Rob Zombie
Educated Horses


4.0
excellent

Review

by Simon K. STAFF
February 27th, 2015 | 12 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: A diamond in the rough that is easily overlooked by fans.

If an Artist has a back catalogue of albums there tends to be “that underrated album” hidden underneath the catalogue of other albums. Such is the case with Rob Zombies third outing: “Educated Horses”. Overlooked by fans of “Hellbilly Deluxe” and “Sinister Urge” for the slightly different direction Zombie took with it. On first spin the album seems a little shallow, its run time doesn’t help the argument either, but I think people were alienated more by its inconsistent and experimental nature.

This experimental approach to the song writing comes from the bands new member John Lowery, aka John 5, the virtuoso guitarist better known for playing in Marilyn Manson before departing and moving to Rob Zombies band camp. Educated Horses has several instrumental tracks that are played throughout the LPs 11 songs. The opening track “Sawdust In The Blood” shows an unusually more dark side to Zombies usual sound pallet; an instrumental track that starts off with the metallic poundings of the drums (that remind me of the Terminator theme tune) as a piano plays ominously, before a rather eerie and depressing acoustic guitar plays to its closing seconds. “100 Ways” is another instrumental track, not quite as dark as the former, that jams more like a Stoner/Desert Rock song, that would sound more fitting in a Queens of the Stone Age or Fu Manchu album.

These dark experiments bring new dimensions to Rob Zombies sound, but are a hindrance to “Educated Horses” as well. The albums only real flaw is in its inconsistency. The album offers lots of different styles: “Foxy, Foxy” and “The Scorpion Sleeps” have that borderline Pop edge, similar to what was heard on “Never Gonna Stop” from Sinister Urges; while “17 Year Locust” opens up with a sitar being played before kicking into sludgy, doom riffs with groove driven bass. The more traditional Zombie sound is still present on songs like “American Witch” and the chugging “Let It All Bleed Out”, while the brilliant “The Devils Rejects” and “Lords Of Salem” tracks manage to roll up all of the albums ideas and finds a nice balance.

The problem is when you listen to the album as a whole the flow and tone is all over the place, it feels more like a compilation album than an album trying to set a certain tone. But with that said, every song on this album is solid at worst. Educated Horses leans more toward Hard Rock and Metal than the Industrial Metal poundings fans are used to, but songs like “The Devils Rejects” – with its Southern American twang – and “American Witch” are some of Zombies best songs, and for that reason alone Zombie fans should check this out.

Overall this LP is basically one big experiment that staggers along to its finishing time, but every track doesn’t waste your time. There is something here for fans of the old Zombie sound, but Educated Horses offers maple reason for newcomers to check it out.

Excellent.



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user ratings (408)
3.2
good
other reviews of this album
PsychicChris (4)
Not a misunderstood classic but better than it’s often given credit for...

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Comments:Add a Comment 
DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
February 27th 2015


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I really do love this album. Criminally overlooked.



As always constrictive criticism welcome guys.

PsychicChris
February 27th 2015


422 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I do find this album is pretty underrated myself. Never been a fan of Foxy, Foxy but there is some cool stuff on here. Pos for you.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
February 27th 2015


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cheers buddy!

TalonsOfFire
Emeritus
February 27th 2015


21001 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Has some jams, nice review pos'd

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
February 27th 2015


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cheers Talons.



Yeah, some genuinely awesome songs on this, and some very good ones. For me anyway.

Tunaboy45
February 27th 2015


18562 Comments


Haven't actually heard this but have a pos mate.

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
February 28th 2015


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cheers buddy!



If you like Rob Zombie definitely give it a go, but even if you aren't massive on the guy, this is quite different to the rest of his works.

piroga84
May 25th 2015


366 Comments


i gave it a try once or twice and felt it has soul
i'll listen again today and rate it
a pos because you write clearly and to the point
it seems you are a John 5 fan, God told me To was a blast

DrGonzo1937
Staff Reviewer
May 25th 2015


18497 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cheers dude. Yeah, I'm a huge John 5 fan, the dude is a prodigy on the axe. I also find his solo albums interesting, rather than being pretentious and dull. As for this album it certainly has a unique tone to it. Very underrated.

unlog1c
August 1st 2022


204 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

17 year locust is a fine song, all the rest feels like filler to me, unfortunately.

Flugmorph
August 1st 2022


34905 Comments


nice bump

unlog1c
August 1st 2022


204 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

It's worth reminding people how mediocre this was.



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