BAND OF HORSES - FROM GALLOP TO SWAY
August 2008
One of my ever very most favorite Sub-Pop discoveries in recent history is Band Of Horses no doubt. When I first caught glimpse of their video for "A Great Salt Lake" two years ago, I was immediately thrown into a charming reminder of how good ol' American indie rock can be for the baseball loving, barbecue eating, flannel shirt and trucker hat clad American boy with a tuned guitar and an awesome girlfriend. They easily took me from my smoggy environment into a clear and heartfelt mode of small town cheer with their Pacific Northwest guitar indie-pop sound that is unmistakably Sub-Pop. I've been a fan since.
Two years later, with two records under their belt, and their last record Cease To Begin making it to #35 of the Billboard 200, they take to the international stage that same small town charm and deep guitars playing 20 dates throughout the world embarking and docking down in their new home in South Carolina, which other critics believe have had a great impact on their sound. From their Seattle indie-pop sound with tinges of southern rock, they've now become southern rock with roots in indie-pop, a maturity that can only be truly understood through a complete listen of their past two releases. These guys have totally captured my heart and represent, to me, the good ol' American boyhood that can certainly be overshadowed by all the glitz and glamour. They are real and deep. Their music speaks for itself.
