Monsters of Folk (album)

Last updated
Monsters of Folk
MOFalbum.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 22, 2009
Studio Shangri-La Studio (Malibu, California) [1]
ARC (Omaha, Nebraska) [2]
Genre Alternative rock, indie folk
Length54:37
Language English
Label Shangri-La Music, Rough Trade
Producer Mike Mogis

Monsters of Folk is the self-titled first and only studio album by American indie rock band Monsters of Folk, a group that consists of the artists Jim James, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, and Mike Mogis. [3] Originally slated for release in 2010, [4] the album was released through Shangri-La Music and Rough Trade on September 22, 2009. "Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.)" samples Trevor Dandy's 1970 gospel song "Is There Any Love."

Contents

Track listing

  1. "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)" – 5:07
  2. "Say Please" – 2:48
  3. "Whole Lotta Losin'" – 2:45
  4. "Temazcal" – 3:49
  5. "The Right Place" – 3:48
  6. "Baby Boomer" – 2:53
  7. "Man Named Truth" – 3:51
  8. "Goodway" – 2:01
  9. "Ahead of the Curve" – 3:40
  10. "Slow Down Jo" – 3:21
  11. "Losin Yo Head" – 4:37
  12. "Magic Marker" – 3:20
  13. "Map of the World" – 4:24
  14. "The Sandman, the Brakeman and Me" – 3:23
  15. "His Master's Voice" – 4:50

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Drowned in Sound 7/10 [6]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg#191, p.99
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Pitchfork Media 6.5/10 [9]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg[ citation needed ]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
Sputnikmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [11]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]

Critical

Monsters of Folk was well received by critics. Music magazines Q , Mojo , and Rolling Stone each awarded the record four out of five stars. Lucas Schott of "The Tide" ranked "Monsters of Folk" the number 1 album of 2009. British newspapers The Guardian and The Times also gave the record a four out of five rating, the latter stating "this supergroup really is super." [13] USA Today called the album a "harmonious and occasionally electrified blend of folk-rock, country and white soul." [14] People magazine, however, gave the album two-and-a-half out of four stars, saying "There's so much talent in this supergroup—M. Ward, My Morning Jacket's Jim James, and Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis—that you kind of expect more from them." It added, "Still, dreamy tunes like the soulful 'Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)' will help tame the beast within". [15]

Commercial

Monsters of Folk debuted and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200, along with also charting in the Top 10 of the five other Billboard charts.

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Monsters of Folk
Chart (2009)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [16] 91
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [17] 34
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [18] 42
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [19] 44
UK Albums (OCC) [20] 43
US Billboard 200 [21] 15
US Billboard Top Alternative Albums [22] 6
US Billboard Folk Albums [23] 3
US Billboard Top Heatseekers [24] 1
US Billboard Independent Albums [25] 3
US Billboard Top Rock Albums [26] 8

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bright Eyes (band)</span> American indie rock band

Bright Eyes is an American indie rock band founded by singer-songwriter and guitarist Conor Oberst. It consists of Oberst, multi-instrumentalist and producer Mike Mogis, arranger, composer and trumpet and piano player Nate Walcott, and a rotating line-up of collaborators drawn primarily from Omaha's indie music scene. Between 1998 and 2011, the band's albums were released through Saddle Creek Records, a Nebraska-based label founded by Justin Oberst and Mogis. In January 2020, the band announced their return, having signed with Dead Oceans.

<i>Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground</i> 2002 studio album by Bright Eyes

Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil, Keep Your Ear to the Ground is the fourth studio album by Bright Eyes and the 46th release of Saddle Creek Records. The band made its national television debut in support of the album, performing "The Trees Get Wheeled Away" on the Late Show with David Letterman.

<i>Fevers and Mirrors</i> 2000 studio album by Bright Eyes

Fevers and Mirrors is the third studio album by American indie band Bright Eyes, recorded in 1999 and released on May 29, 2000. It was the 32nd release of the Omaha, Nebraska-based record label Saddle Creek Records. The album was released later in 2000 in the United Kingdom as the inaugural release from Wichita Recordings.

<i>Letting Off the Happiness</i> 1998 studio album by Bright Eyes

Letting Off the Happiness is the second studio album released by the indie rock band Bright Eyes. The album was released on November 2, 1998. It was the first release by Bright Eyes to feature and be produced by Mike Mogis, now a permanent member of the band. A vinyl re-release of the album was included in the Bright Eyes Vinyl Box Set in 2012. Guest musicians include members of Cursive, Tilly and the Wall, and Elephant 6 collective's Neutral Milk Hotel and of Montreal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conor Oberst</span> American musician

Conor Mullen Oberst is an American singer-songwriter best known for his work in Bright Eyes. He has also played in several other bands, including Desaparecidos, the Faint, Commander Venus, Park Ave., Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Monsters of Folk, and Better Oblivion Community Center. Oberst was named the Best Songwriter of 2008 by Rolling Stone magazine.

<i>Digital Ash in a Digital Urn</i> 2005 studio album by Bright Eyes

Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is the seventh studio album by American band Bright Eyes, released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records, the same day as their sixth album I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning. It peaked at number 15 in the US and 43 in the UK. In US it has sold 268,000 units. In 2007 it was awarded a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association, which indicated sales of at least 100,000 copies throughout Europe. In contrast to the acoustic nature of I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn is more electronic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. Ward</span> American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Oregon

Matthew Stephen "M." Ward is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Glendale, California. Ward's solo work is a mixture of folk and blues-inspired Americana analog recordings. He has released 10 studio albums since 1999, primarily through the independent label Merge Records. In addition to his solo work, he is a member of indie pop duo She & Him and folk-rock supergroup Monsters of Folk, and also participates in recording, producing, and playing with multiple other artists.

<i>Post-War</i> 2006 studio album by M. Ward

Post-War is the fifth studio album by M. Ward. It was released on August 22, 2006, by Merge Records. It features the single "To Go Home", a cover of a song written by Daniel Johnston. Guest appearances were made by Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Rachel Blumberg, drummer for the indie rock band The Decemberists, Neko Case, and Mike Mogis. Ward has said that the song "Today's Undertaking" was heavily inspired by Roy Orbison's 1963 single "In Dreams".

<i>Four Winds</i> (EP) 2007 EP by Bright Eyes

Four Winds is an EP by the indie rock band Bright Eyes, that was released on March 6, 2007. The title track is the first single from their album Cassadaga. The other 5 tracks are exclusive b-sides from the 2006 recording sessions. It is marketed as being "quietly enchanting" and including "a wandering country charm and all of the story-telling seductiveness of earlier work. The song "Four Winds" was ranked #5 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.

<i>Cassadaga</i> (album) 2007 studio album by Bright Eyes

Cassadaga is the eighth studio album by Bright Eyes, released in the UK on April 9, 2007, and in the US on April 10. Around 25 to 30 songs were recorded in 2006, with 13 of these appearing on the final track list. The album is named after the town of Cassadaga, New York, the home of the Fox Sisters and the location of Lily Dale, home and original community of mediums and followers of spiritualism. Z Berg of the Like, Sherri DuPree and Stacy King of Eisley, and singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata all appear on this album. The first single, "Four Winds", was released on March 6, 2007, taken from the Four Winds EP, which contains five B-sides not on Cassadaga.

<i>Conor Oberst</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Conor Oberst

Conor Oberst is the fourth solo studio album by Conor Oberst, of the band Bright Eyes, which was released on August 4, 2008 by Merge Records. The album debuted on the UK Albums Chart at #37 and reached #15 on the Billboard Top 200. It sold 98,000 copies in the US as of August 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsters of Folk</span> American band

Monsters of Folk was an American supergroup, consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes, Will Johnson from Centro-matic and M. Ward, solo artist and half of She & Him. The band was formed in 2004 when the members were on tour with their respective bands and solo projects. After playing together both on-stage and backstage, they started working together on various material. Due to the members' main projects, Monsters of Folk did not finish their first album until 2009, and it was released on September 22 on Rough Trade. It debuted at No. 143 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at 15. It also reached No. 3 on Top Independent Albums, No. 8 on Top Rock Albums, No. 7 on Top Digital Albums, and No. 6 on Top Alternative Albums.

<i>The Peoples Key</i> 2011 studio album by Bright Eyes

The People's Key is the ninth studio album by American band Bright Eyes. The album was recorded in Omaha, Nebraska at ARC Studios, produced by Mike Mogis, and engineered by Mogis and Andy LeMaster. The album was released on February 15, 2011, lead singer Conor Oberst's 31st birthday, by Saddle Creek Records. Prior to its official release, the album was available to stream online in its entirety, as part of NPR's "First Listen" series.

<i>Im Wide Awake, Its Morning</i> 2005 studio album by Bright Eyes

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning is the sixth studio album by American band Bright Eyes, released on January 25, 2005 by Saddle Creek Records.

<i>The Lions Roar</i> (album) 2012 studio album by First Aid Kit

The Lion's Roar is the second studio album by Swedish folk duo First Aid Kit. It was produced by Mike Mogis and features contributions from Bright Eyes' Conor Oberst, Nate Walcott, and The Felice Brothers. The album was released on 18 January 2012.

<i>A Wasteland Companion</i> 2012 studio album by M. Ward

A Wasteland Companion is the seventh studio album from M. Ward, released in Australia and New Zealand on April 6, 2012; in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2012; and in the United States on April 10, 2012. A Wasteland Companion is the follow-up to his 2009 album Hold Time.

<i>Upside Down Mountain</i> 2014 studio album by Conor Oberst

Upside Down Mountain is the sixth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on May 19, 2014, through Nonesuch Records.

<i>Salutations</i> (album) 2017 studio album by Conor Oberst

Salutations is the eighth solo studio album by American musician Conor Oberst, released on March 17, 2017 on Nonesuch Records. Ten of the tracks originally appeared on Ruminations in acoustic form.

<i>Better Oblivion Community Center</i> (album) 2019 studio album by Better Oblivion Community Center

Better Oblivion Community Center is the only studio album by American indie rock duo Better Oblivion Community Center, composed of Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers. The album was released on January 24, 2019, through Dead Oceans.

<i>Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was</i> 2020 studio album by Bright Eyes

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was is the tenth studio album by American band Bright Eyes. The album marked the band's first release in nearly a decade, following The People's Key in 2011. It was released by Dead Oceans on August 21, 2020, and it was their first album not released by Saddle Creek Records. The album was recorded at Electro-Vox and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles and ARC Studios in Omaha, Nebraska.

References

  1. Wappler, Margaret (September 20, 2009). "Laid-back, fun-loving Monsters". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  2. Fink, Matt (October 1, 2009). "Monsters of Folk: Averting Disaster". Under the Radar . Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  3. Josh Modell (2009-06-11). "Oberst / Jim James / M. Ward record officially announced". The A.V. Club . Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  4. Scaggs, Austin (January 22, 2009), "Smoking Section". Rolling Stone . (1070):26
  5. Monsters of Folk at AllMusic
  6. "Album Review: Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk". DrownedInSound.com. Archived from the original on 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  7. Dean, Will (September 17, 2009). "Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk | CD review". Theguardian.com.
  8. Guardian Staff (September 5, 2009). "Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk | CD review". Theguardian.com.
  9. "Monsters of Folk: Monsters of Folk". Pitchfork.com.
  10. "Monsters of Folk : Monsters of Folk : Review : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2017-10-29.
  11. "Review: Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk". Sputnikmusic .
  12. [ dead link ]
  13. Edwards, Mark (September 20, 2009). "Monsters of Folk Monsters of Folk". The Times. London. Retrieved May 13, 2010.
  14. Steve Jones, Edna Gundersen, Jerry Shriver, Brian Mansfield, Elysa Gardner (September 18, 2009), "Get ready for a coming sonic boom". USA Today
  15. Arnold, Chuck (October 12, 2009), "Monsters of Folk". People. 72 (15):46
  16. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 192.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  19. "Swedishcharts.com – Monsters of Folk – Monsters of Folk". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  20. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  21. "Monsters of Folk Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  22. "Monsters of Folk Chart History - Alternative Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  23. "Monsters of Folk Chart History - Folk Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  24. "Monsters of Folk Chart History - Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  25. "Monsters of Folk Chart History - Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2011.
  26. "Monsters of Folk Chart History - Rock Albums". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2011.