Band of Horses has been rocking my small world since February, so pardon me if I gush disgustingly over them. It's hard for me to be hyperbole free when talking about this band, but their debut album on Sub Pop, Everything All the Time, is clearly my early favorite for Best Album of 2006, and I'm tempted to say it's a favorite of the decade (although as a music fan, I sincerly hope the next three and a half years produces many albums that will challenge this one).

These Seattle guys make for one of the finest new bands I've heard in a long time. Think Flaming Lips meets Rogue Wave meets Akron/Family meets a little bit of Nada Surf, and you're left with pretty much perfect sad-shine pop that is right up there with anything their label mates, The Shins have produced (in fact, I might like Band of Horses even more). They have a knack for writing songs that stick.

I saw Band of Horses open for Iron and Wine a long while back and remember being impressed, but something clearly happened in the many months between that show and this album. Now, Band of Horses are more than just an impressive opening act. They are well on their way to becoming indie super stars, and I can't wait to see for myself how they've grown. And there should be none of the all-to-common backlash that comes along with fame. The acclaim isn't about hype and hip haircuts. It's just about appreciating true songwriting skills. Somehow they make their songs (especially "The Funeral") sound completely happy and completely sad, simultaneously. If you can succeed in mixing the two most basic of human emotions and still come out rocking, well, you just gotta be good.

Whatever "it" is, this band's got "it." I'm anticipating this show more than any show in my recent memory.

Band of Horses play 3 shows: Bowery Ballroom on Friday, June 16th, Maxwell's on Saturday, June 17th, and Warsaw on Sunday, June 18th.