Like many, we enjoyed Mumford & Sons first album Sigh No More, and particularly when that album’s songs were performed live. With the band speed-strumming and flailing around the the stage, audiences around the world were drawn to their shows like flocks to old-time tent revivals.  And miracles could ensue.  But at the same time, many wondered if that magic would be sustainable.

After a hiatus, the band has now put out their second album, Babel.  And somewhat surprisingly, Babel has been a “towering success” and  is the year’s best-selling rock album.  In less than two months, more copies (over one million) of Babel have been purchased in the US than Justin Bieber’s Believe and all others, and is second only to Taylor Swift’s Red album.  You have to give credit to the Mumfords and their non-stop touring, boundless energy and aspiration, and ultimately managing to infiltrate the hearts and minds of a broad range of youths and young-adults, and their parents.

Time will tell if the Mumfords will be able to maintain their momentum.  We at Lefort don’t see much progression musically in the new album, and fear the band may have shot all the arrows in its musical quiver.  Already critics are sounding the death-knell, and even for those that approve of Babel, there is the constant refrain:  “musically a virtual repeat of their first album.”  For some that’s great.  For others it’s the end (without more variety and invention, we will fall into this camp).

Some of the negative reviews are humorously vicious:  “With every crescendo of catgut and steel, their lack of nuance becomes wearing.” (The Observer); “For those who never liked That Guy Who Plays Acoustic Guitar At The Party, Babel’s gonna sound like the dentist’s drill. For others, this still may be the point at which you put down your makeshift tambourine, get up from the half-circle and find a better room in the party house.” (Prefix); and, our favorite, “Effectively, it is emo for blacksmiths.” (The Fly).

Regardless, we’ll defer our final judgment to another day.  In the interim, check out the band below last night on the Letterman Show performing the first single off the album, I Will Wait.  The best part of the song, the repentant lyrics, follow.  And at bottom is the band’s Red-Rock-ing of the same song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26maHIFoHRQ&feature=em-uploademail

“And I came home
Like a stone
And I fell heavy into your arms
These days of darkness
Which we’ve known
Will blow away with this new sun

And I’ll kneel down
Wait for now
And I’ll kneel down
Know my ground

And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So break my step
And relent
You forgave and I won’t forget
Know what we’ve seen
And him with less
Now in some way
Shake the excess

But I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you

So I’ll be bold
As well as strong
And use my head alongside my heart
So tame my flesh
And fix my eyes
That tethered mind free from the lies

But I’ll kneel down
Wait for now
I’ll kneel down
Know my ground

Raise my hands
Paint my spirit gold
And bow my head
Keep my heart slow

Cause I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you
And I will wait, I will wait for you”