Mumford and Sons

With the heroically stomping folk songs on this winning debut, Marcus Mumford and his hale mates (who aren't kin) employ the soft-to-loud strategy with more finesse than most plugged-in rockers. Reflecting on real love and cosmic truth in rousing tunes like "Roll Away Your Stone" and "I Gave You All," these fired-up lads send their scruffy voices soaring over rough acoustic guitars, sparing banjo, piano, and brass. Thanks to a volatile mix of the uplifting and gloomy -- there's a bitter murder tale ("Dust Bowl Dance") and lingering visions of death ("Timshel") -- Sigh No More transfixes.

By Jon Young