Album Review :
Neon Horse - Haunted Horse: Songs of Love, Defiance, & Delusion
Band: Neon Horse
Label: Tooth & Nail
Release Date: July 28th, 2009
Reviewed By: Chris W
Tracklisting:
1. When Daddy Gets Home
2. Strange Town
3. Yer Busy Little Beehive
4. Follow The Man
5. Some Folks
6. Haven’t Sinned In Years!
7. Cell-O-Phone
8. Chain Gang, Bang Bang
9. Comin’ Up Theventh
10. I Don’t Need Anything
Cuckoo! Cuckoo!
Neon Horse has returned with a second album of bizarre new wave rock and roll dripping with that 80’s vibe.
Better known as “that Tooth & Nail supergroup”, or that band that we all discussed and pondered who exactly might be behind the madness when they first appeared. Neon Horse served up a well written debut that had touches of synth, good old fashioned rock n’roll, and truly unique vocals. This second time around things have changed a bit but still retain that same sound.
To begin with there is a lot more synth on this album which I still can’t shake the feeling that there is a Martin relative who is involved that we haven’t been informed of. *coughRONNIEcough* The songs are still driving and there are fewer of the slow ballads that were on the debut. The guitars still retain that heavy thick tone and the bluesy rock n’ roll feel of the debut. The quirky lyrics are still to be found. ” You be the Queen Of Sheba/ I’ll be the Ghengis Chaka Khan/ You be the wickedest witch/ I’ll be the big bad Don Juan” is my favorite and cracks me up. There are references to “Where The Wild Things Are” The most stand out track on the album is “Chain Gang, Bang Bang” which ventures into the swing genre complete with a horn section (wonder who provided those?) and a subtle reference to their debut single “Cuckoo” Good ol’ Mark Salomon has once again managed to put on a vocal performance that I would put right up there with Serj Tankien and Claudio Sanchez for some of the most unique vocals I’ve stumbled across.
[Overview] It’s like someone took the highway rock anthems of Steppenwolf, BTO, and ZZ Top and mixed them with the zany synth pop of Soft Cell, Devo, and David Bowie. This album is one of those that will stick with you for a long time.
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