Having seen Band of Horses on tour this summer with My
Morning Jacket, my expectations for their latest album were higher than
normal. I was surprised, more than anything, to discover that this
band can rock in concert more than some of their studio material may suggest,
which leads me to a somewhat puzzling review of their latest album...
The S.C. based quintet’s fourth album, Mirage Rock,
continues on with the change in sound that the band 'hinted at' on
their 2010 effort, Infinite Arms. That’s a good
thing and a bad thing, depending on who you ask.
Tracks like
"Electric Music" and the lead single, "Knock Knock," where
Ben Bridwell announces that BOH are "a ramshackle crew with something to
prove," don’t necessarily show a band that’s growing, but a band making
more radio accessible music. While this may appeal to some, I fear
that many of the Band of Horses’ fans may be disappointed with the ongoing
departure from the band’s earlier work such as Cease To Begin.
Regardless of what direction you had hoped for the band to
take on their new record, a good majority of the album contains softer
tracks that lean on the sound and feel of 1970s AM radio, but sadly, there is
just not a lot of substance to be found on Mirage Rock.
It’s not to say
the album is not enjoyable, it just doesn't measure up with the emotional
brand of indie rock the band produced earlier in their career.
-Will Fisher, The Showbiz Kids
The Showbiz Kids Rating: 5 out of possible 10
No comments:
Post a Comment