Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
22 Sept 09
Shangri-La Music
Review by Rachel Coppenhaver

Monsters of Folk is the union of Jim James of My Morning Jacket, M.Ward, and Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis and Conor Oberst. It began with them touring together five years ago and contributing to each others sets, and finally got taken into the studio earlier this year. The album is truly a collaboration of the four artists, with the songwriting being a work-shopped effort and with the musicians regularly trading instruments and alternating leading vocals. Although they named the group Monsters of Folk, the songs touch not only on folk, but also blues and rock.

The album opens with “Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.)” in which each vocalist takes on a verse. Some notable tracks include “Tezmecal” with Oberst on lead vocals, including some seriously brooding lyrics like “the love we made at gunpoint wasn't love at all”. “Man Named Truth” brings out the folk, while “The Sandman, The Brakeman, and Me” has Ward crooning a soft ballad. Spiritual themes are reoccurring throughout and James closes out the album with “His Master's Voice” in which he sings “you're only going to hear what you want to hear”.

The three vocalists, James, Ward, and Oberst, equally share the mic throughout the album, and while producer Mogis may not sing, he contributes plenty with his instrument and producing skills – listen to his guitar skills in “Say Please”. Some songs may evoke one members style more clearly than another, but overall Monsters of Folk does seem like another actual band instead of a self gratifying super-group.

You can see the Monsters of Folk on tour now throughout the US. They have partnered with Air Traffic Control to donate $1 of each ticket sale to a charitable organization in the city of the show. Find out more information visit the official site.

OFFICIAL SITE | MYSPACE