An Horse launch into their third album with a quick reminder that, despite their six-year hiatus, they can still write a damn good song. Opener "This Is a Song" uses its poppy hooks to unite listeners. Modern Air seeks to acknowledge "all the shit we've been through" and in turn create a catchy sense of camaraderie that builds across its 11 tracks.
Modern Air finds its strength in its more upbeat songs, such as "Live Well," "Ship of Fools" and the aforementioned "This Is a Song." Their appeal almost seems to lie in the nostalgia that they invoke. Listening to them reminds you of a time when you imagined relationship dramas unfolding against a beachy backdrop, instead of being broadcast on social media. A time when leaving your small town was a goal worthy of a song, and singing about politics felt like a form of action instead of performative inaction.
In An Horse's six-year hiatus, the needle has moved quite a bit, and that nostalgia, while fun to dabble in, can seem a bit twee in the current light. There is still an '00s indie rock nerd deep inside that really vibes with these songs. Unfortunately, outgrowing that '00s indie rock nerd is something that is undeniably happening with each passing day.
(Lame-O Records)Modern Air finds its strength in its more upbeat songs, such as "Live Well," "Ship of Fools" and the aforementioned "This Is a Song." Their appeal almost seems to lie in the nostalgia that they invoke. Listening to them reminds you of a time when you imagined relationship dramas unfolding against a beachy backdrop, instead of being broadcast on social media. A time when leaving your small town was a goal worthy of a song, and singing about politics felt like a form of action instead of performative inaction.
In An Horse's six-year hiatus, the needle has moved quite a bit, and that nostalgia, while fun to dabble in, can seem a bit twee in the current light. There is still an '00s indie rock nerd deep inside that really vibes with these songs. Unfortunately, outgrowing that '00s indie rock nerd is something that is undeniably happening with each passing day.