HORSE the band: Desperate Living
Released: October 06, 2009
Label: Vagrant Records
Band Website:www.horsetheband.com

Review by Liz Tanguay

Coming off a self-funded, 45 country "Earth" tour, HORSE the band entered the studio to write and record their fourth album, the aptly named Desperate Living. Drawing from their experiences around the globe, HTB seems to have grown from the self-proclaimed "Nintendocore" genre. Their sound is more compelling and oozing with desperation, while the lyrics are nearly poetic. HTB may have some relevance hidden in their "artful noise."

HORSE the band enlisted he help of Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, for production and sound design, and Ukranian classical pianist Valentina Lisitsa, for a piece from Prokofiev's Piano Concerto #2. Stewart's influence can be found throughout the album, while Lisitsa lent her amazing talent for the particularly moving "Rape Escape". Prokofiev's Concerto is known as one of the hardest pieces to play and Lisitsa broke a string on her Bosendorfer while doing so. "Rape Excape" is one of the most interesting songs on the album with eerie screams of "HELP ME" heard throughout. The piano over the hardcore background noise is enthralling.

The album booklet contains photography that could be from their latest tour. It shows glimpses of the third world we only get to see on CNN or the Discovery Channel, and photos of the band members in various acts of recreation. In one, a naked man bathes in a dirty river. The very next picture is a member of the band eating dinner in a bathtub by candle light. There is also a shot of a naked man hanging over a door surprising the guy coming down the hallway. On the back, HTB thanks John Waters, who's movie with the same title is the inspiration for the album.

HTB has let life and art influence the sound of Desperate Living for the better. That is not to say you won't find the Nintendo bleeps and bloopbloops they are known for, there just seems to be more substance the to rest of it. They are attempting to make life a little less desperate with their music that is more art then noise.

Visit HORSE the band's official website: www.horsetheband.com