By Cole Nelson, Staff Writer
The banjo has evolved from a finger-plucking redneck instrument to a practical instrument choice for the rock bands, all because of a little English band by the name of Mumford & Sons. With the release of their second album, Babel, the folk rock band managed to maintain its good reputation.
Despite having constructed a fresh sound and cult-like following last year, Mumford & Sons practically mimics their first album Sigh No More in their sophomore album. While this may seem like a bad thing for a band at first, instead it actually shows that Mumford & Sons knows what their fans want from them.
Their debut album Sigh No More brought the band enormous success, setting the bar high for their second album. Unfortunately, that bar was too high to reach again. Babel fails to outdo, or even match, its predecessor. The band fits a banjo in nearly every track, even in places it doesn’t quite belong, including several slow songs, such as the new “Ghosts That We Knew.” Despite Marshall’s impressive plucking, one can only use the banjo so much before it becomes overdone.
Babel neither disappointed nor impressed me; it simply maintains the band’s presence in the musical circuit. I have no doubt that they will eventually surpass their debut album in the future, but for now we are left with a static folk sound. Mumford & Sons merely reproduces another enjoyable album that will do no more than satisfy their loyal fan base.
6.5/10
Courtesy of bighassle.com