Mirage Rock - Band of Horses
Metascore
68 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 1 out of 29
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  1. Exclaim
    Oct 30, 2012
    30
    Fourth album Mirage Rock is a bungled mess of poor production and half-assed songwriting.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. 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.… Full Review »
  2. 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.… Full Review »
  3. JayP
    1
    To keep it short, this is one giant turd of an album. A totally unlistenable mish-mash of cheese, twang and dopey, uninspired lyrics (see "Dumpster World"). Band of Horses' music has been on a sharp decline since the departure of Mat Brooke and I think "Mirage Rock" is finally rock bottom.… Full Review »
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