The new Band of Horses has undergone several changes -- the loss of band member Mat Brooke, a move back to their hometown in South Carolina from Seattle, and a unique new way of doing liner notes (a booklet with a series of photographs).
Their sound in the new album Cease to Begin, however, has not lost any of its originality. The songs are still saturated with guitar and the reverb of Ben Bridwell's vocals; the lyrics still read like love letters or long good-byes.
If anything, the band is simply a little more unique. The constant comparison to The Shins and My Morning Jacket will be lost in Cease. Their gentle indie rock sounds more like leaves falling and autumn descending upon a small Southern town -- sometimes even taking on a slightly country tone -- than the upbeat style of The Shins.
Somehow the band is able to adapt this regional change into their music and still sound like the Band of Horses we fell in love with from their first album. Their songs continue to reflect their characteristic browbeaten tone coupled with hopeful lyrics. "No one is ever gonna love you / more than I do," Bridwell croons in "No One's Gonna Love You."
This album, however, does not have a memorable single like their first album did. Nevertheless, the collection of songs is solid, with subdued melodies and subject matter that is a bit happier and more hopeful.
The disc opens with "Is There a Ghost," a song true to their original sound. The track begins with only Bridwell's vocals and guitar, and then builds when the drums enter later in the song. The tune contains only a few differing lines, as Bridwell repeats "I could sleep / when I lived alone / is there a ghost in my house?" Despite the repetition, the intensity of the instruments and Bridwell's soaring sound create a strong opening.
"Ode to LRC" is the catchy second tune with a melody you could easily find yourself humming later. The song reflects their literal small-town move as well. Bridwell sings, "The town is so small / how could anybody not / look you in the eyes / or wave as you drive by." Later, Bridwell's saccharine, idealistic lyrics "The world is such a wonderful place," are still sung with such strong, authentic feeling that it's hard not to believe him. The chorus fades to a happy "La-dee-da," but Bridwell is still able to sell these lyrics with genuine, heartfelt sentiment.
In keeping with the move to the South, a country twang emerges in "Marry Song," with its slow tempo and banjo chords. The optimistic attitude of the album -- of being back home with your family and spending lazy afternoons in the sun -- is prominent in the lyrics. "What in the world would cause you sorrow / when you smile / the sun it peaks through the clouds." The conviction with which Bridwell sings makes the song not trite or unoriginal, but bold and legitimate.
Band of Horses' new album, Cease to Begin, is an ode to their South Carolina roots. They've made subtle changes to their sound and lyrics and included eight separate color photos in their booklet, six of which were taken in Mount Pleasant, S.C., to reflect this. Though they've added a new dimension to their style, nothing of their unique sound is sacrificed as they deliver 10 satisfying new tunes.
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