Album Review: A Thousand Horses - "Bridges"

Born into the Southern Rock genre and accepted by country fans worldwide, A Thousand Horses present a unique representation of their complete sound -- studio and live -- with this new digital release.

With its southern rock affinity, A Thousand Horses sometimes appears to be playing itself off as mainstream country music rebels. In truth, though, much so called mainstream country radio music rocks even harder than A Thousand Horses. Therefore, to make its mark, A Thousand Horses needs to rely upon more than just its exceptionalism. Bridges is an EP that’s half studio music, half live cuts. And to its credit, A Thousand Horses is evolving into a quality band.

This project closes with a live recording of the band’s breakthrough hit, “Smoke,” recorded at Nashville’s Printer Alley. It’s a pretty and heartfelt balled, and was a promising sign of good things to come from this act. Bridges includes another similar ballad titled “One Man Army.” Lead vocalist Michael Hobby may feel compelled to be the band’s party-starter, but he certainly knows his way around a tender ballad. “One Man Army” is a sweet romantic song of loving support.

The project’s title truck finds Hobby apologizing for his sometimes-wild lifestyle, whereas both “Blaze of Something” and “Burn Like Willie” brag about living life wild, unapologetically. (The latter earns extra Brownie points for slipping in a veiled reference to smoking weed on a country album).

There’s nothing particularly complicated about A Thousand Horses. There is, however, much that is good beneath some of its posturing and Bridges includes multiple signs of continued artistic growth.

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