Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar þórhallsson, lead singers for the band Of Monsters and Men, are no strangers to the weird. And on their most recent release, “All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade,” they embrace their idiosyncrasies to the fullest.
Best-known for “Little Talks” (2011), which peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, the Icelandic indie-rock band released their fourth studio album, “All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade,” on Oct. 17. While some tracks border on outlandish, the band ultimately offers a keen exploration of the everyday occurrences of life and love.
The first track, “Television Love,” bounces from chord to chord. With each drum crash, Of Monsters and Men create an atmospheric setting rooted in hometown imagery. “Standin' in the parking lot / Meet me in the corner shop,” þórhallsson sings. Hilmarsdóttir and þórhallsson’s storytelling mastery elevates the track, inviting listeners to join them at the convenience store. With an intense, intimate tone, þórhallsson sings, “I'm bleedin' love all over the place / A sea of love, hide my face.” The straightforward rhymes create an effortless feeling, matching the simplistic yet heartbreaking lyrical imagery.
As þórhallsson’s voice tapers away, Hilmarsdóttir comes in — mirroring the “conversation drought” referenced in the track. The combination of passionate and booming instrumentals and sharp lyrics creates a cohesive and satisfying song, one that sets the tone for the rest of the record.
“Dream Team” begins with a bang, leaning into the raw and relatable side of love. “Worry calls, worry talks / It's a brain thing, the same thing I try to block,” þórhallsson explains. The lead vocalists sing together: “Another bite, the neon light.” On this track, Hilmarsdóttir and þórhallsson acknowledge they do not want the love that they feel to end. The song’s sound and lyrics carry more emotional weight than the duo’s plain vocals. Their simple language forgoes flashiness for accessibility, making “Dream Team” effective in its relatability.
With its quirky title, “Fruit Bat” leans into the stranger side of the band. Eerie and slow, the song feels empty, especially in comparison to others on the record. While Hilmarsdóttir initially questions how to fix her relationship problems, she ultimately accepts the situation and refuses to give up on her love. “A sweeter goodbye, I'm like a fruit bat hangin' tight,” Hilmarsdóttir sings. In this song, the band gets creative with some of its imagery, but other lines on the track ring peculiar and disturbing, especially when Hilmarsdóttir sings, “I'll be softer like your mother, olive in the stream.” The odd comparison within this line takes away from the song’s generally sweet tone. Not every track has to be quirky to be memorable, nor does it need to be complicated to be deep. While “Fruit Bat” adds variety to the album, it is an unnecessary digression overall.
In “Tuna in a Can,” the singers compare themselves to expired canned fish: “Tuna in a can, sticky from the brine / I thought I'd gone bad, you thought I was fine.” Despite the off-putting introductory line, the rest of the track offers self-aware and direct reflections as the metaphor comes together to reveal evocative introspection.
“Ordinary Creature” best encapsulates the album’s interpersonal themes. With a light voice, þórhallsson balances poetic language with relatable imagery, singing in one breath, “I wish I could run to your house when it gets dark out” and “Slow swim in sloe-gin, getting lost in the labyrinth” in another. This multifaceted language demonstrates both complex and simple imagery — nature and night, liquor and labyrinths. And like other tracks on the project, “Ordinary Creature” thrives in its scene-setting as Hilmarsdóttir sings, “I was on a train / Heading through the veins of your heart / You were lookin' in / But the passenger window was dark.”
On “All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade,” Of Monsters and Men finds peace in ordinary life. By embracing their off-kilter storytelling and unique imagery, Hilmarsdóttir and þórhallsson create a strong album — and a whole world within it.
Amelia Bush (28C) is double-majoring in English and PPL (philosophy, politics and law). She is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, and enjoys walking around its many lakes. Outside of the Wheel, you can find her reading, scrapbooking, or attempting a New York Times crossword.
