Mumford & Sons "Sigh No More"

"Sigh No More" is the most exciting album experience I've had in years. A new band has the advantage of being at a disadvantage in that it has to make a first impression. That impression will either leave the listener wanting more, or never wanting to listen to them again.

Mumford & Sons came out swinging with an edgy and unique first single. Before you listen to this album, look up the official music video for "Little Lion Man." You won't regret it. It grabbed my attention immediately in that they had the sound of a full band, yet they weren't working with a full band - particularly, they were missing a drummer. Meet Marcus Mumford, a one man band in that he sings lead, plays guitar, kicks a bass drum with one foot, and a tambourine with the other. He is accompanied by three others - a keyboardist, an electric banjo player, and a stand up bassist. They not only support him with their instruments, but with their harmonizing vocals, and they're spot on.

The album begins with the title track, "Sigh No More," a song that begins slowly and strangely. When the track begins, it will make you wonder why they'd open an album with it. Give it about 90 seconds, and then you'll see the statement it makes about their band. Moving from an almost awkward old fashioned vocal folk quartet into a chunky acoustic guitar strum, it then takes a turn and becomes a powerful march, exploding with the sounds of a relentless kick drum, a Hammond organ, a thumping bass line, a banjo, and a chorus of horns. This is a marvelous introduction to a band that has really nailed the concept of dynamics, and the rest of the album does not disappoint.

The next three tracks take an interesting spin on British folk. The band is from London, and while Mumford's voice can almost sound Irish at times, the music has the unique sounds that you might hear in a London pub.

"White Blank Page" takes the number 5 spot with deep lyrical content, seemingly a jealous letter to the man who has taken the beloved woman from the writer. The album continues in deep water with it's next track "I Gave You All," with razor-sharp lyrics like "if only I had an enemy bigger than my apathy I could have won."

The single doesn't come until track 7 - a fitting move for a band that is making the statement that they are not looking to lean on their radio hit, but that they want you to understand their capabilities in full. This is also not your average radio hit. "Little Lion Man" demonstrates both humility and boldness in its lyrics, using strong language in a chorus that is repeated with an elevating purpose, until it lands in a delicate a Capella four part harmony.

Now that your attention has been solidified, they take the opportunity to present the first slow song of the album, "Timshel." The song plays out like a lullaby, but rather than putting you to sleep by the end, it builds trust the way a father calms a newborn baby on his chest. At this time, the band takes you by the hand and leads you into the darkness of "Thistles and Weeds," a blend of classical rage and an almost creepy warning. This is the first time in the album that we hear more than just a kick drum. Cymbals and bass toms provide the intensity of the most frightening part of a long journey. In the heart of the journey, Mumford belts out "I will hold on hope" until you believe him, and then offers the advice of a mentor who has made it through the thickest of despair and wants you to be prepared to do the same.

"Awake my Soul" leaves the journey behind and reminds you that Mumford & Sons is a folk band. This song takes the course of redemption in the understanding of our limitations and imperfections as people, while showing the hope in offering the better parts of ourselves as help to others.

While "Dust Bowl Dance" certainly does not sound like Bob Dylan audibly, the lyrics are Dylan-like in quantity, quality and content. This story of a young man's revenge leaves the listener to fill in the blanks with his or her imagination.

The album ends with "After the Storm," a beautiful song with a moving melody that will be sure to tug at your heart, while accompanied by loving lyrics of encouragement and hope: "There will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears and love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears."

"Sigh No More" is a perfect album. I give it five handsome stars out of five. It leaves one hell of a first impression.