…And I’m Gonna Cross That Line
June 23, 2009Once in a while, I see a movie or hear a song or read a book, that I want to share. And while it’s sometimes awkward to try to explain what’s great about some things, it can be worth it if you do it right.
Are We Not Horses? 
is an album by Canadian indie/folk band Rock Plaza Central, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever listened to before. A concept album in the truest sense, it tells the story of a group of robotic horses who are programmed to believe that they’re real horses. Take a second to digest that, and I’ll move on.
It starts with the catchiest song on the album; the moderately-paced, 3 minute folk/pop tune I Am An Excellent Steel Horse. The lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Chris Eaton has the perfect voice for an album about horses, and I can’t explain why. His voice is a blend of Jeff Mangum [Neutral Milk Hotel] and Jack White, [The White Stripes] without sounding too much like either one.
In the beginning of the album, the horses are just walking around being horses. They’re determined and strong-willed, and want nothing more than to be the best horses they can be (“we have our lives together / and we want nothing more / I wanna be a shining example”). But halfway through the album, they struggle to accept the truth, (Eaton screams “They say that we’re not horses…well, what are we THENNNN?!”) that they are, in fact, made of steel and programmed to think they are living and breathing. But once they accept it, they find that being a robot isn’t anything to be disappointed about (“We’ve Got A Lot To Be Glad For”).
As hard as the concept might be to follow for some, the music is interesting enough to hold your interest. From the trudging folk of I Am An Excellent Steel Horse to the Latin can-can rock of Anthem For The Already Defeated, it’s a grab bag of diverse sounds and styles, but there’s a thread holding everything together; it all sounds like one piece.
Check it out, if you’ve got the time. I’d recommend it if you like Neutral Milk Hotel, Modest Mouse or The Shins. You can listen to the songs for free
here, download it here, or buy the cd here.
