Music for the heart and mind

MANILA, Philippines - The two bands today enjoy loyal, rabid followings. In the case of 30 Seconds to Mars led by Jared Leto, this is not so surprising, given that it is the group’s fourth studio album, and thanks to its prolonged touring for This Is War. Iceland’s Of Monsters and Men is the surprise — with just one CD to its name. The band became a unanimous critics’ darling since late last year. Its appearances have been raved about, and its precious folk-pop hybrid an easy favorite.

30 Seconds to Mars — Love Lust Faith + Dreams (Virgin/Universal). The band’s rain-drenched Trinoma gig sometime back saw no one leaving the open air venue, and everyone gushing about the live show. The new studio album pretty much continues where This Is War left off, albeit with more synthesizer and electronic elements, and less guitar work.

City of Angels and Northern Lights are choice tracks, with the upbeat carrier single, Up In the Air coming in close. Bright Lights and Do or Die are other radio-friendly favorites, and while the children’s chorus the band used to perfection in the last CD is again in evidence, there’s enough fresh material on this album to make it go down easy, and potentially convert new fans. Textured Rock lives!

Of Monsters and Men — My Head Is an Animal (Universal Republic). From the desolate landscape that gave us Bjork and Sigur Ros, comes this new Iceland product that with the band’s sunnier approach to music, could very well make the polar caps smile and melt. Dreamy, gorgeous, at times exhilarating, this is the music that’s pure nectar for those who love Mumford and the Lumineers, or yearn for Dido and the Cranberries. The male/female duet of Little Talks got the music act on the map; but the CD is so consistent, it’s hard to single out tracks. Me, I’ve found King and Lionheart, Slow and Steady and Love Love Love the ones I’ll return to. Easy to listen to, accessible and yet intelligently-crafted, this is folk pop given a new face and shine.