Things Are Great

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.

Things Are Great
Studio album by
Band of Horses
ReleasedMarch 4, 2022
GenreIndie rock[1][2]
Length41:09
LabelBMG
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]

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]
Metacritic79/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Clash7/10[9]
Classic Rock[10]
DIY[11]
Mojo[12]
Paste7.8/10[13]
Pitchfork7.3/10[14]
PopMatters6/10[2]
Rolling Stone[15]
Uncut8/10[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

  • Benjamin Bridwell – vocals, guitar, production (all tracks), drums (7, 9), additional recording (8); engineering, baritone guitar, bass, synthesizer, ukulele (9), back cover image
  • Creighton Barrett – drums (1–10)
  • Ryan Monroe – guitar (1, 2, 5, 6, 10), keyboards (1, 5, 10), organ (4), Rhodes piano (6), electric guitar (7, 9)
  • Matt Gentling – bass (1–7, 9, 10)
  • Ian MacDougall – acoustic guitar (2), electric guitar (2, 6–8), guitar (3, 5)

Additional personnel

  • Wolfgang Zimmerman – production, engineering (all tracks); guitar (4–6)
  • Jason Lytle – additional production (all tracks), guitar (3, 5, 10), keyboards (5, 10), percussion (10)
  • Dave Sardy – additional production, mixing (all tracks); keyboards, noises (4); acoustic guitar, tambourine (7); sound effects, timpani (9); baritone vocals, drums, guitar (10)
  • Dave Fridmann – additional production (all tracks), keyboards (2, 4), organ (2, 4, 5)
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering
  • Robert Cheek – engineering
  • Robert Cheek – acoustic guitar (3, 10)
  • Christian Chidester – electric guitar (7)
  • Brantley Gutierrez – vocals (10)
  • Sam Farrar – engineering assistance
  • Michael Fridmann – engineering assistance (1–3)
  • Pam Smith – front cover image
  • Cody Ackors – art direction, design

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

References
  1. Monger, Timothy. "Things Are Great – Band of Horses". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  2. 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. "Things Are Great by Band of Horses reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  8. "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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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