Band of Horses
Cease To Begin
October 9th 2007
Sub Pop Record
Band of Horses might be compared to the bizarro countryesque version of The Beach Boys, and lead singer Ben Bridwell might be accused of washing his vocals with 200 gallons of reverb in an attempt to perfect the recording technique used by My Morning Jacket vocalist Jim James. I say why argue about semantics on this one. Sure there is a mid-seventies pop-rock quality, but the fact of the matter is that Band of Horses wins on this release. Cease To Begin, the follow up to 2006’s Everything All The Time, achieves greatness, in spite of the departure of guitarist Mat Brooke. It is what it is. Critiqued in context, Band of Horses is an easy love affair. They are a good rock and roll band with a romantic spirit and an innocent demeanor.
While Is There A Ghost might best exemplify the stylistic energy created by the band’s music, other tracks like No One’s Gonna Love You (More Than I Do) relate so well to our experiences as imperfect people that it results in a feeling of shared understanding. The first half of Cease To Begin tends to be faster paced with a more solid guitar presence, but it concludes with tender and intimate ballads like Marry Song and Window Blues, which retire the record into quietude. It lulls the audience as the music plays, leaving them content and satisfied.
In comparison with Band of Horses’ debut, Cease To Begin seems to further emphasize the bands southern roots. Band of Horses manages to be a little twangy without the trite themes and purposeless lyrics that so often accompany even the most independent and alternative renovations of country music. Bridwell’s lyrics are smart, they are meaningful, and they augment the radiant melodies that structure every song. Cease To Begin is a sorely needed dose of feel-good rock and roll. Improving on the last, Band of Horses‘ new effort by far exceeds expectations.
http://www.bandofhorses.com
http://www.myspace.com/bandofhorses
Other Music
Band of Horses EP- 2005
Everything All the Time- 2006
Cease to Begin- 2007
US Tour Dates
12/28 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
12/29 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
12/31 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl
01/20 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
01/21 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva
01/22 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore At The TLA
01/23 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club
01/24 – State College, PA – State Theatre
01/25 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
01/26 – Louisville, KY – Headliner’s Music Hall
01/27 – Newport, KY – Southgate House
01/29 – Nashville, TN – Exit/In
01/30 – Memphis, TN – Hi Tone Cafe
01/31 – St. Louis, MO – Gargoyle
02/01 – Norman, OK – Meacham Auditorium (U Of Oklahoma)
02/02 – Dallas, TX – Palladium Ballroom
02/03 – Austin, TX – La Zona Rosa
02/04 – Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
02/06 – Birmingham, AL – Bottle Tree
02/07 – Tallahassee, FL – Beta Bar
02/09 – Orlando, FL – Social
02/10 – Orlando, FL – Social
02/12 – Mt. Pleasant, SC – Village Tavern
