Stream Some New Monsters of Folk Tracks

Excited for supergroups? Disappointed that the Dead Weather’s album isn’t quite as good as you think it should be? Well let Monsters of Folk — Conor Oberst, Jim James (Yim Yames, whatever), M. Ward and Mike Mogis — ease your mind with their folky goodness. Sure, their name sounds like a total ripoff of Eagles of Death Metal, but supergroups were never known for their astute band naming skills (Damn Yankees, Chickenfoot, Tinted Windows). Prepare to get your socks folked off after the jump.

Monsters of Folk’s myspace currently is streaming the tracks “Say Please,” “Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.),” and “The Sandman, The Brakeman and Me.” The songs are a crystal clear indication — as if the band’s name wasn’t clear enough — of their undeniably folky direction.

After hearing the songs, it’s also pretty clear that we’re dealing with four incredibly talented musicians with like-minded musical sensibilities. Conor Oberst has been getting away from his Bright Eyes material — first with his Mystic Valley Band and now with Monsters of Folk — and these new ventures bring out a side of Conor previously unseen/kept down by the astronomical expectations of Bright Eyes.

Jim James, lead singer of My Morning Jacket, recently released songs under his Yim Yames project to much aplomb. M. Ward recently released his album Hold Time while Mike Mogis produced my favorite album from 2008 — Lightspeed Champion’s Falling Off the Lavender Bridge. The quartet has been quite busy, and judging from their recent accomplishments — as well as the three available tracks — Monsters of Folk are destined to take the folk/indie music world by storm.

Monsters of Folk will be playing Phoenix’s Orpheum Theater October 21.

Check out the band’s official website at monstersoffolk.com.