But the record goes deeper than just an uncomfortable guy chafing against conventions . Gone are the political slogans of Mirage Rock ’ s “ Dumpster World ,” replaced by songs in which Bridwell incisively questions the institutions around him . On “ Hag ,” he expresses hesitant devotion , but also shares his deep fears : “ Are we really in love , completely in love ?” The question comes up again , on “ In a Drawer ,” with the singer Sera Cahoone adding in falsetto , “ Do you love me , baby ?”
“ There is that balance between this musiclife thing that we do [ and ] being a dad and a husband , [ and ] that balance is a bit fragile at times ,” Bridwell says . “ It feels like we ’ re always making up for lost time .”
ALTERNATE WHY ARE YOU OK ALBUM ART BY STEVE KEENE
“ There is a common link between all the Band of Horses songs ,” he adds with a chuckle . “ Which is usually me complaining about something .”
Take “ Casual Party ,” a song that feels “ definitely close to the bone .” It ’ s about a dinner party — one that really happened — where Bridwell felt stifled by the conversation about television and hobbies . The band performed it on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert , packing three guitars while surrounded by weirdo Muppet-looking creatures . “ Awful conversation at the casual party ,” Bridwell sang , chewing up the words . “ It never stops .”
The record offers no easy answers . “ Even Still ” closes things with a foreboding line : “ I could just leave .” But conversation with Bridwell often circles back to family , both the one he has at his happy home and the one he ’ s found in his bandmates . And there is some ambiguity , he admits , left in the songs for the listener to decide exactly how the story turns out .
“ I also don ’ t want to put all my cards on the table and be like , ‘ This is about me , here ’ s what happened in my day .’ Like , fuck off , dude ,” Bridwell says . “ That can be boring as well . You want to give the listener a chance to make it their own .”
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