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The Band of Horses know few things but know how to do them perfectly. They are four American guys from Seattle, but their geographic origin gives no useful clues for defining their musical genre.
Their debut album, "Everything All The Time," is a Rock album that fits into that 80s New Wave vein of early U2 or Duran Duran, which has brought considerable fortune to some of the best indie-rock bands of recent years, such as The Killers or Arcade Fire.
The formula of the songs is the classic rock track setup, with a very catchy and melodic guitar arpeggio that accompanies Bridwell's beautiful dreamy voice, until the rhythm section, always very precise and incisive, kicks in with rhythms that are almost never fast but tend to focus attention on the melody of the tracks. The arrangements are therefore not very sophisticated, both in structure and in the choice of instruments; the melodies, supported by electric and acoustic guitars, create enchanted atmospheres that lead the listener not only to listen to the album but almost to see its images.
The album begins with an excellent introduction: "The First Song" indeed, from the title itself, seems to be built specifically to magnetically drag you into the dreamy and harmonious atmosphere of the album. By the second song, things get serious, as the rhythms and electricity intensify; "Wicked Gil" indeed gets very close to the brit-rock of Franz Ferdinand. The best track arrives at the fourth position, "The Funeral" is an excellent pop-rock song with Bridwell's enchanting voice soaring in the air, masterfully supported by the harmonics of the guitars. Absolutely noteworthy are the masterful acoustic ballad "Part One" and "The Great Salt Lake," which recalls the best compositions from Arcade Fire.
The only song where Bridwell and company depart from the previously described formula comes almost at the end of the album with "Monster," which starts as a country-folk ballad, with the voice accompanied by the banjo, then acquires an ever-greater array of colors as the acoustic guitar is introduced, followed by the electric guitar, bass, and drums, creating a precious and exciting harmonic tapestry. Spectacular!
The record concludes with a short and delightful acoustic piece, which recalls the Kings of Convenience in the structure of its choruses.
The most obvious negative notes of the album are, as mentioned, the lack of originality in the search for arrangements. Furthermore, the individual songs are almost always centered on a single motif that is repeated, in my opinion, redundantly throughout the track's duration, without any melodic or rhythmic change. These shortcomings lead, especially in the middle part of the album, to a repetitiveness of tones and rhythms.
In conclusion, "Everything All The Time," despite some rough edges to smooth out, which is almost physiological for a first work, shows tremendous potential for the Band of Horses, who know how to move those who listen to them; and for whom I predict an exponential improvement in their future works.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Wicked Gil (02:57)
Hey do you really know
Hate you because
Go tippy toe
And shut off the world
Shut off to all, you ghost
I barely told a lie
And waited to reply
Now go for a while
Shut off the world
Shut off to all
I'm yours
I'm yours
Helping evil people to say things they should
And say once before
I know evil people who say things
They don't know, oh
I begged Gil really, why
Stay through the night
I'm here for a while
Shut off to the world
Shut off to all
I'm yours
I'm yours
Helping evil people to say things they should
And say once before
I know evil people will say things
They don't know
Oh why do I even care
It's nothing now, oh
03 Our Swords (02:26)
Out on the wall sounds of banging is constant coming from your head
And desperate the calls came and ringing from those wanna wring your neck
Wring your neck
Open your mouth sounds of breathing found it spilling from your face
Best to be dim to the humble of traffic stepping on your name
Count on us all falling on our own swords tonight
And chilling walk home down the portions roads there leading straight to your place
And look like the tin can with swallows the kitchen plugging up your space
Count on us all stepping on our own toes tonight
Count on us all stepping on our own toes
Count on us all falling on our own swords tonight
04 The Funeral (05:22)
I’m coming up only to hold you under
I’m coming up only to show you wrong
And to know you is hard and we wonder
To know you all wrong we were
Ooo Ooo
Really too late to call so we wait for
Morning to wake you is all we got
To know me as hardly golden
To know me all wrong they were
And every occasion I will be ready for the funeral
And every occasion once more is called the funeral
Every occasion I am ready for the funeral
And every occasion one brilliant day funeral
I am coming up only to show you down for it
I am coming up only to show you wrong
To the outside
The dead leaves, they are alive
For they don’t have trees to hang their hearts
Ooo Ooo
And every occasion I will be ready for the funeral
And every occasion once more is called the funeral
And every occasion I am ready for the funeral
And every occasion one brilliant day funeral
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By ziabice
This album has the cathartic power of taking away all the tensions accumulated during the day like a calm river.
Composed of 10 arrows all aimed at our hearts, all very solid, all endowed with a life of their own.
