Self-Titled
| Marcus Mumford
Self-Titled
Self-Titled (stylised in parentheses) is the debut studio album by Marcus Mumford, released on 16 September 2022 via Island Records. The album features guest appearances by Phoebe Bridgers, Brandi Carlile, Clairo, and Monica Martin, in addition to being produced by Blake Mills. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
With production from Blake Mills, the Mumford & Sons frontman goes solo with a hushed, searching record anchored in trauma.
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NME
Well-crafted catharsis and collaborations.
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AllMusic
His inclination to bring every piece of music -- no matter how emotionally fraught -- to a fist-pumping crescendo has been tempered a bit, but it's still his ace, and he plays it when cornered. Anchored by Blake Mills' tasteful and creative production, the ten-song set feels like a small step forward for Mumford. It's both rooted in the past and primed for the future, like an exorcism gone right.
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mxdwn Music
Overall, with his collaborations with artists of all kinds over the years from his experience in Mumford and Sons and Ted Lasso, Marcus Mumford’s (self-titled) is a wonderful example of how collaboration is key to boosting solo work. Mumford’s songs of intimacy, love, loneliness and loss are able to strike a chord with audiences. As Mumford begins this new chapter of creativity, his success is sure to follow.
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The Line of Best Fit
This certainly isn’t one for Mumford & Sons fans. There’s no big, foot-stomping, sing-along moments here; instead, the song arrangements are sumptuously layered, built on many little, delicate, moving parts, masterfully put together by producer Blake Mills. It adds deft nuance to the extremely personal journey that Marcus Mumford goes on throughout (self-titled), one of torment and courage, hope and strength.
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Metro
The music, though, doesn’t reflect the lyrics: it’s expertly rendered, subtle and gently melodic, not a scream of pain. The album ends with redemption and forgiveness, or appears to, but for the addendum at the end of the absolution: ‘As if saying the words will help me know how.’ Brilliant.
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The Irish Examiner
It’s a powerful statement and you can only hope it brings Mumford closer to closure. But Self-Titled is also a difficult listen: a project that needs to be approached respectfully and on its own terms.
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Evening Standard
Regardless of chart position, it sounds like these songs have already served a valuable purpose for their writer.
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Stereoboard
Monica Martin duets wonderfully on Go In Light and the closing track is a darling ballad with Brandi Carlile. This latter cut is a bit off-the-shelf in terms of Mumford’s de facto sound but it does hit its marks with distinction and doesn’t outstay its welcome. This record is a genuine example of artistic progression.
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DIY Magazine
‘(self-titled)’ is Vegemite: the same, but different.
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Our Culture
Marcus Mumford’s (self-titled) accomplishes much in relatively few tracks; the album is at once grounded in and helps make sense of the many faces of trauma. It takes the listener on a journey of an unfinished but promising search for peace, all the while skillfully drawing from folk, rock, and electronic pools of music with magnetic performances. Confirming what we already knew about Mumford’s creativity and storytelling abilities, the record also invites us to view the artist in a new, refreshingly unfiltered light. Perhaps most importantly, though, it demonstrates that it is never too late to start navigating and letting go of seemingly impossible burdens. Despite being the subject matter of so many tracks, the abuser is so small by the end of the album – and Mumford’s courage is monumental.
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The Arts Desk
Musically, Self-Titled is unlikely to win over any new fans, but Mumford’s not short of those. It may force a few naysayers to admit he’s got a decent set of pipes, but that’s not its raison d’être. Ultimately, it’s an album about redefining oneself in spite of life’s labels and, at a time when we’re surrounded on all sides by performative, shrieking grief, it feels genuine: raw, open and honest.
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Penny Black Music
Marcus Mumford is far from the first artist to sing about past trauma and the healing process - but his powerful, highly personal songs ring truer than many.
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The Review Geek
Marcus Mumford shows his talent on (self-titled), a calm collection full of memories, good and bad, and wisdom that grows over time.
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QRO Magazine
Like most frontman doing a solo side-project, (self-titled) was probably more made for Marcus Mumford than for his legion of fans. And as much as he showcases his suffering and acceptance, this is still a white boy with a privileged upbringing married to a Hollywood film star – and got none other than Steven Spielberg to direct the video for “Cannibal” (Spielberg’s first-ever, if on an iPhone, possibly in a promotional deal with Apple…). Still, accept (self-titled) for what it is, and you will appreciate it.
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