Urban Horse Thieves

My first exposure to Urban Horse Thieves was their song “This Song Ain’t About You” from the band’s debut CD Won’t be Long. Although released several years ago, I didn’t come across the tune until last year, but it was definitely one of my favorite songs of the year. The song was recently featured in the soundtrack to the critically acclaimed indie film 10 MPH, a documentary about a road trip across America on a Segway. The soundtrack also features tunes by Roman Candle, Brett Dennen and a number of other artists. They formed in 2001 in Ithaca, NY and play what they call outlaw americana. The band recently released their second CD, Where the Rubber Meets the Road on ITown Records.

While “This Song Ain’t About You” is a beautifully sung tune with wonderful lyrics, the band’s strength is the playing. This is a group that could easily put a couple of instrumentals on their CDs. The band is comprised of Dustin Stuhr-vocals and guitar; Joseph Rayle- vocals and bass; Charles d’Orban- guitar; Tony Cotraccia- drums and Joseph Prusch on violin, mandolin, dulcimer, accordion and upright bass. The new CD is a mix of country, bluegrass and rock; upbeat and sullen. I loved the lively opener “The End of the Fight.” “If I Could” is a nice, softer alt-country tune featuring acoustic guitar. The combo of acoustic guitar and violin is used frequently and to great effect on many of the tunes, including “Weights and Measures,” which then ends with more of a rock feel with electric guitar. The vocalists have just a touch of twang, perhaps coming from their location in mountainous Ithaca. One nice surprise was guest vocalist Regina O’Brien on the tune “Keep You Guessing,” a country tune where Regina’s voice sounds a bit like Nancy Griffith. There is a YouTube video of the band playing with Regina. She definitely adds to the sound of the band and while she’s definitely not a horse, if they could “steal” her.

My only knock on the album is that it is perhaps a couple of songs too long. Several of the songs toward the end of the CD get away from the bands strengths and they try to do too much or add odd effects. The band can handle the folk song, the fast picking toe tappers and even the country tune and don’t need any extra fluff to take away from the music. The CD closer is a somber tune “Blood Waltz,” which starts out nicely with the accordion, but also seemed a bit drawn out. I like this band and most of Where the Rubber Meets the Road very much, but hope the band sticks to their strengths. Also, how about a few instrumentals next time!

Don Zelazny is a music lover who plays dentist by day.  He ‘listens’ with his two young children, and wife Michelle in Michigan.