Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk

Monsters of Folk is a proper old school supergroup, comprising four of the most respected names in modern American music: My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, singer songwriter M Ward, and Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis of Bright Eyes.

After five years in the pipeline their long awaited self-titled debut is certainly not a let down, showcasing a broad range of blues, folk and country with each of the quartet’s distinctive sound remaining intact.

Oberst explains on the band’s website that, “we only wanted the four of us to play on it, no hired guns. We took turns playing drums, bass, it was really fun. It reminded me a lot of when I was a teenager and I’d get together on the weekend with some of my friends and we’d have a four-track and a practice space full of whatever.”

It paints a rosy picture indeed and the end product shows there is clearly a lot of truth in this. There is a real warmth to the album as well as a sense of the quartet’s enthusiasm for the simple production process, at Mogis and Oberst’s Omaha studio and the Shangri-La studio in Malibu, which has been used by the likes of Neil Young and The Band.  If egos did collide then the music has clearly benefited.

It is important not to get carried away with the reputations of the quartet. Not all the 15 tracks are great but there is some real quality here. Of the four it initially sounds as if Oberst and M Ward may have had the most influence. ‘Man Named Truth’, has been part Oberst’s set for a while now. Also, many of the tracks have the same old-fashioned 1950s production feel that was used by M Ward for his most recent album Hold Time.

James, who goes by his solo name Yim Yames on the album, opens the album with ‘Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.)’, a very My Morning Jacket sounding track. It is a pleasant enough opener but it is his vocals on the spiritual end track ‘His Master’s Voice’ where he really comes alive. This simple, uplifting track is a song of genuine beauty and by a folk-country mile is the best on the album.

Other highlights when James, Ward and Oberst come together on vocals, such as on ‘Say Please’ and ‘Temazcal’. The upbeat, wah-wah peddled, ‘Losing Yo Head’ is another standout track. However, the turgid ‘Slow Down Jo’ is among the less effective.

Unsurprisingly, fans of Bright Eyes, M. Ward and My Morning Jacket will find a lot to like in Monsters of Folk. All three of their distinctive sounds are retained and their joy in the collaboration is clear for all to hear.

7/10

by Joe Lepper, Sept 2009

Share

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *