SONG OF THE DAY: September 29th

Monsters of Folk, “Whole Lotta Losin’”

We’re back! After a week of hibernation, the Song of the Day feature returns to Rhombus on this very late Monday evening, but better late than never. I’ve recently been struggling internally with whether or not this is a worthwhile feature to continue here on Rhombus (after all, it is quite time-consuming when published five days a week). This is mostly due to the fact that I am unsure how many people consistently read/listen to the Song of the Day or if it’s just me amusing myself. If you enjoy reading the Song of the Day and would like the feature to continue in the near future, please say so in the comments section available below. If you don’t much care and you somehow stumbled onto this post by accident, well, your silence will be your vote.

That being said, last week was a good one for those who enjoy good music: Monsters of Folk, the closest thing we have to a modern supergroup, released their debut album — and it doesn’t suck. In fact, it’s pretty awesome. Featuring the songwriting stylings of such prominent indie bards as Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket) and M. Ward (She & Him), this ironically-named side project was destined to either be excellent or excrement. Thankfully, I can unequivocally say it is the former.

I know we featured Monsters of Folk’s wonderful lead single “Say Please” here awhile back, but I thought the full album’s release merited another look at the group. Blending a myriad of genres, MOF touch effortlessly on so many stylistic niches that they nearly create one in their own right. The song included below, “Whole Lotta Losin’,” combines driving guitars and group harmonies reminiscent of 1960s surf rock with heavenly synths more comfortable in the 1980s, and single-handedly exemplifies the band’s genre-shifting abilities. “Whole Lotta Losin’” is like the Beach Boys guesting on a Buddy Holly record while Duran Duran jumps in on synths — and it doesn’t suck. Conversely, it works on so many levels and only continues to grow on you more with each additional listen. Give the Monsters (and their truly awful name) a try below, and don’t forget to comment if you’d like to see the Song of the Day stick around. As always, thanks for reading.

Listen to: Monsters of Folk, “Whole Lotta Losin’”

Steve Pierce is editor and co-founder of Rhombus. His Song of the Day feature appears Monday through Friday, showcasing the best in local and national music, both new and old.