Things Are Great [B&N Exclusive] [Midnight Sky Vinyl]

by Band of Horses

Overview

Arriving six years after 2016's Why Are You OK, Band of Horses' scrappy sixth album, Things Are Great, feels like something of a homecoming. In several ways it represents a classic point in the narrative of many a veteran rock act: the mid-career, back-to-basics album that sees them revisiting what made them special in the first place. When Band of Horses first emerged in the latter half of the 2000s, their melodic and slightly rugged indie rock was built around the idiosyncratic vocals of Ben Bridwell, a dynamic frontman whose unplaceable style seemed to fall somewhere between anthemic punk and Appalachian. Originally based in Seattle, the two Phil Ek-produced albums they made for Sub Pop -- Everything All the Time and Cease to Begin -- connected squarely with the indie zeitgeist of the time, propelling them onward to a major-label career, a Grammy nomination, and collaborations with big names like Glyn Johns and Rick Rubin. Tonally, Things Are Great sounds like it could have been made in 2009, before the group's dalliances with country vibes and lush pop spurred them into new arenas. That said, there's a natural maturity to much of the material, now written from a more reflective point on the timeline. "Not a long time ago when I knew all the answers, I couldn't pace myself or raise my standards" sings Bridwell on "Crutch," a classic bit of propulsive indie rock with a big, beating heart. Likewise, "Lights" and "Ice Night We're Having" are jangling rockers with an infectious energy that was somewhat lacking on their two previous releases. Stripped of some of their later sonic ambitions, Band of Horses play to their strengths here on what feels like a solid return to form. ~ Timothy Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	03/04/2022
Label:	Barnes Noble Consign
UPC:	4050538718676
Rank:	8766

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Band of Horses   Primary Artist
Ian McDougal   Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Robert Cheek   Guitar (Acoustic)
Ben Bridwell   Drums,Guitar,Vocals,Ukulele,Synthesizer,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Baritone)
Jason Lytle   Guitar,Keyboards,Percussion
Matt Gentling   Bass
Dave Fridmann   Organ,Keyboards
Dave Sardy   Drums,Noise,Guitar,Timpani,Keyboards,Tambourine,Sound Effects,Baritone (Vocal),Guitar (Acoustic)
Creighton Barrett   Drums
Brantley Gutierrez   Vocals
Wolfgang Zimmerman   Guitar
Ryan Monroe   Organ,Guitar,Keyboards,Fender Rhodes,Guitar (Electric)
Christian Chidester   Guitar (Electric)

Technical Credits

Stephen Marcussen   Engineer,Mastering
Robert Cheek   Engineer
Ben Bridwell   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Cover Image
Jason Lytle   Composer,Producer,Additional Production
Sam Farrar   Composer,Producer,Assistant Engineer
Dave Fridmann   Producer,Additional Production
Dave Sardy   Engineer,Producer,Additional Production
Pam Smith   Cover Photo
Brantley Gutierrez   Composer
Ryan Zimmerman   Composer
Wolfgang Zimmerman   Composer,Engineer,Producer
Ryan Monroe   Composer
Cody Ackors   Design,Art Direction
Harrison Kipner   Composer
Michael Fridmann   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Clay Miller   Assistant Engineer