#reviewoftheweek / Elephant Revival - Petals

Quietly coming to the forefront of both the folk and jam scenes, Elephant Revival have been churning out albums quite steadily over the past few years. Their newest is poised to help them cross over into a more mainstream limelight. Merging styles of bluegrass, folk, and rock you can easily draw comparisons to bands like the Avett Brothers, Mumford & Sons, and the Lumineers. However, their sound is still a bit more quiet and reserved, and their songs really develop and unfold with each listen. They flirt with crossing the line into the country world and show off that their instrumentation is as big of a part of every song as each carefully crafted lyric. "When I Fall" is one of their best songs yet, and surely the one that future fans will chart as the one that got them hooked. Elephant Revival may not be a new band, but with the folk scene growing, this album is sure to solidify them as one of the pioneers of the modern take on a familiar style.

New Music Tuesday

New music out today worth checking out:

• Elephant Revival - These Changing Skies
• Vance Joy - God Loves You When You're Dancing
• North Mississippi Allstars - World Boogie Is Coming
• Pepper - Pepper
• Volcano Choir - Repave

CD REVIEW: Elephant Revival "Break In The Clouds"

Neo folk artists Elephant Revival continue with more of the same mastery on their latest album. Once again the songwriting duties are shared amongst all five members, who collaborate with instrumentation that is unlike what typical bands perform with. The songs contained within the new album are incredibly reminiscent of artists like Dave Matthews Band (early in their career), Dispatch ("Silent Steeples" era) and the Avett Brothers, but have their own soul and energy that is unique to Elephant Revival. With banjo, cello, violin, djembe, and mandolin spearheading the music, songs like "Point Of You," "Go On," and "Feathers Rise" all take on an almost magical quality and you find yourself lost in the music. The band and the songs are not as indie hippie folk as Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, but they follow the same type of musical path, making music that connects to the listeners on a variety of levels. Elephant Revival is part of a movement of music, both in their home state of Colorado and nationally, that has artists tossing aside the normal expectations of what is popular and what sells, and getting to the heart of creating music that has meaning, sincerity, and artistry. On this latest album, Elephant Revival has proven that the heart and soul of the musicians involved are the stuff that makes music wonderful.

CD REVIEW: Elephant Revival "Elephant Revival"

Elephant Revival's debut album is something unlike any other. The unconventional way they mix jam band rock, folk music, bluegrass, and indie rock is unprecedented and makes for some very interesting compositions. The album features a few really musically awesome songs, especially the lead track "Twelve" and the fan favorite "Ring Around The Moon." The instrumentation used on the album is not like anything you'd typically see on stage as they don't follow the standard guitar/bass/drums format. They feature hand percussion, upright bass, and violin prominently, opting for a sound that is not like anything you might here on pop radio. Elephant Revival is a unique incarnation out of the buzzing Colorado music scene, and their debut makes a statement about originality and musicality that is bold and adventurous.