REDUX: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below

Sounding at times like headband-wearing, tambourine-shaking refugees from the cast of some modern day version version of Hair Meets JC Superstar, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros forged a rather rambunctious and infectious crossbreed of hippie and hipster on their ramshackle "psych-folk" 2009 debut Up From Below (Vagrant). Led by the hirsute musical guru Alex Ebert of Ima Robot (Sharpe being a fictional messianic creation), the 11 man/woman conglomerate bring a blissed out communal atmosphere that's equal parts earnest, full-throated optimism (sort of an acid-soaked "Up With People") and euphoric, multi-colored shamble of careening musical styles (try a 70's Laurel Canyon version of Polyphonic Spree) peppered with horns, accordions and strings.

Like any dirty fingernailed organic seedling, ES&TMZ has grown steadily in stature, nourished by the word of mouth by overcome disciples, fawning from the most curmudgeonly critics, building radio exposure (focus track "Home" has been an international sensation) and a revival-toned live show. As one music scribe put it, "I feared I might be asked to drink some Kool Aide-esque concoction during the show. After experiencing the ensemble’s exuberant, truly joyful performance and uniquely full, choral sound, however, I can now safely say: whatever they’re drinking, I want some." Make ours "Rootin' Tootin' Raspberry" as we groove again to the hand-clapping, head-bobbing, hip-shaking "magical mystery" pleasures of "40 Day Dream" and "Janglin'". Highly recommended.

Myspace  Artist Site

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - "40 Day Dream" (from Up From Below)

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - " Janglin'" (from Up From Below)

Streams provided for sampling purposes...Be a good egg and support the artist by buying the music.

Official "Bio":

EDWARD SHARPE & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS

Birthed by Mouth in the year two-thousand and five, young Edward Sharpe had to wait nearly two years before he was to grow his arms and legs and fingers and toes.   

Immaculately conceived, his father (a Robot who had magically become a real boy...but that's another story) declared his undying devotion to the creature. He perched the fleshy bust upon a teetering pedestal fashioned from stacked cereal boxes and positioned the display at his window for all the town to see. Young Edward soon proved no ordinary boy.   

Though his father had figured him deaf for his unresponsiveness to sounds, he in fact had the universally unique condition of being deaf from hearing too much or, more correctly put, too well. In plain words, he heard EVERYTHING AT ONCE.  

At first it proved rather painful like a wretched whining winding all hours, but very soon those who whisper visited young Edward and revealed to him the Tricks and Truths, the Ways and Plays, the Chords and Dischords of the Universe.  

He did not need to eat but the color of the sun, which was F#, and moved his bones to grow.  

His arms and legs and fingers and toes grew 'til the tower of boxes collapsed and he laughed. He moved thru the door which was C over B# and ran thru the village hearing ALL of its music! The workers and children and painters of buildings and dogs barking madly and trees bristling softly and OH!!  

Young Edward could not resist!  He began playing the tree which are the chords E and D 'gainst the mice in the grass which are A played with brass and the wooden fence F and then C and repeat with a drone of B Minor to bring in the street and the Birds B to B Sharp with fluttering strings and the sky mostly C unless he wants to bring in the rain and for rain bring the F Chord bombastic with organ's distortion and symbols a'crashin!

Yes, and a music was born.