1. mayhem1970

   9

   This album is a treasure. It is one of the better albums that I have heard in quite a while. Each song is a distinctive story in own right but even more impressive as a body of work. The songs are lush and rich with attention to detail and song structure. At points you feel as if Neil Young is being channeled and at others, America or CSN or Bob Dylan even. The vocals are dead-on perfect. Ben Bridwell's voice (as well as Robin Peringer) are fine tuned at this point in their respective careers and the harmonies are... flat-out... awesome. I highly, highly recommend this album not just to Band of Horses fans, as they will undoubtedly find it great, but to music fans in general. From start to finish, it's gold. In particular, listen to Knock. Knock, Heartbreak on the 101, Slow Cruel Hands of Time, Dumpster World. Plus, if you appreciate drums - which you should as they are the most important instrument in the band (sorry to the rest but it's the truth), Sera Cahoone kicks the sh!t out of the songs. Ass-kicking good.… Expand

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2. Kegster

   8

   Well, this band has changed and continues to change, but I LOVE every step of their growth. The funny thing about this album though, is that the title track (and all the best stuff) is on the bonus disc, which you can only get with the deluxe version. So I don't think Columbia did the band a great service by issuing the album this way. Anyway, LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. For all you alt. freaks, well too bad. Go listen to some old angry obtuse noise stuff. This is real.… Expand

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3. Slowave

   6

   Don Henley does Don Henley better than Bidwell. And if you want to listen to The Band you will listen to The Band. A Band of Horses album should be A Band of Horses album. So.... is it? Sadly, Mirage Rock confirms the bump in the road of promise that Infinite Arms hinted at. A first listen of "Slow Cruel Hands of Time" sums up the lackadaisical roller coaster ride that Mirage Rock never quite takes you on. Lovely acoustics that force you to anticipate the soaring melodies and vocal delivery of "Funeral" and "Great Salt Lakes" (and maybe even "Is There A Ghost") that sadly never come. The first 30 seconds amounts to the last 30 seconds, and you leave the theme park feeling dissapointed. Will this album find its way into your weekly rotation? Probably. Will it become a grower that you find yourself going back to even though you aren't happy and/or comfortable with it? Maybe. All in all, this band is capable of so much more.… Expand

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4. mayhew3

   2

   The magic was completely gone from the lackluster, uninspired mess of an album. From the overly-poppy and bland Knock Knock, to the droning and painful Shut-In Tourist, it just felt like they stopped trying on this album. The atmospheric rock landscape Band of Horses created in their debut album Everything All The Time, has been fading more with each successive release, but with this latest offering, it just fell completely off the table. If you're into boring, buy this album.… Expand

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