Mumford & Sons believe Britons are ''cynical'' about their success.

The folk-rock band stormed the US charts earlier this year with their second album 'Babel', but continue to receive criticism in their home country, Britain.

Band member Winston Marshall, 24, told the Guardian newspaper: ''England's just very cynical. Like I am. Like we all are. I think we're all guilty of it as British citizens; if something gets big we go, 'Ugh'.''

He continued: ''We get accused of inauthenticity because we play the instruments we play.''

Band leader Marcus Mumford, 25, added: ''The authenticity thing has never been an issue for me. Not since I came to the realisation that Bob Dylan, who's probably my favourite artist ever, the richest artist for me, didn't give a s**t about authenticity.

''He changed his name and he lied to everyone about who he was.''

The group - also including Ben Lovett and Ted Dwayne - deny being a Christian band, saying they are often mistaken for one due to their lyrical content and because Marcus's parents founded the UK arm of evangelical organisation, Vineyard Church.

Winston said: ''We're not all Christian, so we can't be a Christian band.''

Ted, 28, added: ''We're not all religious. In fact none of us are, really. We have a full spectrum of beliefs.''