I’m going to do my best to post my favorite album picks every week. We’ll see how that goes.

This week I start it off strong with an album, that I can’t stop listening to, by supergroup Monsters of Folk.

The band is made up of some of my favorite musicians and, just by listening to this album, has introduced me to some new favorites. Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, from Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, and singer-songwriter M. Ward make up this amazing band. If you’ve ever heard of any of these guys, then you will love this album. If not, then you need to listen to it and check out all of their respective projects. Trust me, its well worth your time.

Okay, down to business.

This album may confuse you as early as the first track, titled “Dear God (sincerely M.O.F.).” It doesn’t sound like folk at all. So why the name? Well, there’s a great interview in Spin Magazine that tells all about it, but basically it was the name that they were just throwing around when they were talking about forming the band and it just stuck. Now don’t get me wrong. The album starts bringing the folk very quickly, as soon as track 2.

The album seems to deconstruct its self as you listen to it. The first track is very produced and the next takes it down an notch, and so on until you get to the real meat of the album. If you’re a fan of any of the band members, you will hear their respective voice soar out of this wonderful meld of talent. Songs like “Ahead of the Curve,” will sound familiar to Oberst fans and the same goes for all of the members.

Each member brings his own style to this celebration of indie folk rock. I dare you to get lost in this album. You never know…you might just find a whole new genre that you’ve overlooked and if you already know any of these groups, then this is one hell of a treat. Listen and love it.

You can pick up this album here.

- Jared

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