Get your Mumford here – Sons included!

If you’ve been paying ANY attention to a word I’ve typed, you know that while I’m all over the spectrum in terms of music I “like”, there are very definite winners  in the “music I LOVE” category.  The top spot belongs to anything ever written and performed by Townes Van Zandt.  Then comes my beloved British Folk.

In the latter category, one band has arguably done more to advance that genre’s popularity in this country than any in recent memory…and they’ve done it with their FIRST release.

Yep, I’m talking about Mumford and Sons.

Sigh No More is, in my less than humble opinion, a triumph of emotion as much as musicality.  Indeed, as laudable as the music is, it’s the passion with which it is played and the depth of thought and feeling represented in the lyrics that I feel constructs the pedestal on which this work should be placed.  Right from the jump, it’s the total package of what you want music to be.  It makes you FEEL.  It’s scope encompasses everyone – myriad people of very different backgrounds love these boys and their music, as is evidenced by their INSANE popularity.  Since it’s early 2010 North American release, Sigh No More has sold over a million copies.  Grammy and AMA nods abound.  Yeah, I’m not the ONLY one who can spot talent!

As a matter of fact, I’m not even the only one in my FAMILY who can spot talent.  My five year old son Liam is a HUGE Mumford fan, and will happily break into a rousing rendition of “Awake My Soul” with next to no encouragement.  Actually just yesterday on my personal Facebook page I recounted a story – every word of it true, I swear on a stack of Jimi Hendrix records!  I’ll copy and paste it below for your enjoyment.  Bear in mind, this was my Facebook status update from yesterday evening:

“I know some of y’all must think I make up these “Liamisms”, but I SWEAR they’re all true. Today, in the car on the way home, he was telling me about a disagreement he had on the playground. His take-away lesson? “Next time, I’m just going to start singing “The Cave” at him really loud like Mr. Marcus Mumford does. The part that says (singing loudly) “AND I WILL HOLD ON HOPE, AND I WILL LET YOU CHOKE ON THE NOOSE AROUND YOUR NECK!” Oh, dear Lord, help us…

Of course, I mentioned to him that the words were actually “i WON’T let you choke”, and that we should probably never sing at our adversaries. Then I had to explain that Mr. Mumford wasn’t REALLY yelling the chorus at anyone. He responded “Yes, he is! He’s yelling at the guy in the cave who tied him to a post!” …if you know these lyrics, I’m sure you’re LYAO right now. So, thank you, Mumford and Sons, for those riveting lyrics. My son’s Kindergarten playmates are going to be traumatized, I fear…”