The long-awaited follow-up to 2007's Cease to Begin finds Band of Horses in a different state of mind. The 2010 version of Band of Horses has a completely swapped out line-up, a new major label to call home, and a more musically mature sound.

Band of Horses have witnessed a few line-up changes in their five year history. So many that Ben Birdwell is currently the only member to have worked on all three albums. The present line-up of Ben Bridwell (vocals and guitars), Tyler Ramsey (guitar), Bill Reynolds (bass), Ryan Monroe (keys), and Creighton Barrett (drums) spent 19 months writing and recording their latest offering. Minnesota even gets a production credit as the band spent some time in northern Minnesota working on the album, presumably secluded in cabin.

Predominantly self-funded and self-produced, Band Of Horses held the reins through much of the recording process. Producer Phil Ek, who worked on the bands first two albums as well as with Fleet Foxes and Built to Spill, threw in his two cents, but the band really honed their own sound and ownership of Infinite Arms.

Infinite Arms marks the band's departure from The Pacific Northwest indie mainstay Sub Pop Records. Leaving behind the label that put out their past two records, Band of Horses took the 'Do-It-Yourself' approach and started their own label, Brown Records. After realizing how much work it was to start a label from scratch and organize worldwide distribution, the band was gratefully swept up a major label and signed to Columbia Records. With the added help of a major label, Infinite Arms has become the most commercially successful Band of Horses record to date since it was released in mid-May. It debuted on the UK charts at 21 and landed in the 7th spot on the US Billboard Charts.

If you are looking for the force that drove songs, "Wicked Gil," "The Great Salt Lake," and "Island On The Coast" or the melt on the spot tenderness of "Part One" and "No One is Ever Going to Love You," you might not find the same level of emotions on Infinite Arms. "Factory," Compliments," and "Laredo" start Infinite Arms with a kick but lack the heartfelt 'umph' of past hits. "On My Way Back Home" and "Evening Kitchen" offer the down tempo tenderness, and the track "Older" hits listeners with a country glitz curve ball. Infinite Arms sounds like a band that has come into its own musically with added instrumentation, richer arrangements, and lush layered harmonies. But even the best parts of Infinite Arms still lack the raw energy found on past releases.

Related

• Band of Horses - Infinite Arms on Spotify