Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk
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October 9, 2009
Filed under Music
Monsters of Folk’s self-titled album is already being called this generation’s Traveling Wilburys, but as super-groups go, Monsters of Folk isn’t stacked. Monsters of Folk includes Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis (who are both known for Bright Eyes), Jim James, and Matthew Stephen Ward, known as M. Ward onstage. The band still attracts the 
indie crowd, but instead of the melancholy undertones that are Bright Eyes, Monsters of Folk seems to be a failed attempt at combining the indie theme, with folk and electronica; most of the song lyrics are surreally happy. Conor’s songs come off as Schick; his sunshine-spewing sounds, and sometimes lyrics, are completely childish. If one takes a closer look, the pleasant, yet r epetitive sound disguises woeful lyrics in the song “Temazcal”. The band’s “deeper” lyrics use open words and broad subject matter, making interpretation
open. Monsters is not a concept record, but strong themes and images course through it; God is one of these. Oberst recalls a lost time when “God was on our side”, as well as Ward telling the Lord he’s “gotta lotta losing.” The record closes with James’ beautifully assonant image of “Mohammed rolling dice with Christ at twilight” in “His Master’s Voice,” a song about spiritual belief, self-determination and “the call to war.” It seems that Oberst is going for drama and even seems to be tiping insanity when speaking of blowing his brains out, as he does in one instance. This band just seems like the best, failed offshoot of “Bright Eyes”.
By Aaron Berkowitz
Rating : 4/10
Label: Shangri-La Music, Rough Trade
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