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OF MONSTERS AND MEN
(ICELAND)
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MY HEAD IS AN ANIMAL
(2011)
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LABEL:
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GENRE:
ROCK
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TAGS:
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"Of Monsters And Men's debut effort, 'My Head Is An Animal' is a fine folk-rock album that's sure to delight fans of sweet melodies."
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4/5
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The Icelandic bands whose music has reached our ears have always stood out in the traditional Rock landscape. Whether it's Bjork or Sigur Ros, their culture and wide open spaces seem to be an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Of Monsters And Men are no exception to the rule, taking us right from their first album, 'My Head Is An Animal', into a world populated by legendary creatures and fabulous stories.
First released in Iceland in 2011 on an independent label, the album was so successful there that Of Monsters And Men was signed to Universal Music the following year. The album's cover was changed, and its content significantly altered, with two new tracks in particular, and the album was re-released at the end of 2012.
Of Monsters And Men is first and foremost the male/female vocal duo formed by its two singers/guitarists, Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson. Delicate, ethereal, at times almost timid, the songs of the two protagonists intermingle or respond to each other to tell us about extraordinary adventures and transport us into parallel dimensions. The music that accompanies them is in their image, light, airy and harmonious. Relying essentially on acoustics, the different tracks take their time to develop their atmospheres, alternating moments of calm and turbulence, without altering the general feeling of calm and serenity.
The picture would have been idyllic were it not for a few compositional tics that sometimes give the impression that the band has taken things too easy. 'Mountain Sound' seems to be a variation of the hit 'Little Talks', the little embellishments can be found from one track to another (the 'hey' of 'Dirty Paws' are in 'Little Talks') and too many tracks are supported by a bass drum that simply beats time. As a result, the album gains in coherence what it loses in variety.
Despite these teething problems, which only become apparent after several careful listens, 'My Head Is An Animal' remains a good folk-rock album that is sure to delight fans of beautiful, smooth melodies. - Official website Did you know?
The song 'Six Weeks' was inspired by the story of Hugh Glass, trapper and fur hunter, who was attacked by a grizzly bear in 1823 and left alone by his companions. The film "The Revenant" was inspired by the same story.
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Dirty Paws 02. King and Lionheart 03. Numb Bears 04. Sloom 05. Little Talks 06. From Finner 07. Six Weeks 08. Love Love Love 09. Your Bones 10. Lake House 11. Yellow Light
LINEUP:
Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson: Batterie Árni Guðjónsson: Claviers Brynjar Leifsson: Guitares Kristján Páll Kristjánsson: Basse Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir: Chant / Guitares Ragnar Þórhallsson: Chant / Guitares
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