Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Up From Below
"Home is Wherever I'm With You..."
Best enjoyed while sitting in a field of wheat at sunset with the stereo at high volume, a cold beer in hand with a chain of daisies hanging from your neck, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes are absolutely joyous with a rich, dynamic, eclectic, psychedelic-country sound. They sing, clap, whistle, stomp their feet and make all manner of joyous noises; a vibe that (although hard to capture on records) made their performance at the Treasure Island Music Festival rejuvenating, adorable, and unforgettable. Take one part Arcade Fire, one part Johnny Cash (with a pinch of June Carter), some Kings of Leon, maybe some Scissor Sisters and throw it all into a blender with an obligatory shot of wheatgrass, top it off with Sgt. Pepper era Beatles and you have the magic that is this band.
Up From Below is full of thumping, pounding rhythms and folksy arrangements accented by the occasional whimsical falsetto, rich melodies, a touch of horns and unashamed romance. When I saw them at Treasure Island their performance was so powerful and overwhelmingly sweet that I had to bite my lip during their set to keep from crying. I dare you to listen to this album and keep a straight face.
Oh, PS - Edward Sharpe is the alter-ego of Alex Ebert, better known as the front man of Ima Robot… feeling a little thrown off? Yeah, so was I.