Red Horse

The Red Horse CD was just released, and thanks to Amazon's speedy delivery, arrived quickly. I have not been able to stop listening to it. Hearing John Gorka, Lucy Kaplansky, and Eliza Gilkyson sing together is wonderful. There are 12 songs on this CD - three written by John, three by Lucy, three by Eliza, and three covers. They take turns singing lead on each other's songs, as well as their own, and breathe new life into many of these songs. They do an amazing job on Neil Young's "I Am a Child. Hearing Lucy on her song "Scorpion", with the two singing backup, just adds more zest to a powerful song. Hearing Eliza sing lead on Lucy's "Promise Me" just makes me play it over & over again. It's soulful and romantic, and reminds me to listen to my "Ten Year Night" CD again. I'd never heard the song "Coshieville" before, and John's voice and presentation just captivated me, and makes me want to discover more songs by Stuart McGregor. All twelve songs are beautifully presented and...Read more

"Red Horse" is by far the best CD I have heard this year - - a true gem. Eliza Gilkyson, John Gorka, and Lucy Kaplansky are some of the best songwriters on this planet. On this CD, they are at the top of their game, and they bring out the best in each other. The production is spartan and spot-on, calling attention to the songwriting and the vocals. Some of the highlights...
(1) Gorka on his new "If These Walls Could Talk." It is one of Gorka's best songs ever. It is haunting, with Gorka's banjo providing just the right backdrop. Gorka has never sounded better.
(2) Gilkyson on her lovely "Walk Away From Love," with the most gorgeous background vocals you may ever hear.
(3) Kaplansky on Gorka's "Blue Chalk" - - one of the finest songs in the new folk canon.
(4) Gorka on Kaplansky's playful "Don't Mind Me", with its first-rate bridge.
(5) Gilkyson breathing new life into Gorka's "Forget to Breathe".
(6) Kaplansky on Gilkyson's reverent...Read more

In a culture that seems to be slowly going crazy and that is consumed with just about everything except what really matters there are holdouts. Red Horse brings three such holdouts together to play their own songs (with two lovely exceptions, Neil Young's "I am a Child" and the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger") and the result is music that will last for the long run and will also linger in your head throughout the day. I am grateful for these songs, these musicians, and this album.