Boo Hoo Hoo Boo

Hillbilly Rock

     

Some of us have waited quite awhile for this album. A ways back in 2005 a self-titled EP was released by an entirely unknown group, They Shoot Horses Don't They? The self-proclaimed hillbilly-rock band had taken freak folk and made it spazzy and quirky with a great horn section. The standout track was definately Emptyhead which caught the attention of several music blogs and websites. The track was something different, and something fun. Other tracks from the EP, notably Hit My Head, were really fun listens as well. Well, the debut album finally dropped and I picked it up immediately. Emptyhead opens the album, still probably their best song. It's followed by Hiccup, a fantastic track with great horns. It's so hard to describe their music. It's sometimes loud and brash, occasionally to a fault. Seeds and few other tracks get lost under the vast and varied instrumentation. But it's not always that way. Three and Concussion are more stripped-down tracks like Emptyhead. In short, TSHDT are at their worst when they try to do to much in a song, and are at their very, very best when put some effort into being catchy. Lowlife and The Bugs are some examples of the catchiest freak folk you'll ever hear. While this album does sometimes get buried under the instrumentation, almost every track on this album shines. I hope this album doesn't get overlooked, it's one of the years best.

love it!!

     

very strange...but a great listen! if you want something different download this album!

When I first heard 'They Shoot Horses...' a few months ago I wasn't too impressed, then I heard the track 'Emptyhead' on a podcast the other week compared to the Arcade Fire and my mind seemed to change. It's the case of right song wrong time. They seem to be like the Arcade Fire on loads of caffeine - or speed. TSHDT are pretty darn brilliant and deserve every bit of the SXSW hype.