The band is composed of four extremely talented musicians - Marcus Mumford, Country Winston, Ted Dwane and Ben Lovett. As said on their website (www.mumfordandsons.com), the band bonded over a passion for "making music that matters without taking themselves too seriously". And they have definitely succeeded. The band formed in December of 2007, emerging from the West London folk scene. Artists who the band is supported by (and also supports) is Laura Marling as well as Noah and the Whale. After playing at a few venues in London, they were signed, and their first album, "Sigh No More", was released in August of 2009.
Mumford & Sons has a very distinct sound to their music, as well as a look. They will most often be seen wearing old-looking, English countryside type clothing - very classy in worn suits and collared shirts. It's quite old-fashioned, but I can say that I find this makes the band even more likeable. Next is their sound. If you've heard Mumford before, you'll know their trademark instrument: the banjo. In "Roll Away Your Stone", you can hear a more lively banjo - much like one would expect to hear in bluegrass or extremely "country" music. Meanwhile, the banjo is much, for lack of a better term, darker in "Little Lion Man". Anyhow, back to the point. Mumford & Son's sound is a combination of country and bluegrass with a dash of rock thrown into the mix. Various instruments used throughout their songs are: banjo (of course!), accordion, guitar, mandolin, and more. Each of the members are very versatile in the instruments they play.
Regarding the album cover, I think that the art is very fitting for a debut album. Because this was the first time the band was putting themselves out on the market, the album had to give a good first impression. I think that though it may not deliver a specific message, it is eye-catching, unique, and epitomizes the band.
Now - time for lyrics.
"It's empty in the valley of your heart,
The sun it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears and all the faults you've left behind."
...
"But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again"
...
"So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence when you know the maker's hand"
So, that's just a snippet of some of the lyrics that I find stand out most in The Cave, which was the first song I had ever heard by Mumford & Sons and what got me interested in the first place. These lyrics are very powerful, and also very abstract. While many songs have hidden meanings that one can find almost instantly (I guess not-so-hidden meanings), Mumford & Sons' lyrics could many any variety of things. In analyzing the first verse, I think that this song might have something to do with new beginnings - starting anew, maybe after doing something you regret. It's not very clear. The reason I think it might be about forgiveness (either in yourself, or of someone else) is because of the final verse. If you listen to the style of the music, you can hear a very intense chorus, and then it calms down and it definitely sounds like the person is being reborn, in a way. Also, in the lyrics I didn't copy down, it says "So make your siren's call and sing all you want. I will not hear what you have to say. 'Cause I need freedom now, and I need to know how to live my life as was meant to be". So perhaps they were influenced by someone and suddenly realized it wasn't a good thing. It's very complex.
"Roll away your stone I'll roll away mine,
Together we can see what we will find
Don't leave me alone at this time
For I'm afraid of what I will discover inside."
...
"Darkness is a harsh term, don't you think
And yet it dominates the things I seek."
...
"Stars, hide your fires
These here are my desires
And I won't leave them up to you this time around
And so I'll be found
With my stake stuck here in this ground
Marking the territory of this beauty and passion."
There are two reasons why I chose to analyze Roll Away Your Stone: firstly, because it features a large amount of the classic Mumford banjo, and more importantly, because it fits in with the theme of the first song. Honestly, the song seems like a medley of three different songs, each of the lyrics posted above representing a different part. Though I could lie about what the first two verses above mean, I'm going to say that I don't have even the slightest idea of what they're talking about. Again, the lyrics are very abstract. I guess at first, it seems like he wants to be with this person, but then if we look at the last bit, it seems like he's finally becoming independent. He says that these are his desires, and he's going to do whatever he wishes with them. He doesn't want to be controlled any more.
Mumford & Sons hasn't yet come out with any other albums, but they have come out with some songs that aren't on any album - namely "Liar" and an untitled Grammy song. Liar could probably also fit in with the album "Sigh No More", so a lot of their music sounds the same. But I find this is a good thing - because I love their music. The untitled Grammy song is one of my least favorite songs they've come out with, but my personal favorites are always changing. Tomorrow, I might think it's the best song they've ever written.
Lastly, there is my personal reaction to the album. I think we can all see here that I. Love. Mumford & Sons. The album is absolutely fantastic - very cohesive, the songs flow well, and you can see the emotion present. These songs weren't just written for the sake of writing songs. The deep, husky vocals of Marcus Mumford perfectly complements their country tone - there couldn't be a better singer in this band. Also, it's always impressive when artists write their own music. The band is very unique in their sound and style. Bravo Mumford & Sons!
