The Time For Band of Horses
Surprise! Band of Horses is actually a group of dudes.
Maybe Band of Horses only exists for me in a certain era.
I was at the gym, of all places, when I heard “Is There a Ghost” by Band of Horses playing from the speakers. What the fuck, I thought, I haven’t heard this song in a long time!
I can’t say that I’m a true fan of Band of Horses because I like some of their music, but not all of it. The two albums that I used to listen to the most were Everything All The Time, which was released in 2006, and Cease to Begin which came out the following year. I didn’t really hear of the band until about 2008. Even though each of these albums has some excellent songs, there are other tracks that just didn’t peak my interest. Eventually I stopped listening to Band of Horses for one reason or another. It’s like that sometimes: you fall in love with a band, or some of their music, listen to it on repeat, and then they get lost in the shuffle.
But my encounter at the gym got me thinking about them again, and so here are some of my favorite songs from those two albums.
Everything All The Time
As I was scanning the songs n Everything All The Time, “The Funeral” jumped out at me. In 2008, I lost a friend to suicide. Maybe fate or the universe sent that song my way because, at the time, it kind of spoke to my soul mostly due to the chorus. The rise and fall of lead singer Ben Bridwell’s voice against the driving guitars and drums, and then the transition into melodic notes was, and is beautiful. I used to cry and cry to this song thinking about my friend, and so when I hear it, I always think about her.
I couldn’t leave out “Our Swords” because it was also featured on the soundtrack to the movie Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (one of my favorite movies from that era).
Honestly, when I read the lyrics, I don’t really get it, but I’m kind of dumb that way. What I do like is how Bridwell’s voice is crisp and clean on this track. In fact, the musical arrangement is very crisp and clean, too. Most good rock songs only need guitars, bass, and drums to accompany the singer, and “Our Swords” does just that.
Cease to Begin
Up first for this album is “Is There a Ghost”. I mean, it’s the song that jump started my brain and made me remember this band. I guess playing this song at a gym kind of makes sense because it’s fast paced and guitar driven; I can see how someone might get pumped by it playing over the speakers amongst the din of treadmills.
That’s the draw of this song; it’s typical rock. I don’t mean that in a basic, insulting way, but in a way that means it’s a bop from those early indie days in the 2000’s. It seemed like there were a lot of bands out there at that time who were making these types of songs that live in a specific era, and when we hear them, we are pulled back in time.
Another great track from Cease To Begin is “Detlef Schremp”. Maybe the song is an ode to Detlef, but I highly doubt it. Odd title choice aside, this song is definitely one to listen to when you’re feeling some sort of way.
The song has a moody quality to it, and rightfully so because it’s about a breakup. Bridwell sings about how people will be talking about the demise of the romance, and how it’s hard to see a soon-to-be former lover in a positive light. It would be a good one to listen to when you’re going through a heartache.
Band of Horses is still out there making albums and playing shows. Bridwell seems to be the only original member left, which makes sense because his voice is a cornerstone to the sound of the band. Maybe one of these days I’ll give them another go, or listen to one of their more current albums, and I’ll find more to love than a handful of their popular songs.