Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros ‘Here’

Words by Dan Schaffel

Here, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros’ sophomore effort beautifully conveys Alex Ebert and Jade Castrino’s first love: music. For the first time in the second decade of the 21st century and arguably the 3rd millennium, a male/female pair of vocalist/guitarists have come together with one to two handfuls of other musical cohorts to create a masterpiece that can only be described as a monumental staple to a label-less generation of what our elders may criticize as ‘sounds that don’t fit within the borders of the definition of music.’

Starting things off with ‘Man on Fire’, a simple acoustic, Paul Simon-esque intro riff eventually turns into an opus of an opening track, including instruments not commonly heard in rock music, such as dijeridoos and jingle bells. ‘That’s What’s Up’ follows, meshing country folk rock seamlessly with a gospel influenced chorus and bridge. Here, (no pun intended), the tone of musical patience is set for the rest of the album.

“Child” is a fitting title for what could be considered Ebert’s ‘baby’ thus far in his career. This track strips down everything to distill each pivotal component to the band’s core sound.

This work of art captures a band that makes music that can be considered universal therapy. “And I thank the sun for shining that light…” on Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros to make Here a part of our lives.