The Irony That Is “British Americana”
By: Tony Neely

With all of the rumors afloat on Tech’s campus about Mumford & Sons coming to
perform at next year’s Dancing On Dixie, I felt it appropriate to dedicate this week’s
review to Marcus Mumford and his fellow band mates from across the pond.

Mumford & Sons: Sigh No More

London’s Mumford & Sons has made quite a splash in the USA over the past few years.
With roots in what the band calls “West London Folk” and Americana, the band’s first
major label album, Sign No More, was released in late 2009. Earning two Grammy
nominations (best new band and best rock song) and winning The Brit Awards’ Album
of the Year, the band has been catapulted into the spotlight practically overnight. In fact,
Mumford & Sons freshman release outsold Old Crow Medicine Show, their musical
heroes, latest release Tennessee Pusher by over 700,000 copies. Songs “The Cave”
and “Little Lion Man” (edited version) have both climbed Billboard’s charts and have
received ample airplay in the USA since Sigh No More’s release. As a musician I
hear lots of fellow music enthusiasts’ opinions of “must have albums.” To date, I have
yet to hear anyone speak negatively of Sigh No More. It’s a wonderful album from
start to finish. Along with Vampire Weekend’s Contra and The Avett Brothers’ I and
Love and You, Sigh No More was my go to road trip album of last year and is highly
recommended. One caveat…if you have children in the car, you may want to skip “Little
Lion Man” due to the use of a certain four letter word during the chorus.

Sigh No More by Mumford & Sons    Tony’s Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Mumford & Sons as The Wedding Band: The First Dance EP

Many bands are releasing albums under pseudo names as of late. For Mumford & Sons,
they recently donned the name The Wedding Band on a four track EP titled The First
Dance. Filled with fiddles and hoe down foot stompin’ tunes, the album is definitely an
homage to Mumford & Sons’ American heroes Old Crow Medicine Show. The extremely
under produced record has only one problem…it’s too short. I know, I know…It’s an
EP…but seriously the songs on this record are so catchy that I didn’t want it to end. The
stand out track for me is “She Said Yes.” So lively, so authentic, so much fun…and all in
about twelve minutes of play time.

The First Dance EP by The Wedding Band    Tony’s Review 3.5 out of 5 stars

Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, and Dharohar Project: EP

“And now it’s time for something completely different,” Marcus Mumford must have
thought, channeling Monty Python, when he and his band signed on for this project.

Performing with long time friend Laura Marling and Indian Rajasthani group Dharohar
Project, this album combines the acoustic ecstasy of Mumford & Sons, with a soulful
female song writer, and celebratory wedding music straight from New Delhi. If you enjoy
world music, spicy food, and a back porch jam with guitars and sitars…you may want to
acquire this EP.

EP by Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling, and Dharohar Project
Tony’s Review 3 out of 5 stars