Monsters of Folk

Monsters of Folk have named themselves aptly: Not only does the group consist of larger-than-life “monsters” of indie rock, but the collective that formed in 2004 has opted for a certain brand of poppy folk for its self-titled debut. The Monster who roars the loudest is Conor Oberst, the disc’s anchor. His gloomy, adolescent croon spearheads the finest songs—“Temazcal,” “Man Named Truth” and “Ahead of the Curve”—which rival his best twangy work with Bright Eyes.

So what of the other Monsters? My Morning Jacket’s Jim James—who, according to the liner notes, has extended his recent adoption of a new moniker, Yim Yames—is always a welcome supporting addition, if no revelation as a centerpiece. (One song he fronts, “Magic Marker,” is so cheesy it hurts, right down to a Tootsie Pop reference.) Still, the man could sing the dictionary and his piercing, bellowing howl would amaze. M. Ward, on the other hand, continues to underwhelm here; the songs he helms are predictably dull. He’d nearly ruin Monsters of Folk if he weren’t so innocuous. (The fourth member, Mike Mogis, sticks mostly to instrumentation and production.) The result is a pop-folk mash, less too many cooks spoiling the broth and more a bluegrass festival-ending sing-along. Just please, everyone clear the way so Oberst can take another solo.—Colin St. John

Monsters of Folk play United Palace Theatre Nov 6 and Beacon Theatre Nov 8.

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