Band of Horses has always had an earthy/ every-man type of feel that has earned them fans across a wide musical spectrum. Nowhere was this more apparent then when there classic single “The Funeral” from their debut album Everything All the Time. This slow burning stunner found a captive audience among the indie collective and mainstream alike. The legend of the song remained intact for years. A cover version was even used in the climax of the semi-famous (ok, maybe not that much) MTV coming of age show My Life as Liz years after its original release. Achieving this type of mainstream success while maintaining a level of Indie rock street cred is an impressive feat.
Although they have not released another song as big as “The Funeral” they have continued to put out music that appeals to an eclectic audience. Personally I think their best song is “The General Specific” from their second album Cease to Begin. This song epitomizes the best aspects of Band of Horses as a whole. Although the song, like many of their others, is not going to win any songwriting awards, it is a song that embodies the messy/spirited soul of pure rock music. It became a weird sing along choice for myself and several of my college buddies. It was one of the only songs that we all agreed on and connected with in such a visceral way. That is the unique power great songs hold.
Although the releases after the first two albums have been good, none have really reached the impact that first two albums had. Lead singer Ben Bridwell voiced his own disappointment with many aspects of their last album Mirage Rock. He seemed to want to get back to the basics of their first few albums. This lofty goal was accomplished on their stellar new release Why are you OK (no question mark included for some reason).
Why Are You OK doesn’t feature a track that stands out as much as “General Specific” or “Funeral”, the album flows together in a cohesive way that makes it a very easy album to listen to from start to finish. One of the tracks that stands out immediately is “ In a Drawer”. It is a simple little song, but one that stays with you. Part of this is due to a great vocal cameo from J Macis of legendary band Dinosaur Jr. His contribution is simple but hearing the contrast between his and Bridwell’s voices really makes the song pop. The first single “Casual Party” has a mesmerizing and catchy guitar hook, making it the obvious choice. It serves as a good introduction of what Why are you OK has to offer.
My favorite song on the album is “Country Teen”. This is by far the simplest track on the entire album. It has a simple twang to it, providing the perfect complement to Bridwell’s simple/pretty laid back vocals. It is a perfect example of how sometimes less is more. By paring back the instrumentation they allow for more focus on the lyrics and emotions tied to them. It touches on the theme of growing up and leaving your old town behind, something many can relate to. “Country Teen” reminds me of a more serious take on the underrated James Gang classic “Country Dreamin.”
While Why are you OK is not breaking any artistic ground, it is the perfect record for the long nights during the summer months. There is not a bad track, and the more I listen to it the more it grows on me. What stands out the most to me is how all the tracks flow together perfectly. It is hard to pick out favorites because the tone of the record feels like it is more one big whole, as opposed to individual pieces. This is a rare feat not accomplished by too many artists these days. It is a great album to put on the record player and enjoy from start to finish.
Top Tracks: “Country Teen”, “In a Drawer”
By: Nathan K.
Tones OF HOME 