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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
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Cease To Begin
by Band Of Horses
The Seattle band's follow-up to their debut album.
| LABEL: |
Sub Pop |
| RELEASE DATE: |
09 October 2007 |
| DISCS: |
1 disc |
| GENRE(S): |
Rock, Indie |
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...
91
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.
90
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.
89
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.
87
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.
80
Spin
Each sound lingers, and each stretched-out moment is welcome. [Nov 2007, p.114]
80
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]
80
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.
80
Magnet
Cease To Begin is a fine, fitting return to familiar ground. [Fall 2007, p.91]
80
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]
80
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.
80
The Guardian
It leaves one pondering why more bands don't move to the countryside, if it produces such delicious melancholy.
80
Blender
Even the loudest moments reverberate with warmth. Bridwell sounds determined to build a new world for himself, one gorgeous ballad at a time.
80
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.
80
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.
80
All Music Guide
A sophisticated, mature, and altogether superior follow-up.
80
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.
80
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.
77
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.
75
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.
75
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.
70
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.
70
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.
60
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.
60
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]
50
Tiny Mix Tapes
When the boys aren’t treading water, they’re still treading a fine line between memorable and anonymous.
45
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.
40
Village Voice
With 10 tracks adding up to a mere 34 minutes, this follow-up is much more wan and insubstantial than its predecessor.
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.
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