REVIEW: My Head Is an Animal by Of Monsters and Men

Artist: Of Monsters and Men
Track list

1. Dirty Paws
2. King and Lionheart
3. Mountain Sound
4. Slow and Steady
5. From Finner
6. Little Talks
7. Six Weeks
8. Love Love Love
9. Your Bones
10. Sloom
11. Lakehouse
12. Yellow Light

It appears there’s a new music trend making its way in the music scene – vibrant folk with harmonic vocals that sends shivers down your spine.

Iceland’s given us unique musicians that are truly one of their kind – Sigur Rós, Björk, múm, Sóley, just to name a few. Now, enter Reykjavik’s new import, Of Monsters and Men – consisting of vocalists Nana Bryndis Hilmarsdottir and Ragnar Prhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson on electric guitar, and Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson on drums. If you’ve heard their breakout single, Little Talks that was released in late 2011, you would’ve noticed just how Nanna and Ragnar’s vocal combination could potentially move the earth.

Of Monsters and Men’s debut album, My Head Is an Animal is a particularly unique album – a folk album of its kind. When we say folk, we don’t really mean hippies and free love. For some reason, we find that this album encapsulates life in the suburbs of Iceland, where little creeks flow by a cottage, birds flying and wolves running through a foot of snow. Or really, something magical that only listening to the album itself would give you an idea.

The album starts off with Dirty Paws, which for some reason, has to one of the best album opener ever: “Jumping up and down the floor, my head is an animal”, somehow made the album seemed like a book that you’re about to start. It carries a form of symbolic meaning, and one wouldn’t be surprised if that particular line made its way into images on Tumblr.

Little Talks is a classic , and has to be one of 2012’s song of the year. Reminiscent of Katrina and the Waves’ “I’m Walking on Sunshine”, the track has to be one of our favorite tracks in the entire album, mainly for its vibrance and how it serves as the climax of the album. There’s no denying that once again, the combination of Nanna and Ragnar’s vocals is pure vocal alchemy.

Six Weeks is also a great number that highlights their musical talents of combining foot-tapping beats to indie rock. It’s also one of the tracks that highlights Ragnar’s charming vocals.

In review of the album, we found them to possess unique qualities, much like the other Icelandic artists mentioned. But to us, they’re possibly one of THE bands to bring sweet folksy sounds back to the airwaves, and we’re excited for Of Monsters of Men to earn recognition in a scene ruled by mainstream pop.

1. King and Lionheart