Band of Horses was the band of the summer. Why Are You Ok was on a constant loop in my car or headphones, its warm domestic vibes the perfect accompaniment for hanging or cruising or slowly scaling mountains on my bike. Is there anything that sounds more comforting than Ben Bridwell straining to reach the high notes? That rhetorical question aside, the band's fifth studio album is not chilled-out, aural wallpaper, a mere day with Jack Johnson at the beach. It is a textured batch of tunes running the gamut from starry-eyed rock, jangly pop, laid-back folk, and down-tempo country, serving as the band's finest offering since 2007's Cease to Begin.
Can home and hearth compete, aesthetically, with the mean streets of the city? Can children coexist with your muse? Can a happy home life encourage, rather than hinder, artistic expression? Why Are You Ok answers in the affirmative. As usual, Bridwell, our favorite tattooed southern hipster, has a voice that gathers and warms the company it keeps,showing no shame in familial longing or contentment. When rock groups lose their edge and abandon dissonance, most critics complain that their time has run its course. But what happens when the songs sound this enjoyable, this inviting, and bear repeated listening as they seep ever deeper into your bones?
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