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Product Description
Product Description
Babel is the second studio album from London folk rockers Mumford and Sons, following the phenomenally successful debut Sigh No More (2009). This deluxe edition comes housed in digipak packaging and features three bonus tracks--"For Those Below", "The Boxer" featuring Jerry Douglas and Paul Simon, and "Where Are You Now"--as well as the single "I Will Wait".
Review
For some reason many people seem to have an issue with Mumford & Sons. This might be because they see the group’s music as being some way north of corporate. Safe enough indeed that M&S – that’s an unfortunate diminution, right there – were flown to Washington DC to perform during a summit between David Cameron and Barack Obama. But this criticism seems harsh: after all, where’s the point in judging a band by criteria that don’t apply to the music at hand?
That said, the music Mumford & Sons make is not all that safe. The group do not sound like anyone else, and the songs on Babel – as with those on debut album Sigh No More, a top five release in both the US and the UK – don’t adhere to the kind of formula one might adopt were they attempting to second-guess the pop charts.
Although the songs are melodic and accessible, they are far from routine; heavy rhythms dominate the floor of most tracks, while frontman Marcus Mumford’s impassioned and rasping vocals give the air of a man who is at least singing for his supper, and on occasions even his life.
Despite what the haters might say, this is impressive stuff. The beautiful and stirring Holland Road speaks of someone being “cut down”, while an ominous drumbeat suggests footsteps trudging away, frustrated and alone.
Whispers In The Dark flutters like a quickly beating heart, its melodies drifting in and out of focus as the song's mood shifts from gentle refrain to dominant force.
Best yet is closing track Not With Haste, a fragile ballad that shimmers like sunshine on an empty sea. As this track builds force, Mumford asserts that “I am what I am”, although he may have added that he is not what many people assume.
Mumford & Sons are a fine modern folk band who have found ways to breathe new life into an ancient form of music. In an ideal world, it would be nice if the group were afforded the credit they deserve before they, too, fade into the past.
--Daryl Easlea
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's odd how this band stirs up such strange emotions. I have a friend who gets animated at the mere mention of M&S (such an unfortunate acronym!), his irritation with their music inexplicably extreme in my view. I lent Babel to another friend who sent it straight back saying we clearly had different musical tastes. And yet despite these friendly opinions I just can't help liking Babel, and the more I play it the more I like it. So what do I like about Babel - I think it's a combination of the melancholic lyrics, great musicianship and quality acoustic delivery. Ghosts that we Know is my favourite by a whisker. This album is clearly not for everyone but it does the job for me (PS if you like it as much as I do then try the Band from Rockall, you won't be disappointed)
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
"Can they really follow Sigh No More?" That was the question that every person who loved Mumford & Sons' début album wanted answered. My answer is a resounding yes; Babel is nothing less than brilliant. Musically, there is no departure at all. The sound is very similar to their first album, but the songs are different enough to feel like a brand new collection of compositions, the vocal delivery is so incredibly passionate, the music so powerful and driving, with so many different dynamics being manipulated to fantastic effect, it feels every bit the equal to its predecessor. This is one of those albums that sounds better and better with every listen and every track on this album has something special to offer. If I had to pick one track as a favourite, it would be "Lover Of The Light", which is absolutely superb, but right behind it, vying for attention, are at least half a dozen of the other tracks. "Holland Road", for example, is sensational, as is "I Will Wait". The highlights are numerous and joyous and I can't recommend this album highly enough, especially to those who loved their excellent first release. The difficult second album has been tackled and it's a triumph - the third may be a little more tricky as I'm not sure another album sounding exactly the same will satisfy the fan base.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Fairbs
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another fab cd by m&s.If you liked the 1st cd then you will not be disappointed with the 2nd. This has been on repeat play in my car with each track just as good as the previous. This will not dissappoint.
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
great music
excellent value and service. I would recommend this product to anyone who is a fan of Mumford and Sons. or even if you are new to their music.
Published 10 hours ago by Mrs S Dayman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Am I too old for this one?
Goodish - bought for just one track! Rest of it a bit noisy for an oldie but notice that the middle and younger generations play it when they stay here.
Published 7 days ago by Judy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
I loved their old album and this is just as good! Great album. I love it very much. Worth buying.
Published 8 days ago by Georgia Ralph
5.0 out of 5 stars
brillant
I love mumford and sons and have done for a while. Didn't fail to meet my expectations, nice booklet a the front which had all the words in it which was a nice idea. Read more
Published 8 days ago by hi
1.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Fantastic music. (I am new to Mumford and sons). Production is excellent. Soundstage is broad and deep, good definition of instruments and vocals. Read more
Published 8 days ago by David Bivens
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great CD
Great CD. I cannot wait for the next release. you can hear the change from the frist CD. you just need to haveit.
Published 8 days ago by Martin Studnicka
5.0 out of 5 stars
Even better
What a fantastic follow up. not one duff track been in my player since it arrived put it on soon as i get in each day
Published 13 days ago by G. LONG
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
I bought this straight after buying their Sigh No More album and i was glad i did just as good as the first one, good music voices lyrics understand every word Marcus is singing... Read more
Published 13 days ago by Liz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice Album
Nice album, one o the best groups around, a very good price, it's worth value. A fast deliver, even though there was no plastic film around the CD box.
Published 14 days ago by Marco mendonça
4.0 out of 5 stars
not quite brilliant
I have been reading previous reviews with much amusement. I grew up on a diet of Hendrix and Cream with others such as The Who/Beatles/Stones thrown in. Read more
Published 16 days ago by Michael J. Tanner
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