03-06-2012, 12:46
online listen
think I may have set my sights too high on this one
loved the debut but this one falls far short of that
one listen doesn't reveal much, but not sure it will get more
after the decent opener (the clip), nothing equaled that
had it on my wish list, emphasis on had
1.4 from me and a converted 1.8 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Man On Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghPyUm_MSI
released May 29th, 2012
![[Image: 220px-Edwardsharpe-here.jpeg]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/05/Edwardsharpe-here.jpeg/220px-Edwardsharpe-here.jpeg)
Bio - from allmusic
Formed in 2007 by Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert after a brief period of existential crisis, the cultish 11-piece
indie rock outfit Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros draw their inspiration from the communal musical communities
that peppered Southern California (specifically Laurel Canyon) with positive vibrations during the '60s and early
'70s. Employing a unique sound that brought to mind a not-so-subtle mix of Parliament, Polyphonic Spree, Bob Marley,
and the Incredible String Band, the group released its debut EP, Here Comes, in May 2009, followed by the full-
length Up from Below in July. The band grew in renowned based in part on their fiery live show, touring often and
making several television appearances including multiple performances on Late Night with David Letterman. The band
followed up their debut in 2012 with full-length Here, one of two albums the band had planned for release that year.
Album Review - from allmusic
When Alex Ebert re-emerged in 2009 as messianic musical cult leader Edward Sharpe, many familiar with his previous
band, Ima Robot, weren't buying it. With Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ebert made the dramatic 180 from sleazy
electroclash-leaning punk singer to grizzly bearded bandleader in an 11-piece down-home freak folk revue, bright
psychedelic colors and farmhouse harmonies replacing his not too distant past of black leather and smirky sneers.
Artists change constantly, and Ebert's reinvention wasn't completely laughable or phony. While mired with some
cringe-inducing Jim Morrison aping and a generally cluttered sense of arrangement, the band's debut album, Up from
Below, had some bright moments when the strength of the songwriting cut through the affectation and actually seemed
genuine in a roundabout way. A few years later, Here is much the same. The bandmembers wear the whole communal free
-living throwback hippie jamboree persona to the point where they dip into goofy character sketches and threaten to
detract completely from some pretty catchy songs. The album opens strongly, with the undeniably catchy pair of tunes
"Man on Fire" and "That's What's Up," both rising to handclapping summits of old-fashioned Southern revival and jug
band jubilation. The hooky choruses are solid, but there's a pretty heavy sense of musical theater throughout these
highlights, leaving the Magnetic Zeros coming off more like Jesus Christ Superstar meets Emit Otter's Jug Band
Christmas than the freak folk hoedown they were aiming for. Lead vocalist Jade Castrinos reprises her role trading
verses with Ebert on these songs and later takes center stage on the electrified "Fiya Wata." Castrinos'
contributions feel spirited and from the gut, whether they're put on or not. Following a strong start, the album
fades into a series of exercises in style or emulation. Washy group vocal slow-burner "Mayla" is an acid-soaked
sunshine daydream of little substance complete with Jerry Garcia-styled guitar noodling throughout. "One Love to
Another" is a striking exhibit of a Bob Marley ripoff, a daring move in even the most fried acid rock circles. While
the string of affectations and re-creations of various sects of hippie culture aren't completely unenjoyable, they
get old really fast, especially on the weaker material. Ebert's intentions and previous bands are really immaterial
in the case of Here. The album comes up short in the song department and doesn't quite get by on its abundance of
free-love signifiers.
Track Listing
1. Man on Fire
2. That's Whats Up
3. I Don't Wanna Pray
4. Mayla
5. Dear Believer
6. Child
7. One Love to Another
8. Fiya Wata
9. All Wash Out
think I may have set my sights too high on this one
loved the debut but this one falls far short of that
one listen doesn't reveal much, but not sure it will get more
after the decent opener (the clip), nothing equaled that
had it on my wish list, emphasis on had
1.4 from me and a converted 1.8 from the pros at allmusic
from the album - Man On Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qghPyUm_MSI
released May 29th, 2012
Bio - from allmusic
Formed in 2007 by Ima Robot frontman Alex Ebert after a brief period of existential crisis, the cultish 11-piece
indie rock outfit Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros draw their inspiration from the communal musical communities
that peppered Southern California (specifically Laurel Canyon) with positive vibrations during the '60s and early
'70s. Employing a unique sound that brought to mind a not-so-subtle mix of Parliament, Polyphonic Spree, Bob Marley,
and the Incredible String Band, the group released its debut EP, Here Comes, in May 2009, followed by the full-
length Up from Below in July. The band grew in renowned based in part on their fiery live show, touring often and
making several television appearances including multiple performances on Late Night with David Letterman. The band
followed up their debut in 2012 with full-length Here, one of two albums the band had planned for release that year.
Album Review - from allmusic
When Alex Ebert re-emerged in 2009 as messianic musical cult leader Edward Sharpe, many familiar with his previous
band, Ima Robot, weren't buying it. With Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ebert made the dramatic 180 from sleazy
electroclash-leaning punk singer to grizzly bearded bandleader in an 11-piece down-home freak folk revue, bright
psychedelic colors and farmhouse harmonies replacing his not too distant past of black leather and smirky sneers.
Artists change constantly, and Ebert's reinvention wasn't completely laughable or phony. While mired with some
cringe-inducing Jim Morrison aping and a generally cluttered sense of arrangement, the band's debut album, Up from
Below, had some bright moments when the strength of the songwriting cut through the affectation and actually seemed
genuine in a roundabout way. A few years later, Here is much the same. The bandmembers wear the whole communal free
-living throwback hippie jamboree persona to the point where they dip into goofy character sketches and threaten to
detract completely from some pretty catchy songs. The album opens strongly, with the undeniably catchy pair of tunes
"Man on Fire" and "That's What's Up," both rising to handclapping summits of old-fashioned Southern revival and jug
band jubilation. The hooky choruses are solid, but there's a pretty heavy sense of musical theater throughout these
highlights, leaving the Magnetic Zeros coming off more like Jesus Christ Superstar meets Emit Otter's Jug Band
Christmas than the freak folk hoedown they were aiming for. Lead vocalist Jade Castrinos reprises her role trading
verses with Ebert on these songs and later takes center stage on the electrified "Fiya Wata." Castrinos'
contributions feel spirited and from the gut, whether they're put on or not. Following a strong start, the album
fades into a series of exercises in style or emulation. Washy group vocal slow-burner "Mayla" is an acid-soaked
sunshine daydream of little substance complete with Jerry Garcia-styled guitar noodling throughout. "One Love to
Another" is a striking exhibit of a Bob Marley ripoff, a daring move in even the most fried acid rock circles. While
the string of affectations and re-creations of various sects of hippie culture aren't completely unenjoyable, they
get old really fast, especially on the weaker material. Ebert's intentions and previous bands are really immaterial
in the case of Here. The album comes up short in the song department and doesn't quite get by on its abundance of
free-love signifiers.
Track Listing
1. Man on Fire
2. That's Whats Up
3. I Don't Wanna Pray
4. Mayla
5. Dear Believer
6. Child
7. One Love to Another
8. Fiya Wata
9. All Wash Out
