Band of Horses Cease to Begin
As a whole, Cease To Begin, the sophomore disc from Band Of Horses, is a gradual and logical transition coming from Everything All The Time (their 2005 debut). It’s an evolution that strengthens and solidifies the South Carolina-born band, without taking too sharp a turn from where they began; but, as their first single and opening track, “Is There A Ghost?” is quick to prove, they aren’t exactly stuck in a corner either.
As Cease To Begin unfolds, country and rock converge on a folk platform that makes better sense of the hybrid genre than most bands ever manage and their lyrics delve deep to tell truthful tales backed by a healthy amount of substance. Then, there’s that voice—oh, that voice—which has only gotten better with its creamy high pitch that few men can achieve.
“Cigarettes, Wedding Bands” rocks out towards the end, getting back in line with the opening thrust of “Is There A Ghost?”, but the last track, “Window Blues” brings the tone back down and is a decidedly prettier way to say goodbye. Well, at least until next time—as the band says, they’ve only ceased to begin.
Stand-out track: Detlef Schrempf Perfect for: Backyard parties
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