Band Of Horses- The Funeral

Fans of Kentucky outfit My Morning Jacket should sit up and take note: there's a worthy challenger to their throne as the kings of reverb-heavy country twang. The Funeral shows that the 'Horses can match the 'Jackets for epic-ness and towering, atmospheric rock, with a tune that soars and swells to a guitar-washed climax topped off by Ben Bridwell's yearning, melancholic vocal. It's a song that swills with emotion without ever sounding in the least bit contrived. And while the subject matter may be bleak, the delivery shows off a healthy defiance in the face of adversity. [Barry Jackson]