Mumford & Sons – Babel
If you don’t own enough cable-knit sweaters to appreciate lyrics this earnest, the music may change your cynic’s mind. Producer Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire) works hard to capture the feverish uplift of the Sons’ live shows, giving each piano note and mandolin string the echoing-to-the-log-cabin-rafters treatment. And the band has mastered the emotional gut-punch of quiet/loud dynamics, exploding from low-murmured harmonies into full Appalachian freak-outs. All the while, Marcus howls about grace and love over a frenzy of strumming. Read the full review on EW

Efterklang – Pyramida
Topping each of their previous records – in particular the more melodious and orchestral-pop styled Magic Chairs – might not have necessarily have been at the top of their ‘to do’ list when setting out, but upon deciding to travel to the Norwegian Arctic to gather field recordings and create some of their own, it became a rather grander and more ambitious beginning than anything before it. They ended up with over 1000 field recordings and samples following their nine-day stay in Pyramiden and many of those recordings are scattered throughout the album, whether providing a skeleton to a track or embellishing on a large or small scale. That percussive introduction to album opener ‘Hollow Mountain’ is comprised of strikes of a fuel tank. There are many other instances of those ‘found sounds’ in each track, some being more integral than others – some skirting the edges, others more bold and prominent in their location. Read the full review on drowned in sound

Soft Pack – Strapped
The group’s new album is meant to be jammed loud and often. Singer/guitarist Matt Lamkin’s tunes are mush-mouthed, but melodic enough to emote even from the echo chamber he sings in. The guitars range from new wave to surf to straight ahead rock. On “Second Look” the band is polished with studio perfection and for that the song is the weak link for a band better suited for guitar skankin’. For me the down and dirty rock of “Saratoga” and “Ray’s Mistake” are where the band is at its best here. Read the full review on The Space Lab