IB on Lumineers, OMAM

THE MUMFORD EFFECT ALIVE & KICKING: As anticipation builds for the Sept. 25 release of Mumford & Sons’ sophomore album Babel, a pair of stylistically analogous acts are charging through the door kicked open by the neo-folk-rock avatars, I.B. Bad notes in his latest column, posting tomorrow morning. The Lumineers’ self-titled debut album (Dualtone, 260k) is well on its way to becoming the breakthrough indie record of 2012, hitting a new high of 21k last week as it continues to increase in weekly sales. An ever-increasing slate of licensing uses are propelling the single “Ho Hey,” which has broken at Alternative and Triple A and is now crossing to Hot AC, selling 50k (+4%) in its 15th week. Additionally, Republic’s Icelandic import Of Monsters and Men, while it hasn’t exploded, has continued to grow steadily and is now at 350k, quietly becoming a major project for Monte Lipman’s company. (9/6a)