The Hawk

Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Entertainment

Ben Bridwell's compositions reflect his move to the South.

When Band of Horses released their reverb-soaked debut album "Everything All The Time" in 2006, people were quick to compare singer/guitarist Ben Bridwell with other tunnel-vocal advocates such as Jim James of My Morning Jacket and James Mercer of The Shins.

The comparisons were not completely inappropriate, as Bridwell and his bandmates do dabble in a similar country-rock sound, full of chiming guitars and airy melodies. However, these overly simplified categorizations undercut the depth of Bridwell's lyrical talent, as well as his band's skill for creating textured layers of sound that formed the perfect accompaniment to Bridwell's soaring vocals.

On "Everything's" standout track "Funeral," Bridwell sang, "At every occasion I'll be ready for a funeral," combining the haunting with the anthemic and showing Band of Horses to be more than just another alt-country retread.

On their recently released sophomore album, the beautiful "Cease to Begin," Bridwell and company chose not to change the musical landscape that originally sparked interest in their band. They dove further into their sound, combining steel guitars and distant keyboards to form a record that is both entirely personal and directly reminiscent of the eeriness and openness of the South Carolina backwoods where it was recorded.

Opening track "Is There A Ghost" kicks things off hard with Bridwell repeating, "I could sleep/ When I lived alone/ Is there a ghost in my house?" while guitars and drums swirl around him in a wave of distortion. The whole song is only 14 words, but it lays the groundwork for Bridwell's haunting imagery, which covers the rest of the record.

"Ode to LRC" boasts the loud guitars that were prominent in songs such as "The Great Salt Lake" and "Weed Party" from "Everything All The Time," while Bridwell chronicles the vast differences between his previous home in Seattle and his new home in the South, "Nobody's outside trying to murder/ Nobody's outside, there's no one really at all."

"No One's Gonna Love You" is a beautiful ode to a failing relationship, while the oddly named "Detlef Schrempf" (yes, the German-born NBA forward) is a ballad dosed with light percussion and gentle guitars.

Bridwell sounds perfectly at home in his Southern surroundings, penning lines of contentment and appreciation. On "Marry Song," Bridwell sings, "Lucky ones are we all 'til it is over," presenting a complete departure from the sadness of "Funeral." The group has never sounded more country than rock, but on "The General Specific" and "Marry Song," Band of Horses fully embrace their twang, placing gorgeous harmonies over lines such as, "Plants and animals, we're on a bender when it's 80 degrees, the end of December was coming on."

Bridwell's songs, however optimistic and pretty they may appear, are still shaded in a veil of melancholy. Album closer "Window Blues" presents lines like "No revelations in the water/ No tears into the booze" with a slide guitar and a slight banjo that closes out the song.

"Cease to Begin" is a solid effort. At 35 minutes, though, the album is regrettably short. It does, however, show that Band of Horses is coming into their own, crafting memorable gems that will likely leave many obsessing over its lyrical and musical intricacies. Bridwell has only been writing songs for a few years, which is a credit to his talent. He is quickly proving himself to be a songwriter of the highest caliber, earning his place among others like Jim James and James Mercer, not simply because of vocal similarities, but because of his craftsmanship and delivery. This should only get better as the band matures.

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