Seattle-based group Band of Horses may be touring with Pearl Jam, but it couldn’t have been in a more misplaced match. Singer Ben Bridwell introduces folk to pop, creating music that would play during a lovemaking scene of a movie.
Band of Horses released its third album “Infinite Arms” on Tuesday, two-and-a-half years after its sophomore album “Cease to Begin.”
The band has recently gone through some changes, such as switching to the Columbia label, self-producing its album and becoming a quintet. Band of Horses also dropped the mainstream rock sound from its first two albums and adopted an indie vibe, combining the voice of Neil Young with the music of Modest Mouse.
The album recalls the song “I Go to the Barn Because I Like The” off the band’s first album, only without the lyrical quips. Previous fans of Band of Horses will probably be partial to the simplicity of the frank word choices, but a first time listener might find the lyrics seem insipid.
“Factory” best describes the majority of the album in its lyrics, “the world is spinning round to an old sad love song.” Some lyrics are so heart-wrenching that the listener must ask themselves what could have happened to Bridwell that influenced the poignant lyrics.
Tracks like “Compliments,” “NW Apt.” and “Dilly” stray away from the despaired folk songs and instead go into an alt-pop panache. Guitar riffs are simple but driven and the vocals are determined.
Band of Horses might have strayed from its normal grounds with its new album “Infinite Arms,” but it should not be written off.
