“They blew Bieber out of the water”: Mumford & Sons: Babel

Mumford & Sons' album Babel won Album of the Year.

It’s a bit heartening to see where music is going these days. Mumford & Sons’ Babel was the year’s biggest debut.

And it sounds like—well--music. A bunch of guys with banjos and guitars and a whole lot less electronic overlay.

"It blows Bieber out of the water," says Keith Caulfield, Billboard's director of charts. "Mumford isn't a traditional singles act. They appeal to consumers who still want the experience of an album. They have a wide appeal, from young folks who see them on tour to older NPR listeners."

The largest weekly take of 2012 belongs to Adele, another musician who sounds like she’s more interested in voice and other instruments than synthesizers.

Both Mumford & Sons and Adele are available for free download on Freegal.

Source Citation

Gundersen, Edna. "Mumford & Sons' 'Babel' ranks as year's biggest debut." USA Today 4 Oct. 2012: 01D. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 14 Feb. 2013.