Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros’ sophomore album is Here

In a time when most artists work to pump out music at a rapid pace, the…

In a time when most artists work to pump out music at a rapid pace, the indie-rock-infused-folk group Edward Sharpe &the Magnetic Zeros took its time to ensure its success.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros will soon release its sophomore album Here as a strong follow-up to its first CD, continuing the band’s success.

Releasing its debut album Up From Below only about a year after forming, the eight-person, Los Angeles-based band quickly catapulted up the charts, reaching the 76th spot on the Billboard top 200 chart in 2009.

Although the success of its second album has yet to be measured, the group’s past success foreshadows the strength of its newest album.

Edward Sharpe is a fictional messianic character created by group frontman Alex Ebert. He explained that the character came to Earth originally as a healer and savior of mankind, but instead ended up constantly diverted by love and women.

Ebert created the band’s namesake after a low point in his life during which he and his girlfriend broke up. He then joined Alcoholics Anonymous and slept on a blow-up mattress in a small L.A. apartment.

The avid partier and former lead singer of pop band Ima Robot might not be the messianic character he envisioned, but his music has no problem attracting followers as if Ebert were a new prophet.

Although Ebert and his psychedelic band have gained a legion of fans, they have yet to let their fame affect their music. They continue to come up with tracks that seem to both soothe the soul and make it question the existence of ghosts at the same time.

Ebert’s unique sound propels Here to new heights. The album’s first track, “Man On Fire,” begins with the frontman’s signature vocals, relying on his Bob Dylan-esque folk style to draw listeners into a trance — complete with a walking baseline — that lasts four minutes.

The echoes of fellow bandmates Chris Richard and Tyler James behind Ebert’s voice give the song an almost sacred feel, turning the track into a melodic chant that will have audiences easily singing along. The combination of the group’s voices translate to a rich sound that demonstrates the members’ passion for music.

The skillful blend of horns, guitars and both male and female vocalists create tracks such as “Mayla,” a tune that allows listeners to hear just how talented this group really is. The slow, rhythmic beat allows each form of instrumentation its own showcase.

However, not all of the band’s tracks are akin to slow-paced church hymns, as the album’s second track, “That’s What’s Up,” proves that the group knows how to swing. Once again, an abundance of instruments take listeners through the song from guitar solos to tambourine crashes as the folk-like lyrics create a wild-west state of mind.

Fans don’t need to see Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros perform to know that the band members enjoy their job as musicians. Their music reflects the joy and happiness the artists get from their craft, and it’s hard not to get caught up in the light-hearted feel of this impressive album.