14. Infinite Arms / Band of Horses

We're Band of Horses. And we're from America. Three albums in, Band of Horses has established itself as a quintessential American band that successfully blurs the boundaries of indie-rock, folk, and country, and continually makes some of the best open-road music of the day. Infinite Arms is a comfortable collection of tunes, filled with sweet guitars, accessible hooks, and leisurely harmonies, and it feels about as well-worn as your old plaid button-up.

Taking off from previous releases, opening track "Factory" features a rising chorus backed by heavy-hearted strings, and the song successfully pulls off a "snack machine" reference. Second track "Compliments" is a zippy rocker, while third track "Laredo" is wide-open, American country-rock, easily the best driving song of the summer. From there, the album moves through Shins-like shuffles ("On My Way Back Home"), dreamy pysche-folk ("Infinite Arms"), poppy guitar-pop ("Dilly"), and back-porch reveries ("Evening Kitchen," "Older"). There is no rush, no hurry, especially when all the parts equal more than the sum, and the sum equals none . . . .

If Everything All the Time was their swirling reflection of the Northwest, and Cease to Begin their shimmering return to the South, then Infinite Arms is the band's meandering, shuffling trek West, with big skies, empty roads, and welcoming porches ahead. So keep on moving.