{{Short description|American band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians --> | name = Monsters of Folk | image = Monsters-of-folk.jpg | caption = Monsters of Folk | background = group_or_band | origin = United States | genre = Folk, folk rock, indie folk | years_active = 2004–2010 | label = Rough Trade<br />Shangri-La Music | associated_acts = Bright Eyes<br />My Morning Jacket<br />M. Ward<br />She & Him<br />Centro-matic<br />South San Gabriel | website = {{official website}} | past_members = {{ubl|Jim James|Mike Mogis|Conor Oberst|M. Ward|Will Johnson}} }} '''Monsters of Folk''' was an American supergroup, consisting of Jim James from My Morning Jacket; Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes; and M. Ward, solo artist and half of She & Him.<ref name="avannouncement">{{cite news| url=https://www.avclub.com/oberst-jim-james-m-ward-record-officially-announce-1798216759 |title=Oberst / Jim James / M. Ward record officially announced |author=Josh Modell |newspaper=The A.V. Club |date=2009-06-11 |access-date=2009-06-11}}</ref> Will Johnson, solo artist and member of Centro-matic, played drums for the group during live performances, and, during their appearance on ''Austin City Limits'', James called him "the fifth Monster". Ward stated in 2012 that their 2009 debut studio album is "definitely not a one-time thing",<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502710/m-ward-talks-new-album-promises-more-monsters-of-folk-material |title=M. Ward Talks New Album, Promises More Monsters of Folk Material |magazine=Billboard.com |date=2012-03-08 |access-date=2012-04-01}}</ref> and was followed up by bonus material for the reissue by ATO Records in 2024.

The group was formed in 2004, when the members were on tour with their respective bands and solo projects. After playing together both on-stage and backstage, they started working on various material, but, due to the members' main projects, Monsters of Folk did not produce an album until 2009. They recorded the self-titled effort in Omaha, Nebraska, and Malibu, California, and embarked on a tour to support it.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Diehl |first=Matt |date=2009-10-29 |title=Monsters of Folk's All-Star Experiment |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/monsters-of-folks-all-star-experiment-66416/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

Released on September 22, 2009, on Rough Trade Records,<ref>{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p1171144}}</ref> ''Monsters of Folk'' debuted at No.&nbsp;143 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and peaked at No.&nbsp;15.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Billboard 200}} |title=Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=2011-03-05}}</ref> It reached No.&nbsp;3 on the Top Independent Albums chart, No.&nbsp;8 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No.&nbsp;7 on the Top Digital Albums chart, and No.&nbsp;6 on the Top Alternative Albums chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=all}} |title=Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts |magazine=Billboard.com |access-date=2011-03-05}}</ref>

On October 23 and 24, 2009, the group performed at Neil Young's 23rd annual Bridge School Benefit held in Mountain View, California, at the Shoreline Amphitheater.

The song "Baby Boomer" was chosen as the Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week for October 27, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Heringer |url=http://www.mark-heringer.com/2009/10/starbucks-itunes-pick-of-week-monsters.html |title=Starbucks iTunes Pick of the Week – Monsters of Folk – Baby Boomer |publisher=www.mark-heringer.com |date=2009-10-27 |access-date=2011-03-05}}</ref>

"His Master's Voice" is featured on the soundtrack of the film ''Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri''. Other appearances in media include "Map of the World", which is featured in an episode of the CW teen drama ''Gossip Girl''.

==Discography== ===Album=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+Monsters of Folk albums ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="7"| Peak chart positions |- ! scope="col" |US<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=all}}|title=Monsters of Folk Chart History – Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> ! scope="col" |US<br>Alt<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Alternative Albums}}|title=Monsters of Folk Chart History – Alternative Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> ! scope="col" |US<br>Folk<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Folk Albums}}|title=Monsters of Folk Chart History – Folk Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> ! scope="col" |US<br>Heat<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Heatseekers Albums}}|title=Monsters of Folk Chart History – Heatseekers Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> ! scope="col" |US<br>Indie<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Independent Albums}}|title=Monsters of Folk Chart History – Independent Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> ! scope="col" |US<br>Rock<br><ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=monsters of folk|chart=Rock Albums}}|title=Monsters of Folk Chart History – Rock Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 12, 2011}}</ref> ! scope="col" |AUS<br /><ref>{{cite Ryan|page=192}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Monsters of Folk'' | * Release date: September 22, 2009 * Label: Rough Trade Records * Formats: CD, music download | 15 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 91 |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+Monsters of Folk singles ! scope="col"| Year ! scope="col"|Single ! scope="col"|Album |- | 2009 ! scope="row"| "Say Please" | style="text-align:left;" rowspan="2"| ''Monsters of Folk'' |- | 2010 ! scope="row"| "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)" |}

==Band members== *Jim James – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keyboards *Mike Mogis – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, pedal steel, mandolin, dobro, bass, drums, percussion *Conor Oberst – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, keyboards, piano *M. Ward – vocals, guitar, bass, piano

'''Touring''' *Will Johnson – drums, backing vocals

==See also== *''New Multitudes''

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website}}

{{Bright Eyes}} {{Centro-Matic}} {{Conor Oberst}} {{M. Ward}} {{My Morning Jacket}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Monsters Of Folk}} Category:Conor Oberst Category:Folk music supergroups Category:American folk rock groups Category:American indie rock groups Category:Musical groups established in 2004 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 2010 Category:Rough Trade Records artists Category:American musical quintets