Band Of Horses

Band of Horses' blog-ubiquitous "The Funeral" made them minor celebrities before they left the gate, but their debut slowly proved that multi-instrumentalists Ben Bridwell and Matthew Brooke were no fluke. The record's charm lies in the band's keen balance between beautiful bombast -- the walls of electric guitar, the slow-motion pulse of a half-open hi-hat and a mother lode of '90s alt-rock influences -- and the delicate, arching melodies. When the full transcendent mess of Everything finally sank in, Band of Horses emerged with one of 2006's most lasting efforts.

Echoed melisma and felt folk-rock drones for Generation Sad ("First Song," "Weed Party"). (Grade - *)