sons and it is clear that this band has versatility. With one radical transformation under their belt, it will be interesting to see how the band continues to develop their style and sound in the future. Until then we can only wait and enjoy their new sound on Wilder Mind. Also be sure to check out Mumford and Sons on their tour this summer!
