Monsters of Folk (album) explained

Monsters of Folk
Type:studio
Artist:Monsters of Folk
Cover:MOFalbum.jpg
Released:September 22, 2009
Studio:Shangri-La Studio (Malibu, California)[1]
ARC (Omaha, Nebraska)[2]
Genre:Alternative rock, indie folk
Length:54:37
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."

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

Critical

Monsters of Folk (whose title was a play on the concert series "Monsters of Rock") 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."[5] USA Today called the album a "harmonious and occasionally electrified blend of folk-rock, country and white soul."[6] 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".[7]

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)[8] 91
US Billboard 200[9] 15
US Billboard Top Alternative Albums[10] 6
US Billboard Folk Albums[11] 3
US Billboard Top Heatseekers[12] 1
US Billboard Independent Albums[13] 3
US Billboard Top Rock Albums[14] 8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Laid-back, fun-loving Monsters . Wappler . Margaret . September 20, 2009 . . October 18, 2019.
  2. Web site: Monsters of Folk: Averting Disaster . Fink . Matt . October 1, 2009 . . October 21, 2019.
  3. News: Oberst / Jim James / M. Ward record officially announced . Josh Modell . . 2009-06-11 . 2009-06-11.
  4. Scaggs, Austin (January 22, 2009), "Smoking Section". Rolling Stone. (1070):26
  5. News: Monsters of Folk Monsters of Folk . The Times . London . Mark . Edwards . September 20, 2009 . May 13, 2010.
  6. Steve Jones, Edna Gundersen, Jerry Shriver, Brian Mansfield, Elysa Gardner (September 18, 2009), "Get ready for a coming sonic boom". USA Today
  7. Arnold, Chuck (October 12, 2009), "Monsters of Folk". People. 72 (15):46
  8. 192.
  9. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=all}} Monsters of Folk Chart History - Billboard 200]. Billboard. March 12, 2011.
  10. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Alternative Albums}} Monsters of Folk Chart History - Alternative Albums]. Billboard. March 12, 2011.
  11. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Folk Albums}} Monsters of Folk Chart History - Folk Albums]. Billboard. March 12, 2011.
  12. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Heatseekers Albums}} Monsters of Folk Chart History - Heatseekers Albums]. Billboard. March 12, 2011.
  13. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Independent Albums}} Monsters of Folk Chart History - Independent Albums]. Billboard. March 12, 2011.
  14. [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Rock Albums}} Monsters of Folk Chart History - Rock Albums]. Billboard. March 12, 2011.