Band of Horses: The Sweet Taste of Songwriting

To be released May 18th, Band of Horses' new album Infinite Arms is a rock purist's dream.

Lead singer and guitarist Ben Bridwell knows what he wants and how he wants to do it. Over the last several years, Seattle-based riff-heavy rock group Band of Horses have been churning out catchy, hook filled reverb rock with a hint of sound from the Pacific Northwest. The music of BoH retains the classic formula for good, listenable rock: jams that are unquestionably memorable, vocals one would die for, and a knowledge of the ones that have came before them.

BoH takes cues from woodsy folk rock and combine chiming, ethereal guitar lines that sound as if the local custodian's keys jangle throughout the echo of high school halls. They are a down home band; a band who voices the memories of the youth, the unfortunate obstacles we experience growing up, and the contemplative events that make us question should I or shouldn't I?

Bridwell holds true to these notions; the man could very well be one of the most underrated lyricists in the music community. He doesn't try to write songs; more so they just come out. This is evident on BoH third album, Infinite Arms, a memorable and excitable listen that contains only the best BoH has to offer. The group have been releasing songs here and there, most notably their first video for "Compliments," a shape shifting landscape of pastoral imagery that seem to act as a constant conveyor belt for BoH music. "Compliments" is a song of regret, with lines such as, "I'm fixing a drink in the morning with the wavy jar, you may have stayed too long." Their other release, "Laredo," is just good solid songwriting. There's nothing too extravagant or epic about "Laredo," but it acts as a key ingredient to the content of the album, relying on simple chord changes, a jangling pop riff, and traditional emotions that exemplify the longing for a romantic escape we have all fantasized at some point about. Recently, BoH have also released, "Factory," a string-laden ballad that takes the Horses' sound in a new direction with the same heart felt stories that could only be sung by Bridwell.

In addition to previous albums, Everything All The Time and Cease to Begin, Infinite Arms is undeniably Band of Horses; with the progression of each album, the sound becomes thicker, the production cleaner, and the songs always sing-along worthy. They are one of the few bands who understand the nature songs are able to give to storytelling and it's characters; ranging from narratives of innocent youth to the realization of an expected maturity.

Band of Horses--"Compliments"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyVe3YnA6QU

--Mike