'Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros' Review Roundup, New Album From 'Home' Band Garners Mixed [FULL ALBUM STREAM]

The main gripe of every Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros critique seems lie in the band's authenticity. Many reviewers (especially those at Pitchfork) can't jibe with the idea that the former lead singer of new-wave revivalists IMA ROBOT went and formed a hippie-dippie cultish folk jam band as anything more than a cynical cash grab.

This waryiness is typically counterbalanced by the undeniable fun or communal feeling of the Zeros music. However, the band's latest, self-titled album appears to have been a bit long on hokum, without enough happiness to tip the scales in their favor. Critics are lining up to bash the latest from Alex Ebert's rag-tag bunch of grown children.

Via SPIN (who gave it their "Worst New Music" distinction):

It feels like a quaint, deliberate reenactment of something originally primal and unplanned...

It may be corny or contrived, but at least it's a positive cliché, one based on harmony, both literal and figurative. On record, though - and particularly this one, which presents churchy performances in mixes both realistic and surreal -these same Up With People tropes don't work as well, particularly with prolonged exposure, as inferior follow-ups to promising debuts by the Polyphonic Spree and I'm From Barcelona have proven. Indie-gospel fusion may be growing with each recession-fueled, faith-challenging year, but its success rate sure is low.  

Via The Montreal Gazette:

...shapeless and baggy. The attempted gospel-soul of Life Is Hard gets lost in itself, unhelped by the blotter-acid arrangements. We are wondering: is this psychedelic flying carpet taking us to blissed-out Laurel Canyon... or Spahn Ranch? 

Pretty Much Amazing seemed to like it, however:

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros hop styles with the playful ambition of kids in search of adventure on a summer night. The freedom of expression and thematic irregularity that we hear while listening to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is a fabulous release from the traditionally despised contract that constrained Ebert's first and former band, Ima Robot. With transient arrangements and free voices guiding this album's sound, earnest listeners can expect tofeel at each sonic juncture. 

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can form your own opinion. The album is avaliable to stream via NPR.