Faded Paper Figures

Faded Paper Figures began, like all great endeavors, as a side-project. Writing songs between dissertation chapters and frenetic bouts of southern California traffic, John (vocals/guitars) and Kael (guitars/keys/machines) were simply looking for an aesthetic and rigorous diversion. Two or three songs into the process, however, things started sounding incredible--much too good to have come from Kael's apartment bedroom. Eventually Heather (additional vocals/keys) began adding some beautiful harmonies, and FPF became the brilliant blend of indie-tronic pop that dazzles on every track in their debut album, "Dynamo."

                       

The Lumineers

The Denver folk group The Lumineers was founded in 2002 by Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, who grew up together in the New Jersey suburb of Ramsey. In its early days, the band had its sights on nearby New York as the gateway to success.

"I remember one of our friends and musical acquaintances on the East Coast said the first rule of being a band is, you make the nearest, largest city your mecca," Fraites tells weekends on All Things Considered host Guy Raz. "We took that as gospel: 'Let's go to New York City every other week, time and time again, and things will get going for us.' "

That momentum never quite came. As grateful as Schultz was to the band's few New York fans, he grew frustrated promoting shows only to have the same handful of people come out each time. "I think we just thought that if we could go somewhere where we could afford to work on music and tour, that's probably the solution — and don't worry about all the other details," he says. "And that's why Denver made sense."

The band released its self-titled debut in April. In press for the album, the band has referenced a quote from a 1992 New York Times article: "I spend a lot of time on my drawings, and it turns out real good 'cause I've been practicing a lot." The speaker is a 9-year-old Schultz, quoted in a piece about a Beethoven impersonator visiting his school. Schultz says that when a friend dug up the article a few years ago and sent it to him, it reminded him how long he'd wanted to be an artist.

"That was pretty surreal to read that, because I kind of felt crazy at the time pursuing music, kind of questioning whether or not I was just doing it out of being stubborn," Schultz says. "It was kind of reassuring to see that I did have some intention with that, even at an early age."

Of Monsters and Men

There are too few words to adequately describe how much excellence and joy flows through every track of “My Head Is an Animal,” the debut album released by the band Of Monsters and Men earlier this month.

The Icelandic indie-folk sextet, while still gaining popularity here in the United States, grew to considerable prominence internationally with the release of its single, “Little Talks.” ITunes offered the single as a free download for a brief period of time, which largely helped both the track and the band gain exposure.

The band is headed by male vocalist Ragnar Porhallsson and female vocalist Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir, both of whom jointly provide a refreshing sound. The two of them are accompanied by a colorful arrangement of instrumentalists that undeniably facilitate the musical strength of the entire group.

The countless comparisons being made between Of Monsters and Men and British group Mumford & Sons really only serve to compliment both parties. Just as Mumford easily managed to pave its way into American hearts and record stores, especially following its performance at the Grammys in 2011, this up-and-coming Icelandic band will likely do the same.

What sets Of Monsters and Men apart from contemporaries such as Mumford & Sons, however, can almost be boiled down to the simple fact that it provides not just a melodious male vocal talent, but also a female counterpart that produces the fantastic harmonies that the band will surely become known for in the near future. 

Each song on “My Head Is an Animal” provides enough melodic harmony and scenic imagery to fill two entire albums. The strength of the group’s debut album is on par with the first Mumford & Sons release two years prior—if the latter was any barometer for success, then Of Monsters and Men seems to be on the right track.

Early on in “King and Lionheart,” Nanna sings, “We’re here to stay, we’re here to stay, we’re here to stay.” Based on the largely flawless debut album that Of Monsters and Men just released, there appears to be no need to question this statement.