Album Details

• Artist: They Shoot Horses Don’t’ They
• Album: Pick Up Sticks
• Label: Kill Rock Stars
• Year of Release: 2007
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2007-06-06

This nine member band uses horns as weapons the way Tom Waits or Beefheart would—to wake

you up just long enough to kick you down. It is that emotional wallop amidst the fun carnival-esque

feel that makes this a winner. "Busted Bell" and "The Hallway" stomp and grind, like tunes literally

hanging on the line between goofy and menacing; hell, that the disc starts off with the line "This is

the last song / it's everything I've dreamed about," ought to give some clue. And it is the lyrics that

make this set; alternately pleading and denouncing, they signal the brutal force

and brooding intent behind the bouncy rhythmic jive. Not that you thought of it before—I hope—but

if you’ve ever wanted to hear the dark power of a tuba, this is your record.

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