Mumford and Sons

[Trav Le Bleu]

No, really, I don't get it. I mean they're ok, but there have been lots of band out there doing what they've been doing for years, often better, and they've not had a sniff of the kind of success they're enjoying at the moment.

So why is it ok to like folk music now? Is it just the mainstream banality of it all, the fact that if you're absolutely 50/50 average at anything, then you will enjoy success? And on the back of Mumford and Sons, why aren't people getting into Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine and the like (or indeed, The Like )

Personally I just think people, most people, just like what they're told they should like.

[StanSP]

No, really, I don't get it. I mean they're ok, but there have been lots of band been out there doing what they've been doing for years, often better, and they've not had a sniff of the kind of success they're enjoying at the moment.

So why is it ok to like folk music now? Is it just the mainstream banality of it all, the fact that if you're absolutely 50/50 average at anything, then you will enjoy success? And on the back of Mumford and Sons, why aren't people getting into Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine and the like (or indeed, The Like )

Personally I just think people, most people, just like what they're told they should like.

It's just a shame that the minority of those people who actually liked the band before they were famous don't get noticed at all .

And I don't think people are necessarily told what they should like. Radio producers/DJs will go out looking for music, and they may even stumble across a band they think is good. Maybe it's just chance that some bands get the luck and some bands stay off the radar.

[lou]

I dont get them personally but do think its nice that different sorts of music are popular for a change....

My eldest Daughter loves them and has done for a while.

[Trav Le Bleu]

I dont get them personally but do think its nice that different sorts of music are popular for a change....

My eldest Daughter loves them and has done for a while.

But that's just it... they're the only band that have done that, the style of music in itself has not.

I just grieves me, and this is true in most of the styles of music I like, that if people ask me what kind of music I like and I say I like Indie Folk Rock, and they ask me what kind of music that is, I then have to reply, "ooooh, like Okkerv... Midla... Sufjan Ste... oh, sod it, Mumford and Sons", just so they understand.

[lou]

But that's just it... they're the only band that have done that, the style of music in itself has not.

I just grieves me, and this is true in most of the styles of music I like, that if people ask me what kind of music I like and I say I like Indie Folk Rock, and they ask me what kind of music that is, I then have to reply, "ooooh, like Okkerv... Midla... Sufjan Ste... oh, sod it, Mumford and Sons", just so they understand.

Not heard enough of them to compare them to anyone else to be honest but I know what you mean

Dunno why it happens that a particular band gets popular and others dont.... clever marketing from their label perhaps or just right place, right time?

[Joe.]

On a personal level I've liked them for quite a while now, but I'm not going to deny that the coverage they've received over the last year has inadvertedly made me listen to their music a lot more.

I genuinely believe that anything at all can become popular on Radio 1 if they play it enough, and that's pretty much what's happened with M&S here in my opinion - it's hardly your generic 'pop'. Just look at 'Killing in the Name' getting to Christmas number one.

Your regular Radio 1 listener probably won't look beyond M&S to see what else the folk genre holds, because daytime mainstream radio just won't play it. I do agree with you that people will generally like what they're told to, I think it's difficult to deny that on a lot of fronts.

[Trav Le Bleu]

On a personal level I've liked them for quite a while now, but I'm not going to deny that the coverage they've received over the last year has inadvertedly made me listen to their music a lot more.

I genuinely believe that anything at all can become popular on Radio 1 if they play it enough, and that's pretty much what's happened with M&S here in my opinion - it's hardly your generic 'pop'. Just look at 'Killing in the Name' getting to Christmas number one.

Your regular Radio 1 listener probably won't look beyond M&S to see what else the folk genre holds, because daytime mainstream radio just won't play it. I do agree with you that people will generally like what they're told to, I think it's difficult to deny that on a lot of fronts.

Yeah, that about sums it up. It's just sad that, when you consider that, as you say, whatever R1 play will be a hit, they don't play more diverse music instead of the run-of-the-mill stuff that they do... but that's getting towards the Radio 6 debate

[hairy]

I think M&S stand out in their genre because they are very good singwriters.

[samlcfc]

I reckon that in some peoples cases, you never really know that you like certain types of music until you truly listen to it. I mean that in the past I've heard music passively that I hadn't listened to properly and didn't really take to it. Then I'll listen properly to the same music and enjoy it

[purpleronnie]

The charts are so bland I think anyone who comes around who sounds different and have decent tunes will stand out thesedays. I like folk music infact I like all genres of music, I feel if you limit yourself to one type then you miss out on a huge amount of incredible music (I even own jazz records ).

The folk music I listen to are woody guthrie, dylan, Seeger, Phil Ochs etc...Problem is there has been no real folk artists that have come popular in recent years. But there is a small new wave of british folk artists breaking into the 'mainstream', mumford & sons, Laura Marling etc...

I like it just for the fact its different to the endless r&b you seem to hear thesedays, like everything though some r&b is great but most is pretty much meaningless rubbish, the same could be said for all genres including folk.

I'm sure this folk renaissance will fall away and some other type of music will become popular.....and so it goes.

[z-layrex]

That's just the music industry. Right place, right time, right people hear you. It's why fooking terrible bands like Kasabian get so big. That and people will buy what they think they should, basically what Radio 1 shoves in their face.

You just have to walk through Dublin to hear busking folk bands just as good as mumford.

Having said that, I do think Mumford deserve their success, it is a brilliant album despite it all.

[Joe.]

That's just the music industry. Right place, right time, right people hear you. It's why fooking terrible bands like Kasabian get so big. That and people will buy what they think they should, basically what Radio 1 shoves in their face.

Well that's bollocks really isn't it? They're not your generic manufactured pop rubbish you get plastered everywhere today. Write their own songs, building themselves up from scratch in the process. And now they're reaping the rewards.

Understandable if you don't like them but to use them as an example in that case is just daft.

[MrsJohnMurphy]

No, really, I don't get it. I mean they're ok, but there have been lots of band out there doing what they've been doing for years, often better, and they've not had a sniff of the kind of success they're enjoying at the moment.

So why is it ok to like folk music now? Is it just the mainstream banality of it all, the fact that if you're absolutely 50/50 average at anything, then you will enjoy success? And on the back of Mumford and Sons, why aren't people getting into Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine and the like (or indeed, The Like )

Personally I just think people, most people, just like what they're told they should like.

I quite agree and then there are those who like Sufjan , Iron & Wine, Okkervil River etc, who just don't get The Flying Burrito Brothers eh bro?

P.S See you Saturday for Wild Beasts.

[SOCCERROO FOX]

No, really, I don't get it. I mean they're ok, but there have been lots of band out there doing what they've been doing for years, often better, and they've not had a sniff of the kind of success they're enjoying at the moment.

So why is it ok to like folk music now? Is it just the mainstream banality of it all, the fact that if you're absolutely 50/50 average at anything, then you will enjoy success? And on the back of Mumford and Sons, why aren't people getting into Okkervil River, Sufjan Stevens, Iron and Wine and the like (or indeed, The Like <img src="http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.png" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="tongue.png" />)

Personally I just think people, most people, just like what they're told they should like.

It is very hard to like bands if you have never heard them. I just happend to stumble across M and S because a friend of mine was playing there EP in her car and i liked it so checked it out.

I don't think people like what there told to like but like most bands unless you get a chance to be listened to or discovered you will struggle to get a fan base.

[ozleicester]

meh...M&S are just that (M&S), nice to get some different sounds on the radio.. but i doubt we will see another relevant album from them.

Just wait for the reunion (including greatest hits compilation)tour in 2025

[Jonezy]

Mumford and Sons are just catchy and melodic on first listen, whereas acts like Iron & Wine, Okkervil River and Sufjan takes more of an effort to get into, and I still haven't after plenty of listens.

[Trav Le Bleu]

I quite agree and then there are those who like Sufjan , Iron & Wine, Okkervil River etc, who just don't get The Flying Burrito Brothers eh bro?

P.S See you Saturday for Wild Beasts.

Yeah, but have Sufjan and co been any more successful than the Flying Burrito Brothers... no! and therein lies my point.

That and The Flying Burrito Brothers are crap.

PS yup, looking forward to it!

[FoxyPV]

Try Bon Iver if you like M+S. pretty good.

[Joe.]

Try Bon Iver if you like M+S. pretty good.

Whilst I agree about Bon Iver being an artist worth listening to, I don't think I'd put them in the same vein of talk as Mumford and Sons personally. Two quite different styles of music...

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I think they're dog shit.

That's my contribution to this thread.

[Guest]

I think they're dog shit.

That's my contribution to this thread.

But a worthwhile one. You saved me the bother, and the flack!!

[purpleronnie]

I think they're dog shit.

That's my contribution to this thread.

They're certainly not in Delphic's league.

[Joe.]

Just got back from seeing them in Brighton, and in my opinion, the hype is fully justified. They are an immensely talented bunch of musicians, I don't care what anybody says.

[Trav Le Bleu]

Just got back from seeing them in Brighton, and in my opinion, the hype is fully justified. They are an immensely talented bunch of musicians, I don't care what anybody says.

Yeah, like Whitney Houston CAN actually sing, but I still wouldn't buy any of her cack songs.

(Incidently, I'm not saying M&S are cack, I'm just indiferrent.)

[Jay]

Yeah, like Whitney Houston CAN actually sing, but I still wouldn't buy any of her cack songs.

(Incidently, I'm not saying M&S are cack, I'm just indiferrent.)

I think I get where you're coming from I don't mind them to be honest BUT it seems the hype/airplay and general loving of them is incredible considering other bands of a similar ilk go around for years without being able to get any airplay or publicity or even record contracts.

My mate saw them in Liverpool last week and said it was an incredible live show