Of Monsters and Men - All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade

Of Monsters and Men's first album in six years is a quietly shimmering return, less a dramatic comeback than a gentle nudge to the heart. 'All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade' is the sound of a band comfortable in their own skin, even if that skin occasionally smells faintly of brine.

There's no major reinvention here. The Icelandic group lean into the folk-pop textures that first made them global stars, adding layers of introspection and just enough oddity to keep things interesting. Opener 'Television Love' sets the tone: warm, rich, and contemplative. 'The Towering Skyscraper at the End of the Road' feels deliberate and expansive, while 'Ordinary Creature' is a breezy highlight, floating on the band's signature bittersweet glow.

Elsewhere, things get delightfully strange. 'Tuna In A Can' (yes, really) delivers the surreal line "Sticky from the brine" as if it's the most natural metaphor in the world. What it means is anyone's guess, but that's part of the charm.