Parade of Small Horses

C. Gibbs - Parade of Small Horses – Dren Records
Reviewed by Peter on 5-31-2005

Country mixed with a hearty dose of rock. The sheet that came with the CD keeps bringing up Nick Cave and mentions Tom Waits. I can see some Cave in the lyrics and some of the darker twinges, but it’s certainly not as dark as Cave’s music. I didn’t get any real Waits-vibes. Songs consist of mid-range male-vox (usually solo) singing about a variety of pretty standard country/western subjects. Guitars are usually twangy/slidey in true country fashion. Smatterings of harmonica and other instruments throughout.
My favorite tracks were the more driving ones (5/9/11) which had the most energy and interesting guitar lines. My favorite track overall is 3 - nice example of the dark twinge; doesn’t drag; good energy attitude in lyrics.

1. 2:50 – Mid-tempo, steady beat. Soft, low male vox under both high and low guitar picking and clear harmonica – very western feel.
2. 3:56 – Up-tempo, trotting beat. Starts w/ harmonica and western guitar. Higher, more prominent male vox. Background saloonish piano and wailing guitar.
3. ** 4:41 – Mid-tempo, up-beat, dark twinge. Shuffling, rock drums. Male vox are both twangy (verse) and sweet (chorus). Nice, repetitive, dark guitar riff drives song.
4. 3:50 – Up-tempo, mellow track with male vocal harmonies prominent over melancholy country that turns more electronic and rockin’ in the bridge.
5. * 2:48 – Up-tempo, driving – quick percussion and fast guitar work. Even more high-energy (and electric) at the end.
6. 3:10 – Down-tempo title track with melancholy, airy guitar and vox. Song borders on pop, especially through piano and vox.
7. 3:20 – Mid-tempo, high, prominent country male vox, simple acoustic guitar line provides foundation.
8. 1:24 – Dark, haunting instrumental with glassy electric guitar line.
9. * 2:55 – Up-tempo, driving electric country-rock. Percussion and vox more rock while one guitar line slides around and the other picks quickly. Several voices singing near the end.
10. 3:34 – Mid-tempo, down-beat. Both twangy country guitar that drags a bit and lighter acoustic bluegrass guitar line.
11. *2:22 – Up-tempo, driving guitar line, shuffling percussion. Mid-range, male vox, even rise to a shout for a bit. Lil’ bit of harmonica as well. Nice energy.
12. 4:02 – Down-tempo, down-beat, slow, moonlit country serenade with strings. Pretty at times.