Band Of Horses
When a band with Ben Bridwell (guitar/vocals) and Mat Brooke (guitar) bit the dust the two then launched Horses in '04. Adding Rob Hampton (bass) and Creighton Barrett (drums), the then Seattle-based band (who relocated to South Carolina) changed their name to Band Of Horses.
Making some noise locally Band Of Horses were signed by Sub-Pop (also based in the rain capital of North America). Their debut full-length album, "Everything All The Time," was recorded the following year and released in '06. The set made Band Of Horses an indie Rock success story.
Being a hot indie band is a great place to be. There's credibility (in not being a major label sell-out), the critics are generally enthused and encouraging (their sniping comes with commercial success) and the feeling everything is on the upswing. But occasionally there's a band member who isn't happy with that. Band Of Horses made a summer '06 appearance on Late Night with David Letterman without Brooke. Less than two weeks later it was announced that Brooke had departed for his other group, Grand Archives, who were also a Sub-Pop band.
Band Of Horses continued, releasing their sophomore effort, "Cease To Begin" in October, '07.
Band Of Horses play mood music - emotive in a low-key, unobtrusive way. It's there but not really. Perfect for a soundtrack. Little surprise the group's songs have been heard on TV show The O.C. ("The End's Not Near"). Is there one 'thoughtful, lyrically evocative' group that hasn't had at least one song on The O.C.? Band Of Horses has also been played on One Tree Hill ("The Funeral").
"Everything All The Time" starts with the ethereal "The First Song." But once that's out of the way, the more upbeat and lean "Wicked Gil" and "Our Swords" roll out. But these engaging songs are in a deep shade compared to "Weed Party." This jaunty, entertaining track, led to all the "next big thing" noise. Bridwell's plaintive vocals are most effective when they don't dwell or drag. Folk and other acoustic elements are incorporated on the slower songs and accent the group's predominately unhurried approach.
Songs unwind and wander to the choruses on "Cease To Begin." Uncharacteristically, "Is There A Ghost" opens the set with a burning guitar and some genuine energy. There's also the jaunty fun of "The General Specific." Aside from the chunky "Ode To LRC" and "Islands On The Coast," the album slows appreciably.