Customer Reviews

Infinite Arms

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(36)
3 star:		(20)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I turned onto Band of Horses (BOH) after discovering Carrisa's Wierd (a now-defunct band that included BOH frontman Ben Bridwell and former BOH member Mat Brooke). Their first record, 'Everything All the Time', was ridiculously addictive, and strong enough to make the second (''Cease to Begin') a mandatory buy. The main difference between those first two records was the confidence and maturity in songwriting.

For better or worse, the differences between that second album and this new one, their major-label debut, are pretty similar. Just as 'Cease' displayed greater confidence and cohesion in songwriting, this record finds the band even more 'settled in' to their sound and scope. How much one enjoys this album will mostly just come down to whether they enjoy the band's chosen direction. 'Everything' suggested that BOH could evolve into either a shoegazer band or a dreamrock outfit, and 'Infinite Arms' confirms that they are the latter, with a bit of alt-country twang.

This isn't a bad thing. I was initially somewhat amused by some reviewers' comparisons between this album and 70s ballad-pop, but on further consideration, I guess I can see it- it's just that this naturally seems more relevant, but these ARE essentially alt-country-dreamrock ballads. Those familiar with BOH's earlier work will appreciate the statement that this is 'St. Augustine'-BOH and not 'Funeral'-BOH, and should use that distinction when deciding whether to purchase 'Infinite Arms'.

There are some real high points on this record, notably 'On My Way Back Home' and the title track, which are both slow and deliberate, grand and sweeping.

I listened to this straight through about half-a-dozen times, and am pleased and impressed. It's a great record, but it IS very laid back, and there just aren't any rock-song standouts to look forward to. BOH fans won't be disappointed as long as they don't go in looking for a 'Funeral'/'Ghost'-type anthemic track to punctuate the experience. This works as an experience more than as a collection of songs, and in that, it succeeds.

Although I thought their first two albums were lush and beautiful, they also had a certain edge to them that counterbalanced the whole thing. On this one, the "edge" seems to be missing. I may learn to love it over time, but it just doesn't strike me like the first two did. But it's certainly still better than a lot of the crap out there.

I was always a mild Band Of Horses fan. A friend of mine burned me the first two cds to listen to, and I always kind of liked them. The combination of hipster indie rock and the classic country-fied rock was very pleasing to listen to, but that was about all. I did enjoy Cease To Begin a lot, though, since the hipster elements had diminished some, and they were embracing country and Gram Parsons a little more. All in all, I kinda dismissed them as yet another indie band with nothing much to say.

That all changed with this album.

With Infinite Arms, the Band of Horses lets their hair down and wears all of their influences on their sleeves. A tighter lineup this time around, everyone is contributing to Ben Bridwell's timeless sound. Cease To Begin was the blueprint for this album, as it showed more confidence and cohesion in their songwriting, yet I always knew they were destined for greatness. With Infinite Arms, the greatness is reached. The indie schtick is basically over, now the band is a true rock and roll band with some fantastic 3-part harmony and a penchant for killer melodies and catchy hooks to boot.

The album begins with the 3-strike punch of Factory, Compliments, and Laredo. These are easily some of the best work the band has ever done, and at the same time, are vastly different from each other. Factory is a moving ballad about love in the office with some soaring strings. Compliments is a great alternative country rocker with some fantastic harmonies, and Laredo could very well be the road rock song of 2010.

Unlike their last 2 albums, the middle half doesn't sag at all. It contains some of the most beautiful work the band has penned, whether it's the haunting title track, the sparse Evening Kitchen (which the guitarist Tyler Ramsey penned) or the Wilco-esque Dilly.

This also sees the keyboardist Ryan Monroe coming into play with one of the best songs on the album, Older, a song Gram Parsons wished he wrote. Once again, the harmonies are irresistible. And then, to top it off, the band finishes the album with Neighbor, an epic rock closer if there ever was one. The last 2 minutes of the song where the floodgates open are some of the best 2 minutes you'll ever hear.

This is a fantastic album from a band I kinda dismissed earlier. Just goes to show you that you can't judge a book by it's cover.

This album does not compare to the first two albums by BOH. The album is not horrible and you may actually really like it if you have not listened to the prior albums. BOH is great because of there unique sound and during some of these songs that originality is gone. It just sounds like a regular rock band instead of the sound we have grown to love from BOH. I will say this album is worth listening to but I am confident you will come to the conclusion that the first two albums are ten times better.

this is an extremely talented group with the ability to put a variety of styles together - I will probably seek out everything they have produced.

I was surprised to see so many "mediocre" reviews of this great album. I agree with another reviewer that said that this was BOH settling into their sound - which to me, is a southern beach-boy's-esqu sound. If you liked the harmonies and springy guitars of the other albums, I think you will find this album quite satisfying.

There are several highlights that carry this album. "Older" is my favorite, using a twangy Telocaster that reminded me of a classic country song, mixed with BOH's lyrics and vocal harmonies - which meld perfectly. "Blue Beard" is the best song on the album to me - the epitome of BOH's vocal talent. This is what sets this band apart from others - the beauty of their vocals, ranging high and low, yet sounding effortless. Lastly - I really like "Dilly" which sounds much different that what BOH usually put out - it reminds me of a "Nada Surf" song from their album "Let Go." It's spacey, yet pop-py - it uses synth and it sounds more 90's than other stuff BOH does - it's not for everyone but its a solid fun track.

All in all, I love this album - and feel that there are too many gems to write this off as a "3 star album." "Older" and "Blue Beard" are two of Band of Horses's best songs.

I keep hearing the Laredo song on the radio and it's not bad, but I don't think this album is a push play album like the other two.

Infinite Arms is much slower than previous albums released by Band of Horses. At first listen, I felt it was too sappy and did not contain the climactic songs they are known for. Its hard to live up to earlier releases, but after the second and third time around, this album caught on to me. I was able to appreciate the sound and feeling they were going for. It is a very soothing release and the listener can tell that this band has put a lot of effort into the writing process. I will definitely continue to support this group.

When Band of Horses first burst onto the "indie rock" scene in 2006 with the song "The Funeral" and the album that spawned that single, Everything All the Time, they became instant indie gods. The reverb drenched vocals and haunting tunes kept this listener rapt from start to finish. They would go on to show that they aren't a one-trick pony with 2007's Cease To Begin by keeping the things that made the first album great and adding a couple of uptempo rockers. Now, with Infinite Arms, the band leaves the Sub Pop label for the corporate trappings of the major label Columbia Records (not that Sub Pop doesn't have some of the same corporate crap running through their sewer system). The end result is something appealing, but much less satisfying than the first two albums. The only songs that really sound like the band are "On My Way Back Home", "Infinite Arms", "For Annabelle", and(sort-of) "Neighbor"...all, slow, meandering and incidentally, the best on the album. The main problem with the album for me, seems to be the lack of enthusiasm and passion in the music, poor songcraft and trite, overblown lyrics. In "Laredo", Bridwell actually sings the words, "I'm at a crossroads with myself". I don't think there's anyone on Earth who could sing that line and not sound like an idiot. Lines like "Later, I was thinkin' it over at the snack machine. I thought about you and a candy bar" in the album's opener, "Factory" aren't going to get Bridwell into the songwriting hall of fame either...not to mention the horrible "La, La, La, La's" in "Blue Beard". Much of the song structure, too, strays far from the Americana/Indie Folk the band was playing on most of the first two records. "Older" has a country twinge to it, but somehow still feels like the Beach Boys doing country...and Blue Beard sounds like Brian Wilson could have written it. Don't get me wrong, I love the Beach Boys, but if I want to listen to them,I'll go grab my copy of Pet Sounds.

Overall, the album isn't bad, but definitely not on par with their first two albums. It's lacking something...call it passion or whatever you want, but lacking it is. The only problem is that, with the exception of "Evening Kitchen", Infinite Arms is catchy as hell. You can complain all you want about an albums flaws, but at the end of the day, if you can't seem to take it out of your CD player, I suppose the band has accomplished their mission.

3.5 Stars

Having loved Band of Horses' "Cease to Begin" album, I was excited to see how their music would progress in their latest release. Songs such as "No One's Gonna Love You" and "Detlef Schrempf" strike a chord with their mellow and yet somehow jarring accompaniments and poignant lyrics. While I couldn't quite pinpoint a style or genre in which to label Band of Horses, I felt like I knew what they were trying to say, what they were trying to be. Sadly, this is no longer the case.

I desperately wanted to like this album. When you find a band with obvious talent, you want them to succeed. But I can't help thinking that their track to success has evoked a bit of an identity crisis. "Infinite Arms" sound resembled 70's pop gone folk, country, what have you, a genre that simply does not appeal to me. I wouldn't have thought to expect this from Band of Horses. As I was listening "Laredo" and "Evening Kitchen" I very much wanted something to click, hoping that if I stuck it out through the songs' entirety, the composition would pick up the pace, the lyrics would resonate, something, anything.

Unfortunately for Band of Horses, I like my music with a side of enthusiasm. Listening to this disk made me feel as though I had been dragged into a catatonic state while my ears were assaulted by non descript wailings accompanied by twangy instrumentation. I am still unable to categorize Band of Horses into any specific genre, and now I have the impression that the same holds true for the band themselves.