| Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros |
| PersonA (April 15, 2016) |
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros — PersonA
♠ A ten–piece down–home freak folk revue with farmhouse harmonies and a grizzly bearded bandleader.
Editors’ Notes
•» The far–out folk band now has a more grown–up sound, and that’s not the only change. Their sole female member, singer Jade Castrinos, left in 2014 after a decade, causing the remaining 10 members to reimagine their sound. Their fourth album, PersonA, forgoes their signature cutesy quirk in favor of stricter editing and deeper lyrics, making it their tightest, cleanest, and most serious work yet. Longtime fans shouldn’t worry the songs are still dreamy and delirious and philosophically charged. But they’re also more patient and purposeful. “Uncomfortable, you’ve got to get uncomfortable,” sings frontman Alex Ebert on the eerie track, “Uncomfortable,” about personal growth. If it’s a lesson he learned first–hand, it shows. Formed: 2007 in Los Angeles, CA
Location: Los Angeles, CA ~ New Orleans , United States
Styles: Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Neo–Psychedelia, Indie Rock
Album release: April 15th, 2016
Record Label: Community Music/Fontana North
Duration: 45:24
Tracks:
01 Hot Coals 7:18
02 Uncomfortable 3:46
03 Somewhere 3:18
04 No Love Like Yours 2:58
05 Wake Up the Sun 6:41
06 Free Stuff 3:05
07 Let It Down 4:33
08 Perfect Time 4:42
09 Lullaby 3:56
10 The Ballad of Yaya 4:57
℗ Community Music Group LLC, 2016 Review
By Laura Sciarpelletti, Published Apr 13, 2016; Score: 9
•★• Ten–piece folk–rock group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are letting go of their fictional messianic leader with PersonA. Edward Sharpe’s dramatic crossing out on the album covers alludes to the band’s progression towards a new era, in which they continue to embrace the ‘60s psychedelic and folk highlights they do so well while producing a fuller, nearly orchestral sound.
•★• Opening track “Hot Coals” tickles the piano keys and features tempo change–ups to complement singer Alex Ebert’s aggressive lyricism as he hits on the pains and pleasures of love, pleading, “Stay the fuck in my heart.” The emotional “Uncomfortable” has a Nina Simone edge to it, and the political and religious commentary throughout plays on the progressive, protesting vibe of the ‘60s in a way that the Magnetic Zeros have never really done before. Elsewhere, though, “No Love Like Ours” maintains the romantic, cutesy vibe of their big hit, “Home,” that made the band famous.
•★• On “Wake Up the Sun,” Ebert employs a trilling, whispery singing style littered as he preaches a preference for the religion of love among mankind over that of Krishna, Jesus and Buddha as unified, joyous vocals and a celebratory horn section soar overhead. The band’s optimism, paired with gospel musical styling and psychedelic crescendos, appear in nearly every song up until slow closer “The Ballad of Yaya.”
•★• PersonA is proof of the exemplary musicianship of Magnetic Zeros, and their ability to forge songs as rich lyrically as they are musically. •★• http://exclaim.ca/
AllMusic Review by Marcy Donelson; Score: ♠♠♠
♠ For their fourth LP, PersonA, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros changed up their process, gathering the whole band into a single room to write and record as a group for the first time. The all–for–one concept is illustrated with cover art that redacts “Edward Sharpe and” with red lines. If alter ego Edward Sharpe is gone, the soulful quiver of bandleader Alex Ebert remains, as does the occasionally foot–stomping psychedelia of the now ten–piece ensemble (with the departure of co–singer Jade Castrinos). Here, however, the attack is more refined, with most songs showcasing musicianship and expression over ramshackle celebration. This quality shines on a track like “Hot Coals.” A jazz–infused, meter–shifting lament, it mostly rides along on piano and drums but picks up and drops off instruments along the way, eventually concluding with a trippy jam that integrates brass, organ, and spooky effects. It’s one of a diverse set of songs that also includes the scat–charged “Wake Up the Sun,” which nearly ends in a “Give Peace a Chance”–like singalong until it morphs into a choral–instrumental jam. As is usual for the group, the album holds other echoes of the Beatles, such as the tender “Somewhere,” a part–Harrison, part–McCartney songwriting étude. Meanwhile, “Uncomfortable” is an improvised–sounding spiritual, and “Perfect Time” evokes a Frank Sinatra Vegas showpiece, albeit with blunter lyrics. A warmer standout is “No Love Like Yours,” which boasts the album’s catchiest melody alongside a playful groove. On the whole, though, PersonA finds the group still offering music–festival–friendly fare, but of a nature that’s more jammy than jamboree. ♠ http://www.allmusic.com/
Also:
BY AMANDA ROSCOE MAYO ON APRIL 14, 2016, 6:02AM; SCORE: C+
♠ http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/04/album-review-edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros-persona/
Monica Tan, Wednesday 13 April 2016 00.31 BST
♠ http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/apr/13/edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros-persona-exclusive-album-stream
Website: http://www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edwardsharpe
Tumblr: http://edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.tumblr.com/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/edward-sharpe-mag-zeros
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagneticzeros
Discography:
♠ 2009 Up from Below (Universal Music Canada / Vagrant)
♠ 2012 Here (Vagrant)
♠ 2013 Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (Vagrant)
♠ 2016 PersonA (Community Music / Universal)
•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠
| Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros |
| PersonA (April 15, 2016) |
Editors’ Notes
•» The far–out folk band now has a more grown–up sound, and that’s not the only change. Their sole female member, singer Jade Castrinos, left in 2014 after a decade, causing the remaining 10 members to reimagine their sound. Their fourth album, PersonA, forgoes their signature cutesy quirk in favor of stricter editing and deeper lyrics, making it their tightest, cleanest, and most serious work yet. Longtime fans shouldn’t worry the songs are still dreamy and delirious and philosophically charged. But they’re also more patient and purposeful. “Uncomfortable, you’ve got to get uncomfortable,” sings frontman Alex Ebert on the eerie track, “Uncomfortable,” about personal growth. If it’s a lesson he learned first–hand, it shows. Formed: 2007 in Los Angeles, CA
Location: Los Angeles, CA ~ New Orleans , United States
Styles: Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Neo–Psychedelia, Indie Rock
Album release: April 15th, 2016
Record Label: Community Music/Fontana North
Duration: 45:24
Tracks:
01 Hot Coals 7:18
02 Uncomfortable 3:46
03 Somewhere 3:18
04 No Love Like Yours 2:58
05 Wake Up the Sun 6:41
06 Free Stuff 3:05
07 Let It Down 4:33
08 Perfect Time 4:42
09 Lullaby 3:56
10 The Ballad of Yaya 4:57
℗ Community Music Group LLC, 2016 Review
By Laura Sciarpelletti, Published Apr 13, 2016; Score: 9
•★• Ten–piece folk–rock group Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros are letting go of their fictional messianic leader with PersonA. Edward Sharpe’s dramatic crossing out on the album covers alludes to the band’s progression towards a new era, in which they continue to embrace the ‘60s psychedelic and folk highlights they do so well while producing a fuller, nearly orchestral sound.
•★• Opening track “Hot Coals” tickles the piano keys and features tempo change–ups to complement singer Alex Ebert’s aggressive lyricism as he hits on the pains and pleasures of love, pleading, “Stay the fuck in my heart.” The emotional “Uncomfortable” has a Nina Simone edge to it, and the political and religious commentary throughout plays on the progressive, protesting vibe of the ‘60s in a way that the Magnetic Zeros have never really done before. Elsewhere, though, “No Love Like Ours” maintains the romantic, cutesy vibe of their big hit, “Home,” that made the band famous.
•★• On “Wake Up the Sun,” Ebert employs a trilling, whispery singing style littered as he preaches a preference for the religion of love among mankind over that of Krishna, Jesus and Buddha as unified, joyous vocals and a celebratory horn section soar overhead. The band’s optimism, paired with gospel musical styling and psychedelic crescendos, appear in nearly every song up until slow closer “The Ballad of Yaya.”
•★• PersonA is proof of the exemplary musicianship of Magnetic Zeros, and their ability to forge songs as rich lyrically as they are musically. •★• http://exclaim.ca/
AllMusic Review by Marcy Donelson; Score: ♠♠♠
♠ For their fourth LP, PersonA, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros changed up their process, gathering the whole band into a single room to write and record as a group for the first time. The all–for–one concept is illustrated with cover art that redacts “Edward Sharpe and” with red lines. If alter ego Edward Sharpe is gone, the soulful quiver of bandleader Alex Ebert remains, as does the occasionally foot–stomping psychedelia of the now ten–piece ensemble (with the departure of co–singer Jade Castrinos). Here, however, the attack is more refined, with most songs showcasing musicianship and expression over ramshackle celebration. This quality shines on a track like “Hot Coals.” A jazz–infused, meter–shifting lament, it mostly rides along on piano and drums but picks up and drops off instruments along the way, eventually concluding with a trippy jam that integrates brass, organ, and spooky effects. It’s one of a diverse set of songs that also includes the scat–charged “Wake Up the Sun,” which nearly ends in a “Give Peace a Chance”–like singalong until it morphs into a choral–instrumental jam. As is usual for the group, the album holds other echoes of the Beatles, such as the tender “Somewhere,” a part–Harrison, part–McCartney songwriting étude. Meanwhile, “Uncomfortable” is an improvised–sounding spiritual, and “Perfect Time” evokes a Frank Sinatra Vegas showpiece, albeit with blunter lyrics. A warmer standout is “No Love Like Yours,” which boasts the album’s catchiest melody alongside a playful groove. On the whole, though, PersonA finds the group still offering music–festival–friendly fare, but of a nature that’s more jammy than jamboree. ♠ http://www.allmusic.com/
Also:
BY AMANDA ROSCOE MAYO ON APRIL 14, 2016, 6:02AM; SCORE: C+
♠ http://consequenceofsound.net/2016/04/album-review-edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros-persona/
Monica Tan, Wednesday 13 April 2016 00.31 BST
♠ http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2016/apr/13/edward-sharpe-and-the-magnetic-zeros-persona-exclusive-album-stream
Website: http://www.edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/edwardsharpe
Tumblr: http://edwardsharpeandthemagneticzeros.tumblr.com/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/edward-sharpe-mag-zeros
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagneticzeros
Discography:
♠ 2009 Up from Below (Universal Music Canada / Vagrant)
♠ 2012 Here (Vagrant)
♠ 2013 Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (Vagrant)
♠ 2016 PersonA (Community Music / Universal)
•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠♠♠♠★•♠