Things Are Great

Last updated

Things Are Great
Things Are Great (Band of Horses).png
Studio album by
Band of Horses
ReleasedMarch 4, 2022
Genre Indie rock [1] [2]
Length41:09
Label BMG
Producer
Band of Horses chronology
Why Are You OK
(2016)		Things Are Great
(2022)
Singles from Things Are Great
  1. "Crutch"
    Released: October 12, 2021
  2. "In Need of Repair"
    Released: November 30, 2021
  3. "Lights"
    Released: January 19, 2022
  4. "Warning Signs"
    Released: March 4, 2022 [3]

Things Are Great is the sixth studio album by indie rock band Band of Horses, released on March 4, 2022, on BMG. The album was initially produced by Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, who produced the band's previous studio album, Why Are You OK (2016), and Dave Fridmann, but was later reworked by frontman Ben Bridwell and producer Wolfgang Zimmerman.

Contents

Recorded without longtime members, Tyler Ramsey (guitar) and Bill Reynolds (bass), who were both fired from the group in 2017, [4] the album's sessions featured new bass guitarist Matt Gentling and guitarist Ian MacDougall. MacDougall departed from the band two months prior to the album's release, [5] and was replaced by Brett Nash. [6]

The album received generally positive reviews, with many praising it as a return to form and most calling it their best album in over a decade. The album was preceded by the singles "Crutch", "In Need of Repair" and "Lights".

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.6/10 [7]
Metacritic 79/100 [8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Clash 7/10 [9]
Classic Rock Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
DIY Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [11]
Mojo Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [12]
Paste 7.8/10 [13]
Pitchfork 7.3/10 [14]
PopMatters 6/10 [2]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [15]
Uncut 8/10 [16]

Things Are Great was released to a positive reception from contemporary music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 79, based on 13 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews". [8] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 7.6 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [7]

Pitchfork gave the album a 7.3 out of 10 rating, writing, "Band of Horses' sixth album unexpectedly delivers on all the qualities that defined their initial success: soaring emotions, crunchy guitars, and Ben Bridwell's cotton-candy whine." [14] Timothy Monger of AllMusic wrote, "Band of Horses play to their strengths here on what feels like a solid return to form." [1] Ross Horton of The Line of Best Fit concurred, writing, "Things Are Great is certainly a return to their best form, and it shows signs of the band entering a new golden era with the next one." [17] Andy Fyfe of Mojo and Ben Salmon of Paste called it the band's best album in over a decade, [12] [13] with Chris Hamilton-Peach of DIY calling it their "sharpest raft of material since Cease to Begin ." [11]

In a mixed review, Justin Cober-Lake of PopMatters wrote, "Bridwell has a very clear vision for his band and presents it well. His smart lyrics match his previous standards, and the group execute the album well, but it feels too much as if they're standing in place." [2]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ben Bridwell, except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Warning Signs"
  • Ben Bridwell
  • Ryan Monroe
4:20
2."Crutch" 3:43
3."Tragedy of the Commons" 4:58
4."In the Hard Times"
  • Bridwell
  • Wolfgang Zimmerman
4:15
5."In Need of Repair"
3:56
6."Aftermath" 4:08
7."Lights" 3:35
8."Ice Night We're Having" 4:21
9."You Are Nice to Me" 3:57
10."Coalinga"
  • Bridwell
  • Sam Farrar
  • Brantley Gutierrez
  • Harrison Kipner
3:56
Total length:41:09

Personnel

Band of Horses[ citation needed ]

Additional personnel[ citation needed ]

Charts

Chart performance for Things Are Great
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [18] 71
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [19] 13
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [20] 85
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [21] 67
French Physical Albums (SNEP) [22] 99
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [23] 32
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [24] 43
Scottish Albums (OCC) [25] 10
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [26] 49
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [27] 42
UK Albums (OCC) [28] 67
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [29] 7
US Billboard 200 [30] 138
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [31] 19
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [32] 21

Related Research Articles

<i>Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots</i> 2002 studio album by the Flaming Lips

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots is the tenth studio album by American rock band the Flaming Lips, released on July 16, 2002, by Warner Bros. Records. The album saw the band pursue a more electronic direction than previous efforts, incorporating acoustic guitars and rhythms influenced by hip hop and top 40 music. The album was well-received critically and commercially, helping the band break into popularity, and was adapted into a musical in 2012. In 2022, the band announced a 20th anniversary box set version of the album and that they would perform the album in full twice in early 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band of Horses</span> American rock band

Band of Horses is an American rock band formed in 2004 in Seattle, Washington. Led by singer-songwriter Ben Bridwell, who has served as the band's sole constant member throughout numerous line-up changes, the band's current line-up also includes longtime members Creighton Barrett (drums) and Ryan Monroe, alongside Matt Gentling and Brett Nash.

<i>Oracular Spectacular</i> 2007 studio album by MGMT

Oracular Spectacular is the debut studio album by the American band MGMT, released on October 2, 2007, by RED Ink and physically on January 22, 2008, by Columbia. It was produced by Dave Fridmann and is the band's first release of new content, being recorded from March to April 2007. Promotion for the album started as early as June 2007, when the song "Weekend Wars" was given away in summer issues of free monthly magazine Nöjesguiden in Stockholm, Sweden. Matching CDs could be picked up for free in all stores in three different shopping malls around Stockholm from June 26 to July 31. The album was also promoted with three singles: "Time to Pretend", "Electric Feel" and "Kids". Both "Time to Pretend" and "Kids" were re-recorded for the album; they were originally included on the band's previous release Time to Pretend (2005), with the opening track serving as a "mission statement" and the theme continuing through the album's subsequent tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler Ramsey</span> American singer-songwriter

Tyler Ramsey is an American singer-songwriter from Asheville, North Carolina, who is best known as the former lead guitarist for the band Band of Horses.

<i>Congratulations</i> (album) 2010 studio album by MGMT

Congratulations is the second studio album by American rock band MGMT. It was initially made available for free streaming through the band's website on March 20, 2010, prior to its official release on April 13 through Columbia Records. The album marks a departure from the synth-pop style that brought MGMT acclaim on their debut, Oracular Spectacular, released three years prior, and features a more psychedelic, progressive and guitar-driven sound.

<i>Infinite Arms</i> 2010 studio album by Band of Horses

Infinite Arms is the third album of indie rock band Band of Horses, released on May 18, 2010, on Brown Records, Fat Possum Records and Columbia. Most of the album was recorded in Asheville, North Carolina with some overdubbing done in Los Angeles. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Alternative Album category.

<i>MGMT</i> (album) 2013 studio album by MGMT

MGMT is the third studio album by American rock band MGMT. It was released on September 17, 2013 by Columbia Records, however the band started streaming the album on September 9, 2013.

<i>The Ultimate Collection</i> (Sade album) 2010 greatest hits album by Sade

The Ultimate Collection is the second greatest hits album by English band Sade, released on 29 April 2011 by RCA Records. The album includes several singles from the band's career, including "Your Love Is King", "Smooth Operator", "By Your Side", "No Ordinary Love" and "Soldier of Love". It also contains four previously unreleased tracks—a cover of Thin Lizzy's 1974 song "Still in Love with You", a remix of "The Moon and the Sky" featuring Jay-Z, and the songs "I Would Have Never Guessed" and "Love Is Found". The band promoted the album with their first concert tour in 10 years, Sade Live. In March 2014, the album was re-released as The Essential Sade under the Sony Legacy umbrella.

<i>The Desired Effect</i> 2015 studio album by Brandon Flowers

The Desired Effect is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter and The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers. It was released on May 15, 2015, by Island Records. It was produced by Ariel Rechtshaid and Flowers and mixed by Alan Moulder. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Flowers' second solo number-one album and sixth overall.

<i>Sing into My Mouth</i> 2015 studio album by Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell

Sing into My Mouth is a covers album by Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses that was released on July 17, 2015. The album's title is a lyric from the Talking Heads song "This Must Be the Place ".

<i>Ellipsis</i> (Biffy Clyro album) 2016 studio album by Biffy Clyro

Ellipsis is the seventh studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Biffy Clyro. It was produced by Rich Costey and released on 8 July 2016. Ellipsis entered the UK charts at number one, making it Biffy Clyro's second number one album, after 2013's Opposites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Band of Horses discography</span>

The discography of American rock band Band of Horses consists of six studio albums, one live album, two extended plays (EPs), and 14 singles. Formed in 2004 in Seattle by Ben Bridwell, their self-released Tour EP (2005) was made available at shows and at Sub Pop's website. The band's debut full-length album, Everything All the Time, followed in 2006 and reached the charts in Norway and Sweden. Their second album, Cease to Begin was released in 2007 and charted at number 35 on the US Billboard 200. "Is There a Ghost", the first single from the album, peaked at number 34 on the US Alternative Songs chart and number 30 in Denmark.

<i>Hot Thoughts</i> 2017 studio album by Spoon

Hot Thoughts is the ninth studio album by American rock band Spoon. It was released on March 17, 2017, through Matador Records. It is also the first Spoon album since 2002's Kill the Moonlight to not feature multi-instrumentalist Eric Harvey, who quietly left the band after finishing a world tour in support of 2014's They Want My Soul.

<i>Little Dark Age</i> 2018 studio album by MGMT

Little Dark Age is the fourth studio album by the American rock band MGMT, released on February 9, 2018, through Columbia Records. It is the band's first album of new material in nearly five years, after the release of their eponymous third studio album in September 2013.

<i>Every Countrys Sun</i> 2017 studio album by Mogwai

Every Country's Sun is the ninth studio album by Scottish post-rock band Mogwai. It was released on 1 September 2017 by Rock Action Records in the United Kingdom and Europe, Temporary Residence Limited in the United States, and Spunk Records in Australia.

<i>Typhoons</i> (album) 2021 studio album by Royal Blood

Typhoons is the third studio album by English rock duo Royal Blood, released through Warner Records on 30 April 2021. A predominantly self-produced effort, the band recorded the album throughout 2019 and 2020. The album also marks a notable shift in the band's sound, pairing their usual alternative and hard rock sound with elements of dance-rock and disco. The album was preceded by three singles—"Trouble's Coming", "Typhoons", and "Limbo"—in addition to the promotional single "Boilermaker".

<i>Lucifer on the Sofa</i> 2022 studio album by Spoon

Lucifer on the Sofa is the tenth studio album by American rock band Spoon, released on February 11, 2022, through Matador Records. Spoon began work on the album in late 2018 after the conclusion of their tour supporting Hot Thoughts (2017), their ninth studio album. Recording sessions began in late 2019 and took place in studios between Austin, Texas, and Los Angeles, California. They primarily recorded the album with Mark Rankin, with Justin Raisen and Dave Fridmann, the latter of whom co-produced the band's previous two albums, each producing one song. Recording sessions continued until March 2020 but had to be postponed after the COVID-19 pandemic began severely impacting the United States. After completing the album in 2021, the band released the album's lead single, "The Hardest Cut", in October of that year.

<i>Once Twice Melody</i> 2022 studio album by Beach House

Once Twice Melody is the eighth studio album by the American dream pop duo Beach House, released on February 18, 2022. It is a double album of 18 songs, presented in four chapters.

<i>Doggerel</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Pixies

Doggerel is the eighth studio album by American alternative rock band Pixies, released on September 30, 2022, by BMG Rights Management. It was produced by Tom Dalgety and preceded by the singles "There's a Moon On", "Vault of Heaven" and "Dregs of the Wine".

<i>Cracker Island</i> 2023 studio album by Gorillaz

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album by the British virtual band Gorillaz. It was released on 24 February 2023 via Parlophone and Warner Records. It features collaborations with Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bad Bunny, Bootie Brown and Beck. A deluxe edition was released on 27 February with five additional tracks featuring the artists De La Soul, MC Bin Laden, Del the Funky Homosapien and Dawn Penn.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Monger, Timothy. "Things Are Great – Band of Horses". AllMusic . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Cober-Lake, Justin (March 8, 2022). "Band of Horses Play It Safe on 'Things Are Great'". PopMatters . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  3. ↑ "US: Band of Horses release new album Things Are Great". BMG. March 4, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ Kaye, Ben (March 3, 2022). "Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell Isn't Convinced Things Are Great, But He's Trying". Consequence . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  5. ↑ Kaye, Ben (March 3, 2022). "Band of Horses' Ben Bridwell Isn't Convinced Things Are Great, But He's Trying". Consequence. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  6. ↑ Clarey, David (March 1, 2022). "Charleston's Band of Horses playing on 'The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon'". Post and Courier. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Things Are Great by Band of Horses reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Things Are Great by Band of Horses Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  9. ↑ McCarthy, Neive (March 8, 2022). "Band of Horses – Things Are Great". Clash . Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  10. ↑ Beaumont, Mark (March 4, 2022). "Things Are Great by Band of Horses is a minor wonder of wit, weight and emotion". Classic Rock . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  11. 1 2 Hamilton-Peach, Chris (March 2, 2022). "Band of Horses – Things Are Great – Review". DIY . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  12. 1 2 Fyfe, Andy (February 2022). "Band of Horses – Things Are Great: Ben Bridwell takes his band back to their beginnings". Mojo . No. 339. p. 86.
  13. 1 2 Salmon, Ben (March 3, 2022). "Things Are Great Is Band of Horses' Best Album in More Than a Decade". Paste . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  14. 1 2 Rytlewski, Evan (March 8, 2022). "Band of Horses: Things Are Great Album Review". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  15. ↑ Dolan, Jon; Gross, Joe; Grow, Kory; Kearse, Stephen; Lopez, Julyssa; Reeves, Mosi (March 2022). "Quick Hits: Ten new albums you need to know about now". Rolling Stone . No. 1361. p. 71.
  16. ↑ Scoppa, Bud (February 2022). "Band of Horses – Things Are Great: Bridwell gets back in the saddle and heads towards the light". Uncut . No. 297. p. 25.
  17. ↑ Horton, Ross (March 3, 2022). "Things Are Great feels like the best Band of Horses album in years". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on March 5, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Band of Horses – Things Are Great" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Band of Horses – Things Are Great" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Band of Horses – Things Are Great" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Band of Horses – Things Are Great" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Top Albums – SNEP". SNEP. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Band of Horses – Things Are Great" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  24. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Band of Horses – Things Are Great". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  26. ↑ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". Promusicae . Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Band of Horses – Things Are Great". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Band of Horses Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Band of Horses Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Band of Horses Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.