Wilder Mind
by Mumford & Sons
User Score
5.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 189 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 189
  2. Mixed: 28 out of 189
  3. Negative: 73 out of 189
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Deluxe
    Dec 5, 2015
    7
    Definitely a brave move by the Sons, moving from their unique, uncommon folk sound to alternative/rock. After listening to each and every song from the Wilder Mind album, the sound is definitely refreshing, but certainly not at all what we wanted or expected it to be. The guys lost their roots, and for that they are losing what once was a very solid fanbase. This isn't to say that they'veDefinitely a brave move by the Sons, moving from their unique, uncommon folk sound to alternative/rock. After listening to each and every song from the Wilder Mind album, the sound is definitely refreshing, but certainly not at all what we wanted or expected it to be. The guys lost their roots, and for that they are losing what once was a very solid fanbase. This isn't to say that they've slipped into the stream of forgotten, cheap sounding bands of today, but more like a band that followed the path of what is mainstream. A bump on the elbow to say "go back and find your faith, find your roots" is what they need. Even through all of this, the band doesn't deserve terrible feedback. "Believe" and "Hot Gates" are songs that you'll be itching to listen to each and every day on repeat (trust me). The upbeat nature of "Ditmas" gives a good feel, and "Snake Eyes" provides a listening journey of Mumford's imagination. Look, the album isn't perfection, but it still holds tunes with powerful meanings that provide a great listen.… Expand
  2. barfmeout12
    May 2, 2016
    10
    I AM IN LOVE!!!!!!! Saw on SNL months ago.I'm a high school teacher...hard rock/heavy metal is my passion...I use it to entice kids that HATE SCHOOL...REALLY HATE SCHOOL... to come to school. After SNL, I ordered this tape... I joked "Mumford Metal"... and now I can't stop playing it to save my life...Mumford Metal Magic!!!!!!!! Too bad the "Rating" stops at 10...regardless, I GIVE ITI AM IN LOVE!!!!!!! Saw on SNL months ago.I'm a high school teacher...hard rock/heavy metal is my passion...I use it to entice kids that HATE SCHOOL...REALLY HATE SCHOOL... to come to school. After SNL, I ordered this tape... I joked "Mumford Metal"... and now I can't stop playing it to save my life...Mumford Metal Magic!!!!!!!! Too bad the "Rating" stops at 10...regardless, I GIVE IT 100!! I hope you "CARRY ON!" in this manner...a Wilder Mind Tour???? I'm in the Northwest...maybe I missed it? That would be a bummer...… Expand
  3. toddkhenderson
    Jun 23, 2015
    10
    I am dumbfounded by all the negative reviews for this record. A) Mumford & Sons have always had a well-pronounced pop bent to their songs. They don't write music that is particularly innovative in terms of the chord patterns being used or the melodies they employ. B) Their recordings have always had a high fidelity sound to them. Just because you arrange something with banjos, violins,I am dumbfounded by all the negative reviews for this record. A) Mumford & Sons have always had a well-pronounced pop bent to their songs. They don't write music that is particularly innovative in terms of the chord patterns being used or the melodies they employ. B) Their recordings have always had a high fidelity sound to them. Just because you arrange something with banjos, violins, acoustic guitar and standup bass does not mean that it is any less of a hi-fi production. C) Artists should be free to expand their repertoire and not be forced to release the same album every couple of years (as M&S did on the Babel record, at the demand of their record label). Selling out is when you just put out cheap, thoughtless fan fodder that you know will sell. I applaud the Mumford boys for branching out. Also, as a marginal fan of their first 2 albums, I think this new record is their best to date. While it works on some songs, I was getting a little tired/bored of the bluegrass gimmick (and it seems as though M&S were as well). I am giving this album a 10 mostly as a corrective to all of the misguided reviews I've read.… Expand
  4. JPLord
    Aug 19, 2015
    10
    I cannot stop listening to this album. It is that good. I never liked Mumford as banjo pickers but I love this album. It has me hypnotized. Great enigmatic lyrics.
  5. jscrufff
    Jun 4, 2015
    8
    This album is for sure not as immediately satisfying as the other two but great non the less. the flow of the tracks and story they tell is as usual great and epic. Screaming at the top of your lungs to m&s is still as fun as ever. At times I miss the anger in his voice but it is replaced with melancholy and sadness that only this band can seem to capture with every single track.So sitThis album is for sure not as immediately satisfying as the other two but great non the less. the flow of the tracks and story they tell is as usual great and epic. Screaming at the top of your lungs to m&s is still as fun as ever. At times I miss the anger in his voice but it is replaced with melancholy and sadness that only this band can seem to capture with every single track.So sit back listen through it a few times and truly fall in love with it. This album reminds me of mechanical bull from Kings of Leon... It took a while but i love that album also.… Expand
  6. dolevinio
    Sep 28, 2015
    10
    This album is amazing and just because they changed their music style doesn't mean the album is bad,the old fans need to accept change because this is one great album regardless of their older stuff
  7. BADWOLF700
    May 4, 2015
    10
    An album that makes perfect sense, sonically cohesive and lyrically stunning. Mumford's vocals have never been better and the passion we know and love from the band remains and develops throughout. The addition of electric instrumentation and a full drum kit spices sings up significantly. Critics, consider yourself silenced.
  8. bearzooka
    May 4, 2015
    10
    Amazing and brave new sound without losing their emotional touch. The first line of the album felt like a hand squeezing my heart and it didn't let go until the last song.
    The statement is clear: Mumford and Sons are not banjos and kickdrums, they're real musicians.
  9. dnglr
    May 5, 2015
    8
    Overall, a fantastic album. An obvious change of direction which listeners will either accept or reject.The only thing I miss is the use of the banjo, they could have at least thrown that in SOMEWHERE. The harmonies are still there and still give chills up my spine. Snake Eyes is my favorite.
  10. Leozo
    May 5, 2015
    10
    I think the album is excellent, good lyrics and memorable melodies. I still get that mumford vibe that I love, even with this new fresh sound.

    Cheers.
  11. deekan
    May 4, 2015
    10
    Mumford and Sons still have yet to disappoint me. This is a fantastic new album; pure Mumford, in my opinion. I have loved their new sound from the first and couldn't understand why some others weren't giving them a chance. Mumford and Sons have most definitely not lost their soul with this album!
  12. baseballnerd
    May 10, 2015
    7
    Love the bLove everyone's breakdown on here. Classic Mumford is power-strumming with Mumford's mellow voice, no matter the instrument. We do see glimpses of that in for sure
    1.) the end of Tompkins Square Park
    2.) the end of Believe 3.) the entire The Wolf (mainly pre-chorus/chorus) 4.) the end of Snake Eyes 5.) mostly the end of Broad-Shoulder Beasts 6.) the entire Ditmas (mainly    Love the bLove everyone's breakdown on here. Classic Mumford is power-strumming with Mumford's mellow voice, no matter the instrument. We do see glimpses of that in for sure
    1.) the end of Tompkins Square Park
    2.) the end of Believe
    3.) the entire The Wolf (mainly pre-chorus/chorus)
    4.) the end of Snake Eyes
    5.) mostly the end of Broad-Shoulder Beasts
    6.) the entire Ditmas (mainly pre-chorus)
    7.) the end of Only Love

    So 7 of 12 tracks I can safely say show it. My personal favorites, The Wolf and Ditmas, show us that classic upbeat nutso strumming that we always will love in their Chorus(s) (F.E. Whispers in the Dark, Holland Road, Hopeless Wanderer, Sigh No More, Little Lion Man, and White Blank Page) , along with Marcus’s melodious voice, creates a devastatingly awesome combo of upbeat Rock with an eternally savvy voice.

    The thing is, I think they were following “The Cave” formula for most of the album, albeit a few gems in this album. You know, the one where the beginnings of songs are nice and easy, a nice stroll along the beach, then you have your kick-butt chorus, formally with the burst of banjos. But this album their, obviously, using electric guitar. Snake Eyes and Cold Arms are banjo songs, if you haven’t noticed – You can’t play music like that with an electric guitar. Because they’ve been playing this Indie/Rock for the past 8 years, all they’ve known is how to play with those kind of instruments. It’ll take some time, but they will soon realize that A.) This is not our style of music or B.) We need to adapt to to Rock without the slow and easy Alternative stuff (For crying out loud, this album is under the Alternative genre!) To be successful, they will either will switch back need loud, guitar smacking songs like Ditmas and The Wolf on their next album, or go back to the Folky formula of old. And if they continue on without changing their musical approach, their albums will be exactly like this. One, maybe two great songs. And two or three decent songs. Dat’s about it. But I’ll be the one to say, I’ll be with them till the end. And I hope you will be to.    … Expand
  13. SherlockH221B
    May 10, 2015
    9
    Wilder Minds is a lot of really un-Mumford and Sons things. It's got electric instruments, more drums and it's mixed very differently. The song writing isn't rooted in the stories and lore that Babel was. It sounds so different, but it sounds so them at the same time. As a whole, the album is so diverse and different, but I think the things that make it so different, are the things thatWilder Minds is a lot of really un-Mumford and Sons things. It's got electric instruments, more drums and it's mixed very differently. The song writing isn't rooted in the stories and lore that Babel was. It sounds so different, but it sounds so them at the same time. As a whole, the album is so diverse and different, but I think the things that make it so different, are the things that make it so Mumford and Sons.… Expand
  14. BritishStink12
    May 6, 2015
    7
    'Wilder Mind' may seem to take a new direction in regard to the rest of the Mumford canon but in reality this album still goes where the British band have boldly gone before. Although electric guitars have replaced the banjos you cannot deny that the folky twang of Mumford and Sons remains in this album. That being said, the band clearly go some way to introducing stadium sized anthems'Wilder Mind' may seem to take a new direction in regard to the rest of the Mumford canon but in reality this album still goes where the British band have boldly gone before. Although electric guitars have replaced the banjos you cannot deny that the folky twang of Mumford and Sons remains in this album. That being said, the band clearly go some way to introducing stadium sized anthems into their ensemble of tracks; 'The Wolf' and 'Ditmas' are two of the best examples of Mumford moving in that very important direction for their progression.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed Album of 2015
92
#92 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 29
  3. Negative: 4 out of 29
  1. Mojo
    May 20, 2015
    40
    Far from electrifying. [Jun 2015, p.86]
  2. Under The Radar
    May 14, 2015
    60
    With Wilder Mind, they eschew their recognizable sound, supplanting it with a less memorable collection of songs more readily relegated to background music than either of their previous albums. As big and perhaps unanticipated an adjustment as it is, however, Wilder Mind then deepens and improves with each consecutive listen.
    Read full review
  3. Drowned In Sound
    May 11, 2015
    40
    Wilder Mind is incredibly one-track, so much so that even on your first listen-through, you’ll likely already feel like you’ve heard closer ‘Hot Gates’ five or six times in the past hour.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »