Of Monsters and Men - My Head Is an Animal

Of Monsters and Men
My Head Is an Animal
Universal (2012)
By Marissa Payne

Of Monsters and Men, an indie folk/pop six-piece, recently sailed from Iceland into a sea of other up-and-coming musicians here in the States with their debut album My Head Is an Animal. After being drawn in by their single, "Little Talks," one can’t help but enjoy the energetic sound that is found throughout the album. While it is easy to get caught up in the album's delightful tones, lead singers Raggi Þórhallsson and Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir have multiple stories to tell that make this album worth a deeper listen.

As the title suggests, many of the lyrics use animals as characters in stories that convey human emotions. "Dirty Paws" is about an Icelandic fantasy where animals must protect their home and the song's enchanting, mellow sound puts the listener in that fantasy world. The second line contains the name of the album, making it the perfect opener. Other songs such as "King and Lionheart" and "From Finner" tell the tales of animals who carry the weight of others on their backs while trying to remain strong, and the upbeat tempo inspires feelings of hope, turning these struggles into a message about persevering through hard times.

Most of the album consists of cheerful songs, but a couple of them stand out a bit more than others. Previously mentioned single "Little Talks" captures this energy beautifully, starting off with the same sound that is found in the chorus before pausing to allow for a buildup of energy. Following "Little Talks" is "Six Weeks," which gives off a rock vibe with its quick guitar strumming and steady beat. The repetitive lyrics make the song memorable without getting dull.

Raggi Þórhallsson recently explained in an interview with The Observer that the band "found [they] could bond better by telling each other fairytales than writing about real life." It's interesting, then, that the monsters in their fairytales aren't so different from the struggles of men and animals in the real world. Either way, Of Monsters and Men created this album to be enjoyed, and the playful sounds make it difficult to not do just that.