Band Of Horses has tended to always tread the line between indie and country rock. On their first two records Everything All The Time and Cease To Begin, they created a sound based around the unique tones of frontman Ben Bridwell’s voice.
The band’s last record, 2010’s Infinite Arms brought together all the group’s best qualities and, combined with more mature songwriting, saw them produce their most successful album to date.
Unfortunately Mirage Rock simply doesn’t live up to what has come before it and does not develop the band’s sound.
Listening to this record from start to finish simply leaves you a little empty. The production is tight and similar to previous records, however there seems to be a complete lack of energy in this collection of songs.
Album opener ‘Knock Knock’ shows the most promise and at least lives up the strengths of previous efforts. Bridwell’s vocals stand out, especially hitting the higher register of his range and the band also plays with dropping out the drums and changing dynamics slightly
There’s no question there are moments on the record that show glimpses of Band Of Horses at their best. ‘A Little Biblical’ certainly shows Bridwell’s capacity to write catchy melodies, using doubled vocals to great effect, however the song simply doesn’t do enough to continue to engage the listener.
It’s hard not to compare this record with the previous three from Band Of Horses. The greatest difference between Mirage Rock and the group’s previous three records is a lack of energy. While there are some standout tracks, this is their least successful album to date.
