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![]() Strung Like A Horse (from the album WHOA! available on Transoceanic Records) (by Brian Rock) Strung Like A Horse saddles up for their debut release, WHOA! Not exactly a thoroughbred, Strung Like A Horse (SLAH) is a cross-breed of Country, Rock, Bluegrass, and outdoor festival Jam band. After touring extensively, they caught the attention of Jason Isbell’s Grammy winning producer, Matt Ross-Spang. Ross-Spang was able to reign in their disparate influences to produce a cohesive sound that, although not galloping, moves along at a pleasant cantering pace. SLAH captures the easy-going rhythms of Uncle Lucius on “Till the Wheels Fall Off”. Backed by a hypnotically comforting guitar riff, lead singer Clayton Maselle urges his lover to ‘drive out to the ocean, make one left turn and just keep on going’. Celebrating the journey more than the destination, SLAH reminds us that who we journey with is as important as the journey itself. Strung Like a Horse acknowledge the influence of their Americana contemporaries in the Uncle Tupelo inspired Alt Country of “Glowin’’, the American Aquarium Grunge/Country of “Gold in Their Souls’, the Alt Rock tones of Jason Isbell on “Crazy Like Me”, and the atmospheric, Chris Robinson Brotherhood flavored “Dreamin’’. Drawing from earlier influences, SLAH breaks out the dobro on the steady flowing, Piedmont Blues song “Pelahatchie Nights”. Banjo and mandolin take the spotlight on the Bluegrass of “Lookin’ for Love”. Combining electric and acoustic, String Like a Horse create cinematic Country Noir on “Smile While We Go” and “Without You”. Turning politically apolitical, the band explores the pared down arrangements of Folk on “Fuck What They Think”, singing “trying to fit in will only take you so far. You’ll never find home trying to change who you are’. Maselle and company urge us to resist the changing winds of politics and to be true to ourselves. Reinforcing the point, they add ‘you think they’ll accept you; I promise they can’t. Just be who you are, forget what they think’. In refreshingly uncompromising terms, they remind us that giving in to political correctness and cancel culture only emboldens the bullies. With both lyrical and musical finesse, WHOA! is an enjoyable ride through the backroads of American music. And Strung Like A Horse is a fine, new addition to the stable of Americana artists. (by Brian Rock) Listen and buy the music of Strung Like a Horse from AMAZON Please go to the Strung Like a Horse website for more information
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