I first heard Band of Horses playing at the Les Schwab Amphitheater four years ago playing over the PA between sets of a Flaming Lips show. I ended up spending the summer of 2006 listening to their debut, Everything All The Time, and almost nothing else.
About a year later, Band of Horses released the highly anticipated follow up, Cease to Begin. The album lacked the grandiose spectrum embedded in their debut and sounded like outtakes from previous recordings. I’m still not sure if it was a result of co-founding member Mat Brooke leaving, but it became uncomfortably clear, Band of Horses may have little left to offer.
If you’re new to this band, Infinite Arms may whisk you away. The use of schmaltzy strings (“Factory”) and down-tempo ballads (“Blue Beard,” “Way Back Home” and “Infinite Arms”) will surely impress casual music listeners. But, if you’ve been hoping for a return to epic lifts, heart-on-the-sleeves intimacy, Ben Bridwell’s explosive range once displayed early on by this band, you’ll only find the slightest of remnants on this album.
Infinite Arms does offer some sunny moments (“Compliments”, “Laredo”) bounded by Bridwell’s attempt for the rafters. But as the album continues, even the front man sounds slightly disinterested. Infinite Arms flirts with intriguing hooks, melodies and occasional harmony (“Dilly”), but as a whole it’s mostly forgettable.
No one can argue that Bridwell doesn’t possess an exciting voice. The problem is that Band of Horses writes generalized stories, and it used to be that no matter how obscure the lyrics were, you wanted to lose yourself in them and pretend to sing along. After a half-dozen listens, the high-school lyricism and middle-of-the-road musicianship on Infinite Arms are too prevalent to pretend there’s something here besides a great voice.
This article appears in May 27 – Jun 2, 2010.
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I’d like to critique the timing of this article. 4 days before what could arguably be called the only “alternative” concert in Central Oregon this summer (unless you call the Poo-Poo Dolls an alternative band ), you come out with a review that shells the band’s latest album. I’m not saying that you should be writing a fluff piece…but if attendance at the show is lower in part because of your writing, then you’ve contributed to fewer tickets sold and, subsequently, fewer alt-bands being booked at the Schwab. And that’s a shame….we had a stellar run ’03-’07 (Coldplay, Pixies, Flaming Lips, Ben Harper, Breeders (yummy)….now we’re lucky to get one solid “alt” concert a season…that is, if you don’t count the semi-annual Michael Franti show.
Just think about it.
I’m glad to hear someone speak their mind. I seldom read reviews that are honest and I like how you have put down what you think and feel, that is the important thing. If you always try to promote music even if you do not like it, what good is that? From the reviews I’ve read, you(Ethan) know alot about music and have good taste. Sometimes I disagree with you but mostly I like to hear a honest opinion. Keep up the good reviewing