Calling all Mumford and Sons fans. A new country-indie-folk superpower has arisen from the other side of the Atlantic, and its name is Saruman...lol jokes its Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros.
Their second US single “Home” sounds vaguely familiar upon first listen (often a good indicator of magnificence) and you may even find yourself whistling along to the melancholic opening like your some kind of romantic hobo. The whole thing smacks of sepia coloured summer nights and the echoic vocals are reminiscent of Phil Spector style girl bands from the 60’s, but the communal “hey” fired after each line reminds me of The Good The Bad and The Ugly theme. Having said that, this song would be perfect for those occasions when you’re riding your horse through the desert and stop to gaze meaningfully into the setting sun, or when you’re driving down route 66 in a red Cadillac on your way home for spring break. Maybe that’s just me.
Edward Sharpe (real name Alex Ebert) is accompanied by Jade Castrinos on vocals. He is drawling husky wilderness man to her honey tinged naivety. The magnetic Zeros themselves (of which there seem to be thousands) seem to set the general tone of things, holding back when the couple go all gooey eyed for each other (“chocolate candy Jesus Christ you’re the apple of my eye”) and letting rip again to form Mumford worthy crescendos that lift the spirits like serotonin filled balloons.
The climax does not disappoint, layers of harmonies, trumpets, and marching band drums the Magnetic Zeros go all out for an ending so joyful your heart wants to explode feel like the song has been leading to this magnificent moment all along.
So it’s quite good I guess
