Band of Horses Give 2022 A Fan-Oriented Indie Rock Statement With 'Things Are Great'
With their second album for Sub Pop, 2007's Cease To Begin, Band of Horses cemented their signature sound following the surprise mega-hit 'The Funeral,' and they have been a staple of the light indie-rock scene that appealed to lovers of their folksy sound as well as the casual masses. These early successes in the 2000s helped them onto major labels and allowed them to survive some critical low points in the 2010s with Mirage Rock and Why Are You OK. Now, with Things Are Great, they have reclaimed their sound and are as good as ever.
Leading things off, 'Warning Signs' quickly indicates that the band is heading back to their roots, and not the same roots that led them to country and pop experiments. The roots are those first two Sub Pop albums, and this late-2000s indie rock vibe ends up on most of the record. Only 'Crutch' and 'In Need of Repair' sound like they are from a more recent era, leaning into a catchy indie pop/rock sound on the former and gentle strums on the latter. Lots of the other songs, including the opener and another single 'Lights,' get things to a really rocking place.
The Verdict on 'Things Are Great'
Minor dalliances into a less-than-classic sound weigh the record down a bit, but there's no denying the Things Are Great returns to the band's true form. Whether or not you liked those early albums will heavily affect your opinion of this new record, but the fact that its restless drama could latch onto even new listeners is a major success. Fans will definitely want to check it out, and anyone indie-inclined will likely enjoy more than just a song or two.
Rating: 7/10
★★★★★★★☆☆☆
Tracklist
1. Warning Signs
2. Crutch
3. Tragedy of the Commons
4. In The Hard Times
5. In Need of Repair
6. Aftermath
7. Lights
8. Ice Night We're Having
9. You Are Nice To Me
10. You Are Nice To Me
11. Coalinga
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