Ever since Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s released their first full-length album, Up from Below, I have been a huge fan of their distinct folk style. Songs like, “40 Day Dream ” and “Om Nashi Me,” had a certain carefree power that made me want to go out and enjoy the day, while other songs like, “Brother,” and “Desert Song” had a more reflective aura about them.
Nearly three years after the release of Up From Below, the band has released a new highly anticipated album, Here. Opening the album with “Man on Fire,” lead singer Alex Ebert’s gentle hums slowly build with Jade Castrino’s complimentary vocals, to welcome the listener. Some of my personal favorites on the album such as “Mayla,” “I Don’t Wanna Pray,” and “All Wash Out” come later on the album.
If a traditional church choir and a hippie commune decided to collaborate on an album, it would sound something like Here. One song, “I Don’t Wanna Pray,” opens with praise to God in the style you would expect to hear from a church choir. However as the song progresses, Sharpe and Castrino clarify that even though they praise God, they don’t feel the need to pray to their “maker” but rather “be what [they] see” in the world.
Overall, I love the new album. It is carefully crafted to give off both a reflective or festive sound.
Basement Fridge