Horses is a lot of things. It is one of the first and best punk albums of all time, it is Smiths finest record, one of the best albums of all time, one of the most important albums of all time, it's legendary, brilliant, poetic, socially conscious, angry, gentle...perfect.
From the feminist album cover featuring Patti in her Keith Richards outfit, the one she wore all the damn time back in the day, to the last notes of the mournful 'Elegie' Horses is one of the most eclectic and genius pieces of music ever. The cover of Them's 'Gloria' with the infamous opening line "Jesus died for somebody's sins/But not mine" is maybe better than the original if you can believe it. The ska of 'Redondo Beach' (which by the way she was the only Yankee to attempt ska and reggae other then the Brits) is refreshing. 'Birdland' is haunting while 'Free Money' is hopeful. 'Kimberly' and 'Break It Up' are equally melancholic. 'Land' is maybe the greatest song in the history of punk, featuring a cover of 'Land Of A Thousand Dances' making it easily the most original song of all time to feature a cover. 'Elegie' is a suicide song the closes the album scarily. On some versions of the newly remastered album there is a bonus cover of The Who's 'My Generation' which is killer to say the least.
From the feminist album cover featuring Patti in her Keith Richards outfit, the one she wore all the damn time back in the day, to the last notes of the mournful 'Elegie' Horses is one of the most eclectic and genius pieces of music ever. The cover of Them's 'Gloria' with the infamous opening line "Jesus died for somebody's sins/But not mine" is maybe better than the original if you can believe it. The ska of 'Redondo Beach' (which by the way she was the only Yankee to attempt ska and reggae other then the Brits) is refreshing. 'Birdland' is haunting while 'Free Money' is hopeful. 'Kimberly' and 'Break It Up' are equally melancholic. 'Land' is maybe the greatest song in the history of punk, featuring a cover of 'Land Of A Thousand Dances' making it easily the most original song of all time to feature a cover. 'Elegie' is a suicide song the closes the album scarily. On some versions of the newly remastered album there is a bonus cover of The Who's 'My Generation' which is killer to say the least.
Whether it is the poetic beauty of the lyrics or the raw power of the music, Horses is an album worthy of every music collection, and of a listen from everyone. It is powerful and moving, more so than maybe any other album I have ever heard. Highly, highly, highly, recommended! Morton
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