Score: 3/5
A Thousand Horses is a up-and-coming country rock band that combines the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd with the twang of modern country. Its debut album “Southernality” features the band’s first No. 1 hit “Smoke” and brings another distinctly Southern voice to country music.
The 13-song album gives country fans a spectrum of everything from Florida Georgia Line-esque upbeat jams about relationships that work to ballads about relationships that didn’t.
“Smoke” is a modern love country song about how easily love can be to fall into and how a relationship can become an addiction in itself. Smooth guitar riffs give the track a rock feel while the twang of the vocals retain its country roots.
In “Tennessee Whiskey,” A Thousand Horses showcases its Southern roots in a song that expresses heartbreak as a conversation with iconic tennessee whiskey. Unlike most country songs that make this connection, the track brings a realism and depth that is missing from country jams like “Drunk on a Plane.”
Southern flavor can also be found in “Landslide,” a track embracing the Southern spirit of the working man that can not be held down by the man. In fact, the upbeat, rock track centers the band not giving into industry expectations with lyrics such as “bossman always trying to tell us what to sing and write, couldn’t rhyme a tune if it hit him in the eye.”
In the title track “Southernality,” A Thousand Horses highlights the laid back, simple nature of Southern country life from a rundown of the iconic symbols of Southern life that includes everything from sweet tea to dirt roads. It’s a track reminiscent of “Southern Voice” by Tim McGraw with distinct rock approach to the instrumental side.
The Southern pride theme continues in “Heaven is Close,” a track about enjoying the little things in life and understanding the importance of every opportunity. “Heaven is Close” represents the inherent restlessness in the Southern spirit with a smooth country rock ballad.
“Southernality” hits rock bottom with “Trailer Trashed.” While the majority of the album embraces Southern and country pride, “Trailer Trashed” crosses the line between country and redneck.
Despite the at times disjointed nature of the album, A Thousand Horses brings an honest voice to country music that is missing in an industry overly concerned with producing summer jams, instead of impactful music.
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR