Horse Feathers

The indie folk of Horse Feathers isn’t the first, last, or cleverest of its kind, but the band has quietly stored up more staying power than most. Portland, Oregon’s Justin Ringle writes songs around worthwhile (albeit vague) stories, adding both pathos and mystery with his sometimes high, sometimes whispery, and always creaky voice. Compositions by Ringle and his bandmates have gotten increasingly rich since their acoustic 2006 debut, Words Are Dead, with that spare sound turning into something much more worn-in and sonically engulfing. Horse Feathers’ latest, Cynics’ New Year, is anything but mocking, skeptical, or otherwise cynical, continuing in the group’s tradition of soaring earnestness.

Updated 05/09/2012