We all know how rampant escapism is in America; I'd like to think that for every bored, teenage burnout and restless, mid-life delusion there is at least a need to fly over boundaries. Perhaps somehow our misguided distraction tactics stem from a deep desire to pioneer another plane - maybe our sense of adventure has been displaced.

For Band of Horses the need, not simply to escape but to transcend, is clear and fully-formed from inception. While their music does exist in a psychedelic space, it is by no means aimless or singed. They evoke the feeling of gazing in complete wonder at something once unnoticed. Their sound, lush and verdant, is both natural and supernatural. It yearns for the unseen.

Beginning with the soaked instrumentation and cascading vocals of "The First Song," we can be certain what's in store: Band of Horses immediately recalls the Flaming Lips, as they allow reverb and organic sounds to coexist in great harmony; the instrumentation throughout Everything All The Time can't help but be naturally breathtaking.

"Wicked Gil" comes on a little harder and with more momentum, but follows the same dual purpose of balance and exploration. By the time "Our Swords" presents itself as a sputtering stream of consciousness, we unveil the album's secret: every beat of syncopation, every open-ended echo is deliberate. While sounding loose and unencumbered, Everything All The Time is sublimely planned.

Add to this the fact that each track, no matter the mood or sonic terrain, rises majestically beyond its scope and it becomes clearer still how hard Band of Horses worked to convey their awe. At their most stripped ("Part One"), they allow a place of gentle rest; at their most towering ("I Go To The Barn Because I Like The"), their lackadaisical echoes drift to unknown heights. This is too smart to be written off as hippie rock, though it would be easy to do so: Everything All The Time runs not only on imagination but on determination - the mix of the two is what makes it exceptional.