Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Delivery with New Single [stream]

They’ve done it again! Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have released the first track of their forthcoming, self-titled album, and, as usual, they’ve crafted their perfect, signature blend of bursting, exuberant hope and easy playfulness. The themes of positive attitudes and silver linings don’t appear by accident — Alex Ebert has made it clear that the group’s artistic intention is to bring life and love to what they sing about: for their craft, for their fans, and for each other. As he stated in an interview once: “The goal is to be free and hopeful in the music. Because that’s really the only intention you need. From there, every natural and powerful intention and feeling will, on its own, slide right out of you — out of your spirit.”

“Better Days” is a perfect example of what makes Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ music so enchantingly uplifting. Laden with distant clapping, choral-style background vocals and embellishments from Jade Castrinos, the focus of the song is Ebert’s singing about sorrow, faith, dreaming, some “cliché shit,” and a sweet tomorrow. With a vast collection of powerful instrumental forces in the 12-person band, “Better Days,” like some of the group’s greatest hits (“Man on Fire”, “40 Day Dream” and “Home”), swelling and settling down with ardor as powerful as the lyrics — “Just know that every time I look in your eye, I see better, I see better, better days.”

With album number three on the way (mark your calendars, July 23!), it’s astounding to hear how this band of merry pranksters has sustained their homemade sound and feeling throughout their rise to fame. If Ebert claims that Edward Sharpe is his messianic alter ego, I believe it, and if Alex Ebert is going to sing about “Better Days”, I honestly believe that “Better Days” are, indeed, coming.