{"id":1609,"date":"2010-07-21T18:45:52","date_gmt":"2010-07-21T18:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/?p=1609"},"modified":"2010-07-22T18:46:03","modified_gmt":"2010-07-22T18:46:03","slug":"straight-from-the-horses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/2010-07\/straight-from-the-horses\/","title":{"rendered":"Straight From the Horses"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We will admit that we have fallen short.\u00a0 Again.\u00a0 Life shifted into vitesse-mode in the last month, and we neglected a muzzle-load of new music that was shot out in May.<\/p>\n

On one of our favorite days of the year (May 18th), Band of Horses released their third record, “Infinite Arms.”\u00a0 Like their last record, “Cease to Begin,” the new one took a while to grip us.\u00a0 But now we can’t escape its clutches or get it off the player.<\/p>\n

We have been fans of this band from their beginning.\u00a0 On the new release they have bolstered their sound and added even more harmonies, supplementing the normal guitar-driven, reverb-heavy lead vocals to great effect.\u00a0 Though it’s getting to be a bit cliched, we cannot get enough of this new epoch of harmony-heavy vocals (with allusions to the Beach Boys and other harmonic convergences), and the Band of Horses have favorably joined the fray.<\/p>\n

While we lament the Horses’ frequently tenebrous, homily-ridden lyrics, we admit that when combined with their oft-majestic music, the soulful effect is repeatedly breathtaking.<\/p>\n

So check out Laredo<\/em> and Older <\/em>off the new one, and then a few of our favorites off of “Cease to Begin.”<\/p>\n

In Laredo<\/em>, Ben Bridwell stakes out heartbreak and hope while the sound pays homage to Nada Surf:<\/p>\n

“Gonna take a trip to Laredo
\nGonna take a dip in the lake
\nOh, I’m at a crossroads with myself
\nI don’t got no one else”<\/p>\n

Band of Horses–Laredo<\/em><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/03-Laredo.mp3|titles=03 Laredo]\n

In Older<\/em>, the band repeats the chorus five times, and the twangy-lament easily catches hold of your ears and heart:<\/p>\n

“And after all my plans
\nThey melt into the sand
\nYeah you will be there on my mind through all
\nDon’t want to understand why you never get older.”<\/p>\n

Band of Horses–Older<\/em><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/09-Older.mp3|titles=09 Older]\n

From “Cease to Begin,” check out Ode to LRC <\/em>and its nostalgic slap at small-town life:<\/p>\n

“The town is so small
\nHow could anybody not
\nLook you in the eyes
\nOr wave as you drive by”<\/p>\n

Band of Horses–Ode to LRC<\/em><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/02-Ode-To-LRC1.mp3|titles=02 Ode To LRC]\n

On No One’s Gonna Love You<\/em> we hear in the repeated chorus a comforting voice from on high.<\/p>\n

Band of Horses–No One’s Gonna Love You<\/em><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/03-No-Ones-Gonna-Love-You1.mp3|titles=03 No One’s Gonna Love You]\n

And finally, on Detlef Schrempf<\/em>, despite the red-herring title (former NBA basketball star from Germany), we like this proverb:<\/p>\n

“So take it as a song or a lesson to learn
\nAnd sometime soon be better than you were
\nIf you say you’re gonna go, then be careful
\nAnd watch how you treat every living soul”<\/p>\n

Band of Horses–Detlef Schrempf<\/em><\/p>\n[audio:https:\/\/www.thelefortreport.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/04-Detlef-Schrempf1.mp3|titles=04 Detlef Schrempf]\n

And here’s the band performing Laredo <\/em>on Letterman:<\/p>\n