MONSTERS OF FOLK – MONSTERS OF FOLK
“Supergroup”, the word makes you cringe. rarely can any good come of the concept of talking a multiple number of your favorite artists, their egos, ideas and idiosyncrasies and putting them all in the one room, or studio as the case may be. The well named Monsters of Folk are M. Ward, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis; kind of an indie version of the Travelling Wilberys if you will. Their self-titled release is both what you would hope for and what you might fear. Folk is perhaps a misnomer in the naming here, as the opening Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.) is sumptuous chilled, electro pop; and Say Please crackles full of great guitar work from Mogis; two tracks in and not a crusty folkie to be heard. As each writer takes his turn at the mic the idea that this is a “group” takes a battering, M. Ward’s offerings could just as easily come from a solo outing, although the wonderful harmonies on his Slow Down Jo are the highlight of the album. And as folk rears it’s crusty head on a Man Named Truth the ghosts of Townes Van Zandt might be smiling down. Less to fear and more to enjoy from these monsters.
*** 1/2
