By: John Smrtic

There is something grand, brilliant and beautiful about Up From Below (Vagrant Records), the jaw-dropping first offering from Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. Like an intriguing page-turner that becomes more enthralling by the chapter or a movie that becomes more engrossing with each passing scene, Up From Below is air-tight from the first to the last track, drawing the listener into this emotionally evocative musical journey as an active participant.

The album has a sweeping, cinematic feel in its sound and scope. The lyrics, mood, and musical stylings move effortlessly and coherently from haunting to ecstatic, moving to triumphant, freaky to folksy, and even orchestral to acoustic. Other times a ’60′s psychedelic pop sound emerges, like on “Carries On.” A few tracks sound like they were crafted for a Quentin Tarrantino or Robert Rodriguez movie, particularly the emboldened Mariachi-esque vibes on “Kisses Over Babylon” and “Simplest Love.” Accentuated by whistling, handclaps, tambourines, shouting and chanting, sweet female backing vocals, and brilliantly placed horn lines, the album is slick in its production and nearly-flawless in its execution.

Up From Below has an old soul feel with a new world swagger thanks to the poetic musings of frontman Alex Ebert. Pain and redemption are in order on the title track as Ebert sings, “Yes I’ve already suffered/ I want you to know God/ I’m riding on Hell’s hot flames/ Coming up from below.” Meanwhile, the opening track, “40 Day Dream,” may have the most memorable lyrics: “I been sleepin’ for 60 days / And nobody better pinch me/ Bitch, I swear I’ll go crazy/ She got jumper cable lips/ She got sunset on her breath now/ I inhaled just a little bit/ Now I got no fear of death now.” Love takes the forefront on tracks like “Carries On” and “Home.” The later cut is a joyous, back and forth, male/female duet between Ebert and Jade Castrinos. As Castrinos declares, “Man o man/ You’re my best friend/ I scream it to the nothingness/ That we got everything we need,” Alex replies, “Hot and heavy/ Pumpkin pie/ Chocolate candy/ Jesus Christ/ Ain’t nothing please me more than you.”

Up From Belowis hands down one of the best albums of the year. Period. The music sweeps you up and carries you into the sometimes-bizarre yet always beautiful world of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

JamBase | Rising
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