Mirage Rock

This album is a grower. First off, let me say I agree with most that "Knock Knock" is by far the worst song on the record/their entire catalog. Repetitive and annoying are two of the more the positive attributes. And while I agree with most that the album falters at the start, the rest of the album is quite a good. Clearly this is their 4th best album out of 4 but that doesn't mean it's awful. I understand the fans who only like the first 2 albums don't like this record... My wife is one of them! She doesn't understand how a once prolific band who created artistic greatness like "Detlef Shrempf" or "And I Go To The Barn Because I Like To" could later create the banal "Knock Knock?" My answer is that the band has completely changed other than Bridwell. It's a new new Band of Horses for worse and not better. There are quite a few really cool tracks on this album and they are: "Slow Cruel Hands Of Time" "Shut-In Tourist" "Dumpster World" and "Feud." "Dumpster World" is the standout track with it's cool tempo changes and the Seattle sound coming through! I'm not saying it is a perfect album because there are discernible flaws throughout. Too much reliance on country rock being the main issue. I miss the shoe-gazing, wistful melodies that defined their first 2 classic records. But those days are over and the guitarist who created the melodies has left the band. Bridwell can't recreate them or he would have already. So we are left with an above average country, rock, folk, and sometimes alternative band that shows flashes of greatness.

I must be a complete weirdo in the world of BOH fans because I love this album. I also love Infinite Arms. I think How To Live is one of my top 3 songs of all of their songs. Electric Music, Shut In Tourist, Long Vows, A Little Biblical, EGBU... These are all excellent tunes. If anything I guess they've gotten a little more melodious and I don't know... Straightforward? But that doesn't bother me. I always liked the more upbeat songs when compared to the ballads and BOH have a ton of ballads. A tonnnnnn. But I find the earlier albums kind of dreary and droning, though I enjoy them when in the right mood, and think this and IA are more tuneful and listen to them much more frequently than the first two.

This album just doesn’t cut it. Cease to Begin and Infinite Arms are, to me, what BoH embodies musically. I like Everything All the Time as well, but the polished sounds of the 2nd and 3rd albums are what I have come to consider the pinnacle of the sound that one of my favorite bands puts out. Unfortunately, Mirage Rock takes a significant swing in a different direction, and even repeated listenings don’t seem to change the fact that it just doesn’t sound like a BoH album. There are maybe 1 or 2 songs (like Shut-In Tourist) that are somewhat enjoyable and at least contain a little of the original style, but overall I have come to be very disappointed with this album. I sincerely hope that they have gotten this “experiment” out of their system, and that this is not indicative of their future offerings. I want my old BoH back!

Great music. Don't pay attention to the negativity. Yes, Everything All the Time was something else. But these guys still rock. Just exploring a different direction. Relax.

I miss the foot stomping songs that make any bad moment not so miserable anymore.

This album is an impostor to BOH's collection. No differentiation, no creativity, no passion. Mirage Rock is a complete 180 from their previous three albums. Glyn Johns had entirely too much influence. I tried to take a years break and come back to give it another try... Still the same old boring sound that I'm convinced Ben and the crew had been held back from changing. The only reason I rated a two star rather than one is because of their history. This is not the end of BOH, but only a bump in the road. Can't wait for their next album.

album is great , such a great record for road trippin!

Totally my kind of music. I learned about the band when one of my friends had it playing in his car. Awesome album. Can't wait for the next one.

At a first glance, just sampling songs, I had a first impression different than what I have now. I'm shocked in hindsight that I didn't make the purchase sooner. Each song has classic BOH in it. As a mini tribute, thanks guys for your craft and your creative work. It's a pleasure to follow your music.

I will admit that when i first listened to this album i was not impressed. But honestly there are a few good songs on here and they sound pretty folky. Otherwise saying they attempted a more folk sounding album. Give it a few more listens with that in mind and you won't be so judgmental.