A Thousand Horses brash on ‘Southernality’


A Thousand Horses
“Southernality”
(Republic Nashville)

Southern rock specialists A Thousand Horses pride themselves on being influenced by some of the genre’s greats, such as The Black Crowes and The Allman Brothers. You can hear those influences throughout their latest album, “Southernality.”

Push play on the album’s first track, “First Time,” and the listener is treated to a raucous keyboard-fueled song that is uncomfortably close to Black Crowes’ “Jealous” in vocals and instrumentals. It’s one thing to be influenced by a great band. It’s another to get dangerously close to a knockoff.

Thankfully, A Thousand Horses come a bit more into their own on “Smoke,” the first single from the album and one that enjoyed country chart success in the United States and Canada. Lead singer Michael Hobby equates a woman to a bad cigarette habit and somehow it fits the band fine. “Sunday Morning” is a solid slow-moving ballad as well.

It’s hit-or-miss here, but certainly disappointing when a band this talented elects to perform so close to the style and phrasings of their genre’s stalwarts. (AP)

Galantis sparkles with house-heavy ‘Pharmacy’


Galantis
“Pharmacy”
(Atlantic Records)

Swedish electronic music duo Galantis has debuted with “Pharmacy,” displaying plenty of polish from the seasoned producers who’ve worked with Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

Galantis is Christian Karlsson and Linus Eklow, and “Pharmacy” showcases their affinity for piano intros and crescendo builds. Presumably that gives everyone a good 15 seconds to hit the dance floor before their favorite Galantis track hits a proper groove.

The best tunes here come early, on “Forever Tonight” and “Gold Dust,” the latter featuring lush piano work and haunting lyrics about the realization of one’s magical presence measured against a hole in the heart when it’s gone.

“Runaway (U & I),” the group’s dreamy first single and charting hit, is here as well.

Galantis aims for vocal-heavy hooks and employs a dependable, if not terribly inventive, approach to the duo’s progressive house. As far as EDM album debuts go, “Pharmacy” is solid and Galantis is one of the more hit-capable artists you’ll come across this year in the genre. (AP)

Yelawolf unremarkable on ‘Love Story’


Yelawolf
“Love Story”
(Interscope/Shady Records)

Yelawolf is out with his third studio album, “Love Story,” a well-produced if unremarkable effort on Eminem’s label hinged around a rap-sung revelry of southern Americana.

The Alabama-based rapper has been on the cusp of rap success for a few years and the common wisdom that Eminem’s backing would put him into brighter spotlights has proven true. But “Love Story” doesn’t deliver any truly memorable tracks to the larger audience Yelawolf now enjoys.

Yelawolf remains an easy equation. He delivers just enough lyricism to maintain his rap cred with enough twangy crossover guitar for interloping rap fans. “Change” is a perfect example: The track about life’s crossroads has decent lyrics, but remains saddled with a lazy pace and uninventive guitar. “Empty Bottles” is similarly bereft of energy.

Yelawolf is at his best when sharing microphone time with Slim Shady himself on “Best Friend.” But frankly that’s like inviting Lebron James to a neighborhood shoot around. It merely affirms that Yelawolf’s got a lot of work to do. (AP)