Vagrant/Community Music

For Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, spending the past two years on the road has sparked a flurry of creativity that started with last year’s excellent sophomore album Here and continues with their self-titled follow up. Far from being an album of leftovers, the 10-piece band ambitiously romp and rollick through ever-changing terrains of folk rock, latter-day Beatles-like dynamics and heartfelt soul. The result is 12 songs that create a cinematic journey. While frontman Alex Ebert handles vocals for the most part, Jade Castrinos’ “Remember To Remember” shows her own commanding range. When Ebert sings, “Every time I look in your eye, I see better days,” off the lead single “Better Days,” there’s a celebratory hopefulness things will turn around in anxious times. With this album, his band continues to do what they do best: create songs full of joyful bliss, child-like adventure and honest sincerity with each number unraveling their humanity.