Rob Zombie - Educated Horses Review

Posted by Brandon Ratliff on 03.30.2006

What a smart ass...

Rob Zombie - Educated Horses
Release Date: March 28, 2006
Label: Geffen Records
Produced By: Scott Humphrey & Rob Zombie
First Single: Foxy, Foxy
Recommended Downloads: Let It All Bleed Out, American Witch, The Devil's Rejects

Tracklisting

1. Sawdust In The Blood
2. American Witch
3. Foxy, Foxy
4. 17 Year Locust
5. The Scorpion Sleeps
6. 100 Ways
7. Let It All Bleed Out
8. Death Of It All
9. Ride
10. The Devil's Rejects
11. Lords Of Salem

Rob Zombie is:
Vocals: Rob Zombie
Guitar: John 5 (also bass/vocals)
Bass: Blasko
Drums: Tommy Clufetos (also vocals)

Additional Performers:

Josh Freese - Drums
Tommy Lee - Drums
Scott Humphrey - Bass, Guitar, Keys, Vocals
Audrey Wiechman - Vocals

Forget the Rob Zombie of old. Forget the constant effects loops, cheesy lyrics, music that did nothing but serve as a backdrop for the vocals...everything. This album is one most would call his last, for better or worse. Zombie is more focused on making movies nowadays, with this album barely even happening. Still, with basically a new band, a new sound, and a new attitude, after five years Zombie has released his new solo disc in Educated Horses. Was it worth the wait?



The first thing you will notice with this disc is it is extremely stripped down musically. There is little to be found as far as effects and samples go, with most of the music being driven by John 5 and his various perculiar guitar effects. Zombie's vocals are also top notch, and these are easily the best lyrics he's even written. The album spans a lot of territory as well, once again mostly thanks to John 5. Several guitar solos are present on the album, along with some eerily classical guitar interludes, such as the intro track Sawdust In The Blood, which also connects with mostly instrumental 100 Ways (there is some background chanting near the end), and the beginning of Death Of It All. Like with Slipknot's Vol. 3, none of this was present on past releases, and it makes for a welcome addition to anyone who can stay open minded about Zombie's music. The dark sounding rhythms present in Zombie's movies are also here, with the aforementioned Death Of It All being a prime example. With all due respect to Riggs as a guitarist (who now fronts the very Zombie-like Scum Of The Earth), John 5 fits better with Zombie as he brings a much more technical aspect to the music.

One other thing you will likely notice is the very apparent lack of true heavy tracks. There are some good riffs and passages on the album, but really, the only old style Zombie song is Let It All Bleed Out. Even that track has some noticable differences such as the well placed guitar solo and the instrumental chorus, which is catchy as hell. The drumming, despite containing the likes of Tommy Lee and Josh Freese on a couple of tracks is basically the same throughout, but what's there works well. Most of the tracks however are slower, more industrial sounding numbers, and that is despite the lack of effects. First single Foxy, Foxy (which was pretty widely slammed upon first release) is a downtrodden sludgefest, and despite my personal feelings on the track (as I kind of like it personally), I can understand most fans hating it, as most of the vocals in there are smooth and the music is, for lack of a better term, airy. Also, during the entirety of The Scorpion Sleeps I was expecting the group "hey!" chants to break out. Listen to it and you'll understand.

The album is pretty decent, but only if you can look past the Zombie of old. As I said before there is very little here as far as the old heavy, upbeat, effects-laden tracks go, but the album in turn sounds much less produced, and the music here is great. Zombie's vocals still sound good, and he's been in this business since around 1985 or so, so that's quite commendable. I can see most fans absolutely despising this album, and I had to listen to it a couple of times through to really get the feel for it myself, but this is an enjoyable hard rock album from a man who has always been known for industrial-type stuff. Look past your expectations and take the album for what it is, and you'll see what I mean.

One last question though...am I the only one that remembers hearing that Wes Borland played on this album? Hmm...

The 411: It'll take a couple of spins to grow on you, and it's not the greatest thing Zombie has ever put his touch on, but if you can manage to look past what you'd probably expect from a Zombie release, you will probably find something to enjoy about this album. The upbeat Let It Bleed Out is a beefed up tribute to his past work, while single Foxy, Foxy is a slower, smoother rock track that really has to set in before you'll be able to enjoy it. I will recommend this album, but only on the condition that you know what you are going into. This isn't an album full of Superbeast-type tracks, but it is well written and sounds good if you can remember and accept that.

Final Score:  7.0   [ Good ]