Cover of Band of Horses Mirage Rock
Geo@Geo

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For fans of band of horses, lovers of indie rock and folk rock, listeners seeking mellow and natural rock sounds, followers of 2010s alternative music
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THE REVIEW

...And the last one closes the door!... as Nick Carter would say.

The American Horses from Seattle, aka the Band of Horses, have reached their fourth album and have decided to change course, at least in terms of production, in fact, Glyn Johns ("the one" from the Who and the Clash...) has decided to make them more British, or perhaps he has become more Americanized.

They were certainly an indie rock and country band worthy of attention and I'd say successful: I've seen they're not unknown on DeB, just remember "Cease To Begin" and "Everything All The Time"...

I could write a review in the past tense or imperfect: they were this..., they were that..., but that's not nice, all in all "Mirage Rock" can help you spend some time in the company of a completely "natural" rock, no distorted sounds, not too many keyboards, just a bit of echo and little more. It makes you think that you could play most of the tracks at a gathering with friends by the sea, maybe on a late summer night, and you might even feel like singing without risking to "screw up" badly...

In short, it seems that the intentions, perhaps not so hidden, are to offer the public a more catchy, more commercial, a bit more pop and less rock product: certainly (Knock Knock) and (How to Live) are the best tracks, along with the (title track), but the rest you'll listen to without giving much thought.

On the other hand, if the author writes this:

"The idea behind the title is that I thought it would be fun if someone heard my music from a certain distance and came closer, only to find out that there was nothing there. In short, the title is an actual joke about how someone might perceive my own songwriting". (Ben Bridwell)

Can we think of changing the natural history of this album or if you prefer the Band of Horses?

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Summary by Bot

Band of Horses’ fourth album, Mirage Rock, marks a shift towards a softer, more natural rock sound with pop influences under producer Glyn Johns. While key tracks like 'Knock Knock' and 'How to Live' stand out, much of the album feels catchy but less memorable. The review highlights the album’s laid-back vibe, suitable for casual listening, and shares Ben Bridwell's insight about the album title's ironic meaning. Overall, it's a solid but not groundbreaking addition to the band's discography.

Tracklist Videos

01   Everything's Gonna Be Undone (03:19)

02   Knock Knock (03:58)

03   Feud (02:56)

04   How to Live (03:26)

05   Electric Music (03:32)

06   Long Vows (03:43)

07   Heartbreak on the 101 (04:01)

08   Dumpster World (03:43)

09   A Little Biblical (02:54)

10   Slow Cruel Hands of Time (03:50)

11   Shut-In Tourist (04:09)

Band of Horses

Band of Horses is an American indie rock band formed in Seattle in 2004 by Ben Bridwell. Early releases on Sub Pop earned acclaim, especially the debut Everything All the Time. Notable songs include The Funeral, No One's Gonna Love You, and Is There a Ghost. Infinite Arms received a Grammy nomination.
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