Brown Horse’s All The Right Weaknesses arrives with a fresh burst of energy, capturing the intensity of a band honed by months on the road. Recorded in a whirlwind week at Sickroom Studios following their European tour, the album finds the band pushing their sound forward from the sparse twang of their debut, Reservoir. The eleven tracks here blend slacker-rock, folk, and alt-country, weaving layers of distorted guitars, accordion, banjo, and pedal steel, creating a sound that’s both familiar and difficult to pin down. The result is an album that feels both cohesive and sprawling, a true reflection of the band’s shared experience on the road.
The album’s urgency is apparent from the get-go, with songs that seem to grow out of the constant movement and camaraderie the band shared on their European journey. As they traveled through diverse landscapes and played nearly every night, their bond as a unit deepened, and this energy permeates the record. The result is a more robust, full-band sound, with moments of intense, raw emotion. Where Reservoir was more understated, All The Right Weaknesses cranks up the volume, with tracks like “Corduroy Couch” and “Dog Rose” delivering both musical and lyrical depth.
“Dog Rose,” one of the album’s standout tracks, showcases the band’s ability to blend personal reflection with a restless energy. Written during Tovell’s travels, it feels like a snapshot of a time spent searching, questioning, and finding meaning in the chaotic flow of life. The song is anchored by a haunting lap steel, creating a bridge between their first and second albums while offering a poignant meditation on past desires, disappointments, and the search for something more.
“Corduroy Couch” brings a more angular, fuzz-laden sound, drawing on the band’s love for 80s rock icons like Talking Heads and R.E.M. The song’s lyrical inspiration from Joy Williams’ The Visiting Privilege adds a literary quality to the narrative, and the track’s vibe of hazy nostalgia contrasts nicely with the more straightforward folk-rock tunes on the album. This sense of blending literary and musical influences helps give All The Right Weaknesses its distinctive voice.
Ultimately, All The Right Weaknesses is a bold step forward for Brown Horse. The album captures a band at the peak of their creative powers, building on their already rich sonic palette with songs that feel simultaneously lived-in and exploratory. There’s an undeniable sense of movement—both physically on the road and artistically as the band pushes their sound in new directions. The result is a record that’s equal parts grounded and expansive, offering a collection of songs that are as emotionally resonant as they are sonically adventurous. – Jason Felton