Horses is one of those kind of long forgotten (but incredibly important) albums in the punk genre. It came out in 1975 (six months before Ramones debut album) and lit a fire under the embers of everything that punk would soon become. It wasn’t a massive commercial success but music critics even at the time instantly recognized it as something different. It was part poetry, part garage rock, part spoken word performance art, all of it charged with raw energy and artistic conviction. With its jagged guitar work, loose structures, and unfiltered delivery, Horses laid the groundwork for a punk movement that would jettison sheeny polish and celebrate raw energy in the years to come. The cold AF cover sure as hell helped with that aesthetic.
Drawing on its clear influence from The Velvet Underground (founding member John Cale actually produced Horses), the songwriting certainly reflects that focus on artistic expression. Songs often begin as poems, with Smith drawing from literature, dreams, and the rougher edges of New York City life. Half the time you’re unaware of you’re listening to an album or a wild sermon from a street corner preacher unraveling at the seams, with Smith showing a clear preference to keep things spontaneous, chasing takes that felt alive rather than clean. That approach has certainly stood the test of time in all the best ways.
Standout Songs: “Gloria: In Excelsis Deo”, “Redondo Beach”, “Free Money”
