RECORD REVIEWS

Mumford & Sons

Album: Wilder Mind

Grade: B

Mission accomplished, Mumford & Sons. You have freaked people out with your new album from Glassnote.

The indie-folk-rockers’ embrace of synthesizers and a full drum kit rather than that infamous kick drum has generated bombast of ridiculous proportions.

Yes, the banjos are gone. Yes, they recorded this in the Brooklyn studio of The National’s Aaron Dessner and yes, “Wilder Mind” does sound more like that band than the one that made the multiplatinum “Babel” and “Sigh No More.”

Mumford & Sons’ move to the middle is an odd decision in an industry where superstar acts are rewarded for distinctiveness, but they have made it. The songs from “Wilder Mind” are no longer immediately recognizable as Mumford & Sons songs, though with the army of indie-folk bands that rose up after the band’s success that may not have been the case even if they stayed the course.

Leaving the trappings of “The Mumford Sound” behind, they now compete on the strength of their songs alone. In some cases, that’s no problem. The acoustic folk ballad “Cold Arms” would be poignant in any setting, while the haunting harmonies of “Only Love” make it the most Mumford-y of the 12 tracks. The first single, “Believe,” can stand on its own as a hit, especially when singer Marcus Mumford gets emphatic. “Ditmas” is a galloping rocker that picks up intensity as the relationship unravels.

But some fall short and some moments are just weird — like the way the bass line from “The Wolf” calls to mind Belinda Carlisle’s “Mad About You” or how Mumford adds some Southern drawl to his British accent.

Glenn Gamboa, Tribune News Service

Mikal Cronin

Album: MCIII

Grade: A-

Mikal Cronin has built a rapidly climbing reputation for cranking out hard-hitting indie-rock and power-pop nuggets that immediately demand attention. The San Francisco singer-songwriter continues that on this ablum released by Merge, the third installment in what he sees as a trilogy of songs that share a similar songwriting aesthetic.

All five of the tracks on the album’s first half could end up being indie-rock hits for Cronin, who first made his name as part of garage rocker Ty Segall’s band.

“Turn Around” sets the scene for the album — a competition between roaring guitars and a soothing string section that ends in balance. The first single, “Made My Mind Up” is a triumphant bit of power pop, with its massive-sounding riffs, dramatic drum fills and sunny harmonies. “Say” is all hopped up on frantic drumming and bass lines that mellow out as the horns and Cronin’s delivery give the melody some weight.

It’s the second half of “MCIII” that is the surprise — a six-song, mini rock-opera of sorts called “Circle” that calls to mind “Pet Sounds” without losing any indie-rock cred.

Cronin pushes boundaries on all fronts, arriving on a whole new plateau as an artist and a rocker that is a thrill to hear.

Glenn Gamboa, Tribune News Service