New album reviews: Mumford & Sons, Los Campesinos!, Holly Miranda

I’m turning back into the record-reviewing machine I was at some point last year and it’s definitely keeping me on my toes…

Some recent reviews for Critical Mob:

Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More (out Feb. 16 on Glassnote Records): These guys were one of my favorite bands during CMJ and their debut LP is beautiful. They also play with Laura Marling, who I adore and am seeing on Friday. Mumford & Sons’ MySpace

Los Campesinos! – Romance Is Boring (out now on Arts & Crafts): I love this band and I think they’re so much fun, but wasn’t totally feeling the new record, at least not to the extent of their first two. Los Campesinos’ MySpace

Holly Miranda – The Magician’s Private Library (out Feb. 23 on XL Recordings): I saw her during CMJ and then a few days later opening for Florence & the Machine (where she sang a few songs with Nada Surf!), and she was great live, I love her voice and she’s really talented, but I didn’t necessarily think it was anything totally new and exciting. The record is a lot more impressive though. Holly Miranda’s MySpace

I also wrote a profile on Owen Pallett and fixed up an older version of my review of Great Lake Swimmers’ excellent 2009 release Lost Channels.