MOG Editorial Review

In the time since Laura Marling released sophomore album I Speak Because I Can last year, like-minded friends Mumford & Sons have catapulted to superstardom, and she appears set to do the same on the strength of A Creature I Don't Know, her latest. At the age of 21, one Marling's most stunning qualities is still her poise, sounding mature beyond her years during somber ballads like "Night After Night," both contemplative and controlled. However, it's her willingness to risk a more expansive sound that makes Creature such a sure-fire breakthrough, as songs like "I Was Just a Card" allowing her to add a jazzy flair that once again keeps her in the company of '60s icons more than any of her contemporary peers.