On the closing track of Mumford & Sons’ sophomore album “Babel,” front man Marcus Mumford demands, “Do not let my fickle flesh go to waste.” It is a summation that rings surprisingly false for an album that displays such a deep focus on longing and remorse. In crafting their second album, Mumford & Sons have fallen into the dreaded sophomore slump by featuring one-note lyrics and not expanding their sound. Though the sound remains unchanged, it is still enjoyable to listen to on a few key tracks.
The lead single of the album, “I Will Wait,” is among the best of the album. It starts off loud and rousing, perfectly displaying the modern folk sound that Mumford & Sons perfected on their first album. The lyrics are nostalgic and optimistic, portraying an uncommon amount of joy and happiness for the band. The harmonies almost reach country. The loud parts are expectantly loud and the soft parts are expectantly soft, and it all builds perfectly to a final chorus that is familiar in the best way possible. It sounds organic, natural, and not at all forced.
The album starts off strong with three enjoyable tracks that manage to sound different and memorable, but it quickly falters once it hits its mid-mark. Starting with “Holland Road” the songs all start to follow the same path: quiet strumming with sensitive vocals builds into choruses that are louder with each repetition. Verses are tasked with quieting down to build back up to a louder chorus, after which the process is repeated a few more times. The chorus will be presented quietly near the end of the song before exploding one final time into a loud cascade of guitars, drums, and banjos.
“Babel” suffers from its similar song structures and overall repetition. Amongst the repeated banjo lines a few songs manage to stick out: “Ghosts that We Knew” gloriously builds up to a moment that never comes, “Hopeless Wanderer” features an enjoyable tempo change, and “Broken Crown” has a sense of anger and soul that is missing from the majority of the album’s twelve tracks.
It is clear Mumford & Sons have hit a snag on their sophomore album. Like all bands in this situation, they will be presented with a choice for the future: adapt their sound and risk losing some of their fan base, or continue as they are and eventually lose their steam.