So I decided... Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

As a genre, I don’t think indie folk really does Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros justice. A World Café article on NPR dubbed them a psychedelic folk troupe and I think that’s more like it. Their debut album came out in July and ever since, they’ve been all over the radar as an avant-garde band for 2009.

My first exposure to ESMZ (that’s what I’m going to call it, okay?) was “Home” as a part of NPR’s 2009 recap. You can’t help but to fall in love with that song, even if you don’t appreciate any of their other music. The lyrics are just unabashedly amorous and whimsical, enough to melt the coldest of hearts. The buck doesn’t stop there though, “Carries On”, “40 Day Dream”, “Simplest Love” and “Om Nashi Me” are equally as affectionate. Watch the 10 piece group fronted by Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos and the feeling only grows. I can’t help but think about John & Yoko when they perform together, singing lines like “She got jumper cable lips/ She got sunset on her breath now/ I inhaled just a little bit / Now I got no fear of death…” or “Holy Moly, Me oh My, you’re the apple of my eye/ Girl ain’t never loved one like you…”

I’m a little bit in awe of what they are and what they do and I still don’t quite understand it. It’s like a bunch of random hippies got together (probably with at least a little pot) and just started playing and writing together. When I suggested one friend listen to it he says, “man, they just don’t make music like this anymore!” to which I responded, “it came out this year! don’t you feel like it’s from the 60s or something?!” I’m interested to see if there’s a large movement for this kind of revival of folk music that is reminiscent of the 60s and 70s, but I don’t expect it to trump Lady Gaga in the charts or anything (I also love her, no hate here).

Hope you enjoy listening, and if you don’t, well…oh well. Among those currently on my radar for future posts are: Mumford & Sons, Muse and Fanfarlo… be on the lookout!