Band of Horses' Everything All the Time (Sub Pop) has emerged as one of the most critically-acclaimed records of 2006. And with good reason. It is a spellbinding first effort that delves deep into the human psyche, playing out much like a childhood nightmare.
The first record from guitarist/vocalist Ben Bridwell and bassist Mat Brooke-formally of the group Carissa's Wierd-exudes a self-assured maturity that can be heard in every guitar strum, banjo pick, and subtly poetic verse.
Perhaps the most striking feature of the album is how Bridwell's warm, canorous voice instills even the most desolate images with hope and wonder. For example, in "The Great Salt Lake," the lead singer-sounding strikingly like Brian Wilson in his heyday-croons "If you find yourself falling apart / I'm sure I could stand on / The Great Salt Lake." This miraculous, yet fundamentally human, view of the world highlights the understated beauty of Bridwell's writing.
Furthermore, from the record's opening notes, it becomes clear that its success is rooted in impeccable musical craftsmanship. The album opens with a virtual waterfall of sound. "The First Song" washes over listeners with gently trickling notes on top of great, splashing chords and Tim Meinig's pounding rhythms, all supporting and blending into Bridwell's frothy vocal work.
This tone reaches its climax on "Funeral," the album's strongest cut. Here, the band starts with a soft, meticulous introduction that steadily expands until the music reaches a thundering wall-of-sound.
The only minor fault listeners might find with this album is in its arrangement. The record ends with three quieter, more understated songs. While, on one hand, this seems to fit the overarching narrative of morning's calm following a restless night of sleep. Unfortunately, it also leaves the album feeling slightly top-heavy.
Nevertheless, Everything All the Time deserves all the recognition it has received. Band of Horses has produced a beautiful musical landscape, rooted firmly in insightful, emotional imagery that leaves the listener confident of a better tomorrow. Or, as Bridwell sings in the uplifting, banjo-driven, "Monster," "If I'm lost, it's only for a little while..."
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