All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

The Onion (A.V. Club)

Cease To Begin, doesn't deviate much from its excellent 2006 debut, "Everything All The Time," the record's relaxed, understated grace is distinctively Southern in its lack of self-consciousness.

Read Full Review >

BBC collective

When Cease To Begin rocks out it's euphoric, but there's a mournfulness shadowing each of these insistent melodies that will have you crying even as you smile.

Read Full Review >

Austin Chronicle

"No revelations in the water, no tears into the booze," Bridwell imparts in closer 'Window Blues,' but Band of Horses keeps demonstrating both.

Read Full Review >

Lost At Sea

The natural maturation of Ben Bridwell's vocals and songwriting, bolstered by an increase in creative control, has yeilded what is easily one of 2007's best albums in Cease to Begin.

Read Full Review >

Spin

Each sound lingers, and each stretched-out moment is welcome. [Nov 2007, p.114]

Q Magazine

From the anthem-like 'Ode To LRC to the sanguine finale of 'Window Blues,' this is beautifully paced and utterly beguiling. [Dec 2007, p.112]

Delusions of Adequacy

Band Of Horses have hit upon an endearing sound by taking their experiences and whipping them up with a variety of styles and influences that are creatively transformed into a unique and cohesive album filled with energetic, emotional and enjoyable indie-rock.

Read Full Review >

Magnet

Cease To Begin is a fine, fitting return to familiar ground. [Fall 2007, p.91]

Under The Radar

Band of Horses do not Cease to amaze with their progression and growth evinced on their outstanding second record. [Fall 2007, p.72]

New Musical Express

Cease To Begin is the second album by this trio from the foothills of the Appalachian mountains and, with angel-voiced lead singer Ben Bridwell at the fore, it's a delightfully soothing record.

Read Full Review >

The Guardian

It leaves one pondering why more bands don't move to the countryside, if it produces such delicious melancholy.

Read Full Review >

Blender

Even the loudest moments reverberate with warmth. Bridwell sounds determined to build a new world for himself, one gorgeous ballad at a time.

Read Full Review >

Drowned In Sound

Instrumentally, subtle use of synths, keyboards and strings now embellish the sharp arrangements and add a new, more mature, depth to the bands sound.

Read Full Review >

NOW Magazine

The result is a uniformly pleasant selection of peaceful, easy feelings that wouldn't sound out of place sandwiched between the similarly smooth tunes of Loggins & Messina, America, Gerry Rafferty and, yes, Christopher Cross.

Read Full Review >

All Music Guide

A sophisticated, mature, and altogether superior follow-up.

Read Full Review >

Amazon.com

Cease punctuates its magnitude among Sub Pop's top-drawer power elite (The Shins and Iron & Wine), asserting this Band of Horses' fast-rising run for the roses.

Read Full Review >

PopMatters

Cease to Begin, an album that is deceptively risky in its textured composition and laid-bare emotions. And those subtle risks payoff in a big way, making for one of the great rock records of 2007.

Read Full Review >

Pitchfork

Even if Cease to Begin is a little creaky and uneven and even if it never finds the resting spot the album title promises, Band of Horses do guitar-based indie very well--well enough, at least, that the next generation of American indie bands may bear comparisons to them.

Read Full Review >

Stylus Magazine

You can write off some of Cease to Begin’s bland regionalisms as lacking in spice. But if, come midnight, Marry Song's' serpentine gospel finds home in your head, you better get up and read.

Read Full Review >

The Phoenix

There's much beauty in the modest moments: the gentle, dreamy guitars in the ballad 'Detlef Schrempf,' the Uncle Tupelo–ish tumble of 'The General Specific,' and the instrumental interlude of 'Lamb on the Lam (In the City),' which sounds like the Cure lost in the Appalachia.

Read Full Review >

Prefix Magazine

My central beef with Cease to Begin is not really its lack of variety, but the fact that if it just took a few more chances it could've been great.

Read Full Review >

Rolling Stone

Cease to Begin is expertly made--the indie-rock equivalent of a box of gourmet truffles or a designer wool sweater to take the edge off a frigid day.

Read Full Review >

Billboard

Cease falters when it dips into mediocre balladry ('Detlef Schrempf,' 'Marry Song'), and at a scant 35 minutes, the album at times hints at greatness but ultimately leaves you wanting more.

Read Full Review >

Uncut

It's a sound that devotees of 'Crazy Horse' or 'My Morning Jacket' will find conspicuously pleasing, but fans of Band of Horses might just be disappointed. [Dec 2007, p.84]

Tiny Mix Tapes

When the boys aren’t treading water, they’re still treading a fine line between memorable and anonymous.

Read Full Review >

cokemachineglow

While it’s very good at what the Band of Horses does best--providing a soundtrack to whistful moments or memories--unlike Everything all the Time there’s nothing here to grab onto, its songs merge together, and it’s so innocuous in the band’s trademark comfort that it can pass almost undetected.

Read Full Review >

Village Voice

With 10 tracks adding up to a mere 34 minutes, this follow-up is much more wan and insubstantial than its predecessor.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 28 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Olav J gave it an8:
As mentioned before, the tracks could have been longer but still, I think Cease To Begin is a worthy record and a nice follow up to their previous.

caleb r. gave it a9:
Just as great as the first.

Paul F gave it an8:
Cease to Begin is a solid record. It doesn't have the epic songs from their first album, but it does have a warmth that runs through it. Its more cohesive, but also a shorter listen. Some of the songs seem rushed to get to the end. It would have been interesting to see this band distance themselves from the 3to4 minute song format... Songs like Is There A Ghost and No One's Gonna Love You could have been longer, which would have benefited the songs. You know this band, if they chose to, could write beautiful 8, 10, 12 minute masterpieces if they wanted to.

Nick A gave it a2:
I don't like talking trash, but this album is simply not very good. i would say: over-produced and uninspired fare

Jose G. gave it a10:
As much as I liked "Everything All The Time", "Cease to Begin" is even better. Highly recommended.

Garth E gave it a10:
An excellent 2nd effort from a solid seminal alt-rock band(of horses..ha). "Is There a Ghost" and "Ode to the LRC" are the albums definitive rockers being the first 2 tracks. Tracks 3/4 bring a mellowing of the album to slight pop with beautiful guitar work. Later into the album with a week track 5 the album takes a turn for a southern blues feel. Just an excellent album. No loss with an earlier founding member (guitarist) going off in a different direction and a move from Seattle to the Carolina's. A standard for top 10 of the year, sophmore #1 of the year.

Music

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Cease To Begin

Album Info

Summary

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases