REVIEWSMumford and Sons, ‘Sigh No More’

8

• SPIN Rating:8 of 10

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Label: Gentlemen of the Road/Glassnote

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.

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