| The Horses and the Hounds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 20, 2021 | |||
| Length | 47:23 | |||
| Label | New West Records | |||
| Producer | Ross Hogarth | |||
| James McMurtry chronology | ||||
| ||||
The Horses and the Hounds is the tenth studio album by American singer James McMurtry. It was released on 20 August 2021 through New West Records.
According to Metacritic, The Horses and the Hounds has a score of 81 out of 100, indicating that it has received "universal acclaim" from music critics. [1] In Paste , Geoffrey Himes wrote that "on this record, McMurtry sings in the first person as if he were an old man phoning from Canada to an old friend who had briefly been a lover; as if he were a mentally unbalanced man who shoots his best friend for no good reason; as if he were a homeless truck driver living in a series of motels; as if he were a husband with a flat tire, an angry wife and no internet. None of those characters are him, but he’s such a good actor as a singer that it’s easy to believe he is." [2]
Writing for Pitchfork , Stephen M. Deusner said "McMurtry has become what’s known as a songwriter's songwriter: someone whose facility with words and influence on other artists far outstrip his mainstream notoriety and album sales". Deusner stated that The Horses and the Hounds saw McMurtry focus on "his favorite subjects", and that "McMurtry sounds more engaged here, more focused, and more generous to his hard-luck characters". [3]
Slant writer Jeremy Winograd opined that "McMurtry has always been a superb, instinctive storyteller, using his characters as conduits to get at more profound truth than a more diaristic lyricist might", and that The Horses and the Hounds not only features "no shortage of great stories", but details that "betray a self-aware preoccupation with aging that lend the album a more endearingly personal bent than his previous efforts". [4]
Credits adapted from Tidal. All tracks are produced by Ross Hogarth. [5]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Canola Fields" | James McMurtry | 4:50 |
| 2. | "If It Don't Bleed" | McMurtry | 3:50 |
| 3. | "Operation Never Mind" | McMurtry | 4:34 |
| 4. | "Jackie" | McMurtry | 5:08 |
| 5. | "Decent Man" | McMurtry | 4:49 |
| 6. | "Vaquero" | McMurtry | 4:41 |
| 7. | "The Horses and the Hounds" |
| 4:38 |
| 8. | "Ft. Walton Wake Up Call" |
| 5:17 |
| 9. | "What's the Matter" | McMurtry | 4:27 |
| 10. | "Blackberry Winter" |
| 5:09 |
| Total length: | 47:23 | ||
| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [6] | 3 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard) [7] | 10 |
| US Top Country Albums (Billboard) [8] | 29 |
| US Folk Albums (Billboard) [9] | 8 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [10] | 41 |
| Region | Date | Version | Label | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various | 20 August 2021 | New West Records | [11] | |
Boxer is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band The National, released on May 22, 2007 on Beggars Banquet Records. Produced by both Peter Katis and the band itself, the album has sold nearly 430,000 copies in the U.S. Following its release, the album debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week.
The Stand Ins is the fifth full-length studio album by American indie rock band Okkervil River, released on September 9, 2008. The album is the second half of The Stage Names, a planned double album. The title comes from the term 'stand-in', a person who substitutes for the actor before filming for technical purposes. If the cover art for The Stage Names is placed above that of The Stand-Ins, a complete picture is formed. The album charted at #42 with 11,000 copies sold, according to the Billboard 200.
Universal Mind Control is the eighth studio album by American rapper Common. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name Invincible Summer, the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common filming Wanted. However, on September 10, 2008, it was announced that the title would be changed to Universal Mind Control and the release date was set for November 11, 2008. Later, the release was pushed back to December 9, 2008.
I and Love and You is the 2009 major label debut by The Avett Brothers and produced by Rick Rubin.
Go-Go Boots is the ninth studio album by American rock band Drive-By Truckers, first released February 14, 2011, on Play It Again Sam Records. It was produced by record producer David Barbe and recorded during 2009 to 2010, concurrently with sessions for the band's previous album The Big To-Do (2010). Upon its release, Go-Go Boots received positive reviews from most music critics.
100 Lovers is the sixth studio album by American indie folk band DeVotchKa. It was released by Anti- Records on February 28, 2011.
Mirage Rock is the fourth studio album by Band of Horses and was released on September 18, 2012 on Columbia Records. Produced by Glyn Johns, the album was preceded by the single, "Knock Knock".
Hands of Glory is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird. It was released in October 2012 through Mom+Pop Records.
With a Little Help from My Fwends is the second main album of the "Fwends" series by American rock band the Flaming Lips. It is a track-for-track tribute to the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, with guest performers appearing on each song. It was released on October 27, 2014, through Warner Bros. Records. All proceeds from record sales will go to the Bella Foundation, an organization in Oklahoma City that helps provide veterinary care to pet owners in need.
Complicated Game is the ninth studio album by American folk rock musician James McMurtry, released on 24 February 2015 by Complicated Game Records.
Something More Than Free is the fifth studio album by Jason Isbell. It was produced by Dave Cobb, who also produced Isbell's last record, Southeastern. The album received the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
Prisoner is the sixteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams. It was released on February 17, 2017. The album is Adams' first album of original material since his 2014 album, Ryan Adams, and was preceded by the singles "Do You Still Love Me?", "To Be Without You", and "Doomsday".
Country Squire is the third studio album by American country musician Tyler Childers. Recorded at the Butcher Shoppe in Nashville, the album was produced by Sturgill Simpson and was released on August 2, 2019, through Childers' own Hickman Holler label.
The Ascension is the eighth studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released through Asthmatic Kitty on September 25, 2020.
Limbo is the second studio album by American rapper Aminé. It was released on August 7, 2020, by CLBN and Republic Records. The album features guest appearances from JID, Charlie Wilson, Young Thug, Slowthai, Vince Staples, Summer Walker, and Injury Reserve.
Sweep It Into Space is the twelfth studio album by alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr.. The album was released on April 23, 2021. The album's first single, "I Ran Away", was released on February 23, 2021, with a music video for the song being released on March 3, 2021. A music video for the album's second single, "Garden", was released on March 31, 2021.
Rosegold is the fifth solo studio album by American country music singer-songwriter Ashley Monroe, released April 30, 2021, via Mountainrose Sparrow and Thirty Tigers. It follows her 2018 solo release Sparrow, as well as her album Interstate Gospel as part of the country group Pistol Annies from the same year.
Home Video is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus. It was released on June 25, 2021, via Matador. It was promoted by the singles "Thumbs", "Hot & Heavy", "VBS", "Brando", and "Going Going Gone".
Pressure Machine is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Killers. It was released on August 13, 2021. The album features the return of guitarist Dave Keuning to the studio with the band, after his absence on the previous album Imploding the Mirage, while bassist Mark Stoermer was absent due to difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic during recording.
Stand for Myself is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Yola. It was released on 30 July 2021, through Easy Eye Sound. The album debuted at 196 on the Billboard 200 chart, being her first entry on the chart.