My Head Is an Animal

by Of Monsters and Men

Overview

Of Monsters and Men's 2012 full-length debut, My Head Is an Animal, features more of the Icelandic band's acoustic-driven alt-rock featured on their 2011 EP Into the Woods. Showcasing the dual singer/guitarist/songwriters Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir and Ragnar "Raggi" Porhallsson, the album also displays the six-piece ensemble's grand and anthemic style with a bent toward passionate folk-rock uplift and more layered, introspective moments. In that sense, the band brings to mind the work of such similarly inclined contemporaries as Arcade Fire, Angus & Julia Stone, and Mumford & Sons. While such cuts as the peppy, horn-driven "Little Talks," "Six Weeks," "Love Love Love," and "From Finner" are carryovers from Into the Woods, elsewhere we get the cinematic build of "King and Lionheart," the catchy, Florence + the Machine-sounding singalong "Mountain Sound," and the reverb-laden "Lakehouse." There's even the very '60s Celtic folk-meets-Ennio Morricone number "Your Bones." Thoughtfully crafted and full of melancholic lyricism and quietly desperate romanticism, My Head Is an Animal should appeal to any fan -- whether man or monster -- of sweet and wide-eyed folk-rock. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	04/03/2012
Label:	Republic / Universal Republic
UPC:	0602527980171

Tracks

1. Dirty Paws
2. King and Lionheart
3. Mountain Sound
4. Slow and Steady
5. From Finner
6. Little Talks
7. Six Weeks
8. Love Love Love
9. Your Bones
10. Sloom
11. Lakehouse
12. Yellow Light

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Of Monsters and Men   Primary Artist,Vocals
Svavar James Kristjansson   Choir/Chorus
Sigurbjorn Kristjansson   Choir/Chorus
Jenny Hildur Omarsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Maria Osp Omarsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Ari Bragi Karason   Trumpet
Bergrun Snaebjoernsdottir   French Horn,Choir/Chorus
Ragnhildur Gunnarsdottir   Trumpet
Sigrun Jonsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Cameron D. Stewart   Choir/Chorus
Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson   Drums,Accordion,Keyboards,Percussion,Choir/Chorus
Arni Gudjonsson   Organ,Piano,Accordion,Keyboards,Moog Bass,Wurlitzer,Choir/Chorus
Ragnar Rhallsson   Guitar (Acoustic),Vocals
Ragnar Þorhallsson   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Choir/Chorus,Guitar (Acoustic)
Kristj Pl Kristjsson   Bass (Vocal),Guitar (Bass)
Bjarni Thor Jensson   Choir/Chorus
David Arnar Baldursson   Choir/Chorus
Anna Ran Arnadottir   Choir/Chorus
Birna Asbjornsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Eydis Antonsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Tinna Sif Danielsdottir   Choir/Chorus
Bragi Karason   Trumpet
Brynjar Leifsson   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Choir/Chorus,Guitar (Baritone),Guitar (Electric)
Kristjan Pall Kristjansson   Bass,Choir/Chorus
Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Percussion,Choir/Chorus,Guitar (Acoustic)

Technical Credits

Greg Calbi   Mastering Engineer,Mastering
Jacquire King   Producer,Additional Production
Ryan Gilligan   Mixing Assistant
Ben Adelson   A&R
Aron Por Arnarsson   Engineer,Producer,Recording
Maureen Kenny   A&R
Heather Kolker   Management
Of Monsters and Men   Composer,Producer
Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson   Design,Artwork,Composer,Group Member
Ragnar Rhallsson   Artwork,Composer,Group Member,Design
Ragnar Þorhallsson   Composer
Kristj Pl Kristjsson   Composer
Bjarni Thor Jensson   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Magnus Arni Oder Kristinsson   Engineer
Idania Valencia   Mastering Engineer
Arni Gudjonsson   Composer,Group Member
Brynjar Leifsson   Composer,Group Member
Kristjan Pall Kristjansson   Composer,Group Member
Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir   Composer,Group Member
Craig Silvey   Mixing