They're from the same city in Texas as Midlake (Denton), went to music college in Oklahoma, and committed their debut album to tape on the sunny West Coast: it's safe to assume that Horse Thief aren't proponents of death metal. Somewhat inevitably, Cameron Neal & co have much in common with Midlake, Fleet Foxes and Band of Horses (and even a twangy Tom Petty on Dead Drum). Still, the lyrical current of self-doubt and anxiety running through Already Dead and Let Go ("None of these people give a damn for me") lends an extra weight to their blueprint. Fear in Bliss is undoubtedly derivative, but supplemented by the dreamy analogue warmth and multipart harmonies of Already Dead and the laidback Americana strum of I Don't Mind, it's easy to forgive on this ear-catching, easygoing debut. horsethiefokc.bandcamp.com
Download: Holding On, Already Dead