Review: The Lone Bellow, self-titled

Folk-tinged indie groups have been popping up like weeds in the past three years or so. It's likely that 2013 will be no different. We can thank the immense success of Mumford and Sons, along with Arcade Fire winning album of the year at the Grammys for this. The rise of the independent band is growing exponentially. The Lone Bellow is the next group to join these ranks, but I'll admit I'm more excited about this three-piece group than some of the others coming around. Here's why.

One of the more over-hyped bands from 2012 was The Lumineers. They had some great singles, but the album failed to stick with me. The reason I bring them up is because The Lone Bellow is structured similarly, but they're better. There's no clear singles on the band's debut album, except maybe "You Never Need Nobody", a passionate love song with brilliant harmonies throughout the strings-laden tune. The Lone Bellow's debut is more of an album experience than a hit machine. The opener, "Green Eyes and a Heart of Gold" is a sure-fire jam, reminiscent of something from Little Big Town, with less country, more folk, and a whole lot of heart.

"Two Sides of Lonely" is a simplistic, yet powerful acoustic track, with harmonies and lyrics that are sure to bring tears. The music video matches the gritty black and white look of the album cover, bringing consistency through the groups' image. While all three members perform vocals on the album, each of their ranges are magnificent. "Fire Red Horse" is a laid back, soft track with an intense and gratifying climax of strong vocals, on each of the members' parts. The production is another big element on this record, masterfully mixed by industry veteran Charlie Peacock. His watchful hand on the production is key with the harmonies and booming choruses, like on "Bleeding Out".

Lead writer and vocalist Zach Williams seems to shine the most on tracks like "The One You Should've Let Go", which features dynamic range and fun, catchy hooks, in addition to help from the other singers. While not anything brilliantly new, The Lone Bellow is a standout leader in this new year for debut artists. The buzz is just beginning for them, and hopefully it won't spiral out of control too quickly. There are some real, deep moments on this debut album ("Teach Me To Know" is a pure crowd sing-a-long), and I'm hoping fans will see that and hang onto it, rather than getting hung up on the buzz.