Monsters of Folk: Truly a Super Group

By: Desiree Bullard

Posted: 12/9/09

Jim James, Conor Oberst, Mike Mogis, and M. Ward each contribute tremendous talent to their individual musical projects. Listeners know James from My Morning Jacket, Oberst and Mogis from Bright Eyes, and Ward from She and Him (alongside actress Zooey Deschanel), but together they form Monsters of Folk. According to Rolling Stone magazine, Monsters of Folk was conceived as a joke among their band members when it was suggested that the four should form a super group called Monsters of Folk. This turned out to be no joke at all.

Recently the four released their self-titled debut album. Prior to my introduction to MOF, my knowledge of these fellows' music was restricted to very little of James and My Morning Jacket. This I thoroughly enjoyed. However, I probably would have managed to overlook MOF had a friend and the Rolling Stone article not unintentionally persuaded me to explore something a little different. I can be a bit of a music snob, limiting myself to what I know I'll like.

I could not be more grateful to the forces which have led me to MOF, if only for the beautiful manner in which the guys seem to explain some of my own thoughts, emotions, and ideas. The opening track, "Dear God" is a plea to a divine force to explain suffering. James' gentle voice wonders, "I know I'm thinking aloud but if your loves/ still around why do we suffer?" Anyone who has questioned their religious beliefs or encountered difficulty finding spirituality can relate to the desperate yearning for definitive answers. Yet occurrences of the seemingly impossible suggest a presence around us, "Dear God I see you move the mountains/ dear God I see you moving trees."

Collectively this album tells me a story. It's the story of a young person, likely post-college, who has many unanswered questions about life although his or her life experiences have been profound (causing him or her to feel old). This person hasn't quite found his or her "place," so to speak, and has a lot yet to learn. "Whole Lotta Losin'" sums it up, "Well, I got a lot/ Lord, I gotta lotta losin'/ friend and heroes/ packin' up and movin.'" Here is this young person acknowledging that there are mistakes yet to be made and places yet to been seen before settling into life. This side still feels young and still desires adventure and excitement.

The other side feels old, lost, and unable to control a mysterious longing yet to be defined. This side is best expressed through "Map of the World." "There's a map of the world/ on the wall in your room/ green pins where ya wanna go/ White pins where ya been/ there isn't even ten/ you're already feeling old," sings Oberst, the tone in his voice suggesting hopelessness. This feeling culminates in the chorus, "some far off feelings/ some up close kind of ache/ white screen reason to/ look the other way."

Monsters of Folk have created an album filled with emotions very familiar to me at this point in my life. It is likely that other soon to be grads, unsure of their futures and haunted by pasts yet to be resolved (or anyone with similar concerns) will also find the feelings laden throughout this album familiar. I urge music lovers to listen to this album, even if it is entirely different from preferred genres.