Guitarist/vocalist Ben Bridwell and bassist Mat Brooke formed Band Of Horses in 2004 after the dissolution of their nearly ten-year run in northwest melancholic darlings Carissa's Wierd. Carissa's Wierd trafficked in sadly... more » beautiful orchestral pop, whose songs told unflinching stories of heartbreak and loss, leavened with defeatist humor. Band Of Horses rises from those ashes. Buoyed by Bridwell's warm, reverb-heavy vocals (which channel a strange brew of Wayne Coyne, Neil Young, and Doug Martsch), the group's woodsy, dreamy songs ooze with amorphous tension, longing, and hope. Both raggedly epic and delicately pensive, this is an album painted gorgeously in fragile highs and lows.« less
Guitarist/vocalist Ben Bridwell and bassist Mat Brooke formed Band Of Horses in 2004 after the dissolution of their nearly ten-year run in northwest melancholic darlings Carissa's Wierd. Carissa's Wierd trafficked in sadly beautiful orchestral pop, whose songs told unflinching stories of heartbreak and loss, leavened with defeatist humor. Band Of Horses rises from those ashes. Buoyed by Bridwell's warm, reverb-heavy vocals (which channel a strange brew of Wayne Coyne, Neil Young, and Doug Martsch), the group's woodsy, dreamy songs ooze with amorphous tension, longing, and hope. Both raggedly epic and delicately pensive, this is an album painted gorgeously in fragile highs and lows.
"The importance of having friends with good taste comes home to roost. How long would have it taken me otherwise to find out about such a great album? Band of Horses takes 36 minutes to create a perfect album with no song too short and no song too long. It's almost like they heard "It Still Moves" by My Morning Jacket and said "Not bad, but we could do it much better and quicker" and they wouldn't be lying.
Taking nothing away from MMJ and It Still Moves which was a fantastic album, but It Still Moves wasn't exactly a lesson in brevity. Band of Horses borrows a small page from MMJ's overall sound but makes an entirely new and fantastic package. This is one album that requires no second guessing of track selection, location, etc. You just put it on and let it go. The cd player will do the rest.
A great album through and through. It's certainly a sound for sore ears as I eagerly awaited my favorite new spring time CD. This is it, enjoy!"
4.5 Stars... Outstanding "debut" album
Paul Allaer | Cincinnati | 05/08/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Band of Horses is a "new" band, in the sense that this is their debut album, but these guys have been around for quite a long time. Ben Bridwell and Matt Brooke, the main creative forces behind Band of Horses, were in a previous band, Carrisa's Weird, for many years, but that band never got anywhere.
"Everything All the Time" (10 tracks, 36 min.) brings a sound reminiscent of early My Morning Jacket, with a mix of The Band and Neil Young, and quite terrific at that. The opener "First Song" sets the table, but followed by the harder-rocking "Wicked Gil". The standout is the current radio single "The Funeral", a 5+ min. melancholic tune that resonates long after you hear it and makes you want to hear it again and again. Other highlights include the pensive, acoustic "I Go to the Barn Because I Like Her" and the closer "St. Augustine".
If you are wondering where I found out about Band of Horses, they get a lot of airplay on the internet-only station WOXY.com, the best indie-station in the country, bar none, check it out. Band of Horses is coming to Cincinnati in June, and I can't wait to see how these songs translate in a live setting. "Everything All The Time" is an outstanding album, highly recommended!"
Dramatically Good
Rabbit | Seattle | 04/01/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Holding Band of Horses' Everything All the Time up against the impressive collections of Built To Spill, the Shins, and My Morning Jacket is a powerful endorsement, and it's no understatement. The comparison to Modest Mouse is less apparent. Suffice to say, this album shows influences, but pocessing a powerful originality. Many of the songs meander between shallow ponds of soft sound and soaring waves of powerful, striking guitar rifs. The entire album is balanced, suprising, and never tiresome. In a weak early 2006, this is a strong offering, and one that's sure to hold up as one of the best of 2006."
Superb music
Jon Rader | Seattle, WA, USA | 04/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been listening to alternative/ underground music since 1973, with the releasing of the New York Dolls in 1973. Recently I have been getting music introductions from KEXP in Seattle- awesome radio station, great dj's, tons of quality new music, and this is where I was introduced to Band of Horses. Wow....what a great cd.
There isn't a medium song on `Everything All The Time'- excellent song writing, great melodies, and inspiring lyrics. As said by others, the vocal sound is somewhat reminiscent of My Morning Jacket, but BOH is much different and very compelling. Excellent debut cd, especially like `The Funeral' and `The Great Salt Lake'. Excellent stuff. If you like the music off the beaten path, buy it, you will not be disappointed.
"
A Must Have!
NiTRO | 06/06/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Everything All the Time by Seattle's Band of Horses is not an overly complex record but its simplicity adds to its charm. A little bit rock, a little bit emo, and a little bit country, it wears its influences on its sleeve. Almost like a fine wine, you can distinguish the key ingredients as you swish it around in your mouth and after giving this album a listen or two, you can taste the influence of My Morning Jacket, Built to Spill, Neil Young, labelmates The Shins, and maybe even a dash of Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips. Not bad ingredients to draw from.
Most bands aren't necessarily be trying to re-invent the wheel and BOH are no different. The songs on this album however, are so strong and singer, Ben Bridwell offers the perfect delivery. While the tonal qualities of his voice may present a familiar recollection, the annunciations are very unique often times reminding me just how much a voice can contribute greatly to the instrumentation of an arrangement.
Musically you can expect dynamic, lush arrangements with layered, swirling guitars, catchy melodies and a vocal track in which producer Phil Eck has crafted an atmospheric feel that could use a hair less reverb.
Nevertheless, the album is incredibly solid from head to tale and is absolutely one of my favorite releases of 2006. Pay special attention to the songs, "The Funeral", "The Great Salt Lake", and the subtle "Part One" which almost gets lost between the two aformentioned.
Also, don't miss them live if you get the chance! Enjoy.