Honorable Mention #7: Megafaun - Megafaun

The stylistic evolution of any given band is something that is thoroughly scrutinized by their fans. This can be subtle shifts in tonality and instrumentation or drastic overhauls, complete with lineup changes. The most adaptive bands, and some of the more interesting ones, are those that handle these large and small changes with a careful eye as to the longevity of the band. They see what further changes may come and prepare the listener through gradual, or not so gradual, slants and twists to whatever formula has given them those fans in the first place. Megafaun, though relatively brief in discography, have imparted each of their albums with this knowingness, this assumption that things can and will change. By looking back through their admittedly brief tenure as Megafaun, you can see the musical arch which so informs their music. From their beginning as DeYarmond Edison, alongside Justin Vernon, to their inception as Megafaun, their use of folk music has always been slightly left of center. Bringing along equal parts Laurel Canyon and the Pacific Northwest, they have always been well aware of the limitations that can easily befall any band trying to wring the last bit of sentiment out of an acoustic guitar. By taking what made their earlier albums so memorable, the sweeping harmonies, strangely beautiful melodies and a tendency to fracture the usual folk stylings, and pairing them with the further refinement of their own rural sound, they've managed to deftly balance between the avant and the accessible. With their latest release, Megafaun have taken a long look at the roots and evolution of their own influences, and even their previous releases, and come away with an album that not only showcases the influences of their favorite artists but also uses that admiration to hone their own craft and create something wholly of its time, and also timeless.

Tracklisting:

01. Real Slow
02. These Words
03. Get Right
04. Hope You Know
05. Isadora
06. Second Friend
07. Resurrection
08. Kill The Horns
09. Scorned
10. Serene Return
11. You Are The Light
12. State/Meant (listen to the mp3 below)
13. postscript
14. Everything