Grammy hype: Best new artist, Mumford & Sons

We're onto the fourth day of breaking down the best new artist nominees for the 2011 Grammys, which brings us to Mumford & Sons.

First, we'll answer the obvious: Who is Mumford? And who are his sons?

Mumford is Marcus Mumford, a member of a four-person band of 20-somethings from London. The four unrelated friends, which in addition to Mumford include  Winston "Country" Marshall, Ben Lovett and Ted Dwane, were playing various instruments in assorted bands in the summer of 2007, according to the group's website. They'd occassionally jam together and bonded over their mutual loves of folk, bluegrass and country music. Their chemistry worked. They started touring together, each playing a variety of instruments and not settling into a set role, before ever recording an extended play or album.

After gaining some momentum on the road, they released a debut album, "Sigh No More," in October 2009 in the United Kingdom and February 2010 in the United States, which was preceded by an EP.  

Critic's reviews and ratings have literally been all over the map. While Pitchfork gave "Sigh No More" a 2.1 out of 10, NME gave the album a 7 out of 10.

The Independent gave a negative review, asking, "Are M&S anything more than posh kids who've suddenly discovered, that, actually, folk music is, like, really good, actually?" The review continues, "Marcus Mumford thinks that if he sings about "heart," "purity" and "passion" enough, some of these may rub off. They don't." Ouch. 

But critic reviews aside, the concert-going public likes this band a lot. Mumford & Sons, who Newsday critic Glenn Gamboa wrote is leading the "surging indie-folk scene," played a slew of sold out shows across the United States this fall, including two in Manhattan at Terminal 5.

In addition to their best new artist Grammy nomination, the band is also nominated for best rock song for "Little Lion Man." You can watch the video for this hit single, below.