On this album (following their Grammy-winning sophomore album Babel), Mumf went a new direction and added percussion and deeper bass & synth sounds to nearly every track. It was a huge risk, and of course caused some lesser-informed to think that they had completely lost their native folky vibes, but it definitely paid off and even, I think, preserved the band’s integrity more than any other set of songs they’ve produced to date. What Mumford introduces to us with Wilder Mind is a heart-thumping array of folk-driven, pop-infused, and rock-based songs with catchy melodies, impressive guitar fretwork, and the quintessential Marcus Mumford vocal harmonies. Heck, there’s even a song with a drop for the final chorus! Bottom line is that these are an excellent set of songs strung together with themes of love, happiness, and living life to the fullest. The band set a high bar for themselves with their Grammy-winning last set, and they surpassed it by such an extent that I sense more golden gramophones in the not-so-distant future for these talented musicians.