Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros' Psychedelic Gospel

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is an indie folk band that was formed back in 2007. It all happened when Alex Ebert met fellow singer Jade Castrino outside Little Pedro’s in downtown Los Angeles. In 2009, the band had grown to ten members. In that same year, they managed to release their debut album titled "Up From Below". It featured their popular hit Home, and other fan favorites such as 40 Day Dream and Janglin'.

In the past few years, the band has spent much of its time touring the world. They have won audiences at festivals like Lollapalooza, Coachella, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, Leeds and so much more. There follow up album titled "Here", was released back in May 2012. It featured wonderful tracks such as, That’s What’s Up and Man on Fire. The album even managed to debut at number 1 on the Independent Music Chart. It also debuted at number 5 on Billboard Top 200 Chart one week after its release.

Relix magazine hailed the band's album as being full of undeniable folk-rock hooks, infectious lyrics, gospel overtones, orchestral swells and a whole lot of care. Entertainment weekly also declared that the band has so much heart. They credited them with crushing the hipster irony with one squeeze of the accordion. The highly acclaimed album was listed number seven on Rolling Stones list of Best Albums in 2012.

Each release by this incredible band seems to be a bit different and transformed from the last. However, they have managed to maintain their core principles of community, exploration and self-relevance. The bands front man, Alex Ebert, produced the new album himself. He shared with his fans how much the new songs meant to him. In addition, he also stated that they represented the rawest, most rambunctious and most liberated stuff they had ever done. 

Inspiration

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros draw their inspiration from gospel music and other communal music societies that were found in Southern California, particularly Laurel Canyon. They embraced the good vibrations being peddled by these groups in the 60’s and early 70’s. As a result, they employed a unique sound that brought to mind a more than subtle mix of Bob Marley, Polyphonic Spree and the Incredible String Band.

The band’s name and Ebert’s live persona are based on a protagonist story he wrote, called 'the messianic figure' named Sharpe. The story was created from Christian folk music, gospel, roots rock and psychedelic music. In addition, the bands image and sound is designed to evoke the image of the hippie movement prominent in the 1960s and 1970s.
 

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