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16 Horsepower — Black Soul Choir
Album: Sackcloth 'N' Ashes
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2376









Released: 1996
Length: 3:47
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Ain't none ever seen the face of his foe no
He ain't made of flesh & bone
He's the one who sits up close beside you
An when he's there you are alone


Every man is evil yes an every man is a liar
An unashamed with the wicked tongues sing
In the black soul choir


Yes an no man ever seen the face of my lord no
Not since he left his skin
He's the one you keep cold on the outside girl
He's at your door let him in


O i will forgive your wrongs
Yes i am abel
An for my own i feel great shame
I would offer up a brick to the back of your head boy
If i were cain
Comments (199)add comment
 Solanus wrote:

Appalachian goth, evangelical bluegrass

As for those that think that this sounds suspiciously like Rusted Root, I can say with near certainty that they are not the same band. I saw both of them at a HORDE tour show back in 1996 near Kansas City. David Eugene and the boys from Denver on the small stage were very impressive; Rusted Root had to compete on the main stage with King Crimson and Lenny Kravitz.


This entire album is excellent, but the best song on there has to be American Wheeze. Here is a mind-blowing live version: 16 Horsepower - American Wheeze (Pinkpop 2000, The Netherlands)
haven't heard this in a while, great tune, and more like this would be cool. 
 MrStatenIsle wrote:

A tad Rusted Rooty.



That was my exact response! I thought maybe the lead singer had formed another band. They're definitely fans of RR (who preceded them)....just sayin
Love the plaintive, haunting vocals, such excellent picking, and that rousing, chugging drumbeat that drives it all wild and makes it so great to dance to. Local favorite legendary band Gasoline Lollipops rocks these same elements. Gonna see 'em play live again at the Louisville Street Faire this Friday night!
The opening snare always has me hope it's The Clash, but alas - no. And I do like this track, but not the same league.
Great stuff! High on my top ten list of tunes all time!
 Proclivities wrote:

It's a more accurate description than the song title is.
actually his lyrics betray a hint of a black soul...

These folks weren't around all that long....but they had a certain...something!
Such a great band out of Denver.  Another band to look for is Slim Cessna's Auto Club.  David and Slim Cessna were in several bands together.
The lyrics are missing these lines after the chorus:

Oh, he rises in my way
Oh, he rises in my way

And Abel and Cain (names) should be capitalized.
As my friends used to say whenever this song is played: but women are too! 

We've been to one of the first concerts of David Eugene Edwards with 16 Horsepower in The Netherlands in a small venue, before he was 'discovered', one of the best performances I've seen. Totally in his own world, not noticing the crowd, only once thanking the people, but halfway during his remark he went on back to his guitar and away from the microphone, resulting in some mumbling.  The energy during these shows was incredible. 

The last few concerts of his other band Wovenhand, were intriging, but he only went further into his world, making weird gestures the whole performance. Not really my thing anymore. 
"Gothic Country" - the concept of this genre makes me think "lolwut" but I love it.  Then Bill goes and follows this, perfectly, with Rusty Cage by Johnny Cash. Solid 8 on both.
 oneyet wrote:
I sing this song to my daugther every night. "Every man is wicked, every man's a liar.

Just to make her learn.


 

Me too!
  
This band was a revelation for me! They strike a chord deep inside... Love it! 
There's a French band that does something similar, Craftmen Club - 36 minutes. I thought their sound was very original... until a friend introduced me to Sixteen Horsepower, then I was like "oh... I see" 
 
If you like this, check out slim cessna's auto club.  I thought this was them at first.
This vocalist has a similar tone and quality to Mark Seymour of the Australian band Hunters & Collectors, especially in their 1982 song "Talking To A Stranger." I like both songs!
 oneyet wrote:
I sing this song to my daugther every night. "Every man is wicked, every man's a liar.

Just to make her learn.


 

You don't give her much of a chance to being naïve. 
I wonder if they ever played The Birchmere back in the day.
 MrStatenIsle wrote:
A tad Rusted Rooty.
 

And maybe even a smidgen Patti Smithy.
Reminds me of The Horseflies.
Vocals performed by Goat Boy.
Another RP inspired purchase for me. The more I listen to it the more I like it! Lovely and dynamic and ya can't beat a bit of rockin' banjo Like this one, I reckon the whole album is brilliant!
 pyrateparadox988 wrote:
Love this Group, but Woven Hand ( David Eugene Edwards' - the lead singer - other musical project ) is just Mesmerizing. Saw them live in Toronto, and it was pretty intense. Love to hear more Woven Hand on RP. 
 

Agreed.  Traveled from south Florida to  Denver this past May just for their show. It was  phenomenal. 
Love this Group, but Woven Hand ( David Eugene Edwards' - the lead singer - other musical project ) is just Mesmerizing. Saw them live in Toronto, and it was pretty intense. Love to hear more Woven Hand on RP. 
Brings to mind The Horseflies.
A tad Rusted Rooty.
PSD.

Oooo, Ella.  Better.
I love Patti Smith!!
Definitely music for eternity
 TerryS wrote:
Bobbity hmm bobbity haaaa.
 Bippity Bobbity Boo!

Bobbity hmm bobbity haaaa.
molson wrote:
Anyone kinda hearing a little Lindsey Buckingham in this?{#Stupid}

 
poor lindsay got the boot from fleetwood mac. shitty.
Love these guys and the band they turned into Wovenhand.  
As amazingly American as The Pogues are Irish...really gets things rocking, really gets things a dancing, IF you're paying attention...
 Solanus wrote:
Appalachian goth, evangelical bluegrass.
 
 chyk5 wrote:
Love this description. 
 
It's a more accurate description than the song title is.
Best banjo driven song I know
 Solanus wrote:

Appalachian goth, evangelical bluegrass
 
Love this description. 
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Hobbit-rock.

 

sounds like something from a bad 1963 movie about the gold rush
one of my wife's favorite bands {#Bananajam}
Bill, you made a lousy day MUCH better with some David Eugene. Thank you!
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Hobbit-rock.

 
Appalachian goth, evangelical bluegrass

As for those that think that this sounds suspiciously like Rusted Root, I can say with near certainty that they are not the same band. I saw both of them at a HORDE tour show back in 1996 near Kansas City. David Eugene and the boys from Denver on the small stage were very impressive; Rusted Root had to compete on the main stage with King Crimson and Lenny Kravitz.
Rusted Root under a different name?   Me likey either way   {#Bananajam}
like Banjer
It has happened. Yes, Radiohead and Sixteen Horsepower in one row on a radiostation.
Hearing anything from Yes, Radiohead or Sixteen Horsepower on the radiostations in the Netherlands is as good as impossible and now all three of my favourite bands in a row... Wow... Thanks Bill!
Anyone kinda hearing a little Lindsey Buckingham in this?{#Stupid}

I agree about the Rusted Root similarities, for sure. But this one has a less frenetic yet more spooky sound, especially after "Kwaidan."
 djengs wrote:
Black Soul Choir? Doesn't sound anything like what I hear coming out of the A.M.E church down the street...

 
Yeah, I'm told they might be from the Powerhouse Church of the Presumptuous Assumption of the Blinding Light.
 djengs wrote:
Black Soul Choir? Doesn't sound anything like what I hear coming out of the A.M.E church down the street...

 
It's about black sinful souls, not about black people singing soulful.
i already rated this song 9 and I can't go as far as saying it's "Godlike" but damn, how I love what they do !!!
Black Soul Choir? Doesn't sound anything like what I hear coming out of the A.M.E church down the street...

Best album cover.......evah!! 
It's like the Carolina Chocolate Drops meet The Cure. 
Mommy make it stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sing this song to my daugther every night. "Every man is wicked, every man's a liar.

Just to make her learn.


Drumming at  beginning made me think, briefly, that it was going to be The Clash (He's in love with Janie Jones, whoa.) 
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Hobbit-rock.

 
I would apply a term like "hobbit-rock" to bands like Yes or ELP; this seems more like some sort of bluegrass mash-up.  Hobbits no nothing of banjos.
Thought this was Rusted Root...had to look.
 Ag3nt0rang3 wrote:
Hobbit-rock.

 
...... yes - love it "Hobbit Rock"
Hobbit-rock.
 Delawhere wrote:
great tune, this is in a soundtrack for the movie Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. The movie and the soundtrack are great it you like weird shit.

 
Many thanks for that, will check it out!
 Delawhere wrote:
great tune, this is in a soundtrack for the movie Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. The movie and the soundtrack are great it you like weird shit.

 
What he said.

The moving is kind of stunning, really, if you live in the relatively insular world of the Northeast. 
Cross between Rusted Root and a migraine.
the drums at the start of the song remind me of Fela Kuti
 GeorgeMWoods wrote:
David Eugene Edwards is an extraordinarily under recognized talent
 

 
There I fixed it.
Patty Griffin is an extraordinarily under recognized talent
 
ughh....1....PSD....
Opps! Wrong stream. That was Norah Jones.
Rapidly becoming my favorite band.
I'm sorry, but someone must either donate some brushes, or kill that drummer.
great tune, this is in a soundtrack for the movie Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus. The movie and the soundtrack are great it you like weird shit.
WTF am I listening to?!!!
 
The sound made when skill meets passion!

Paddle faster, I hear banjos.
Was reading an article well into half of this song and then it occurred to me:

WTF am I listening to?!!!

The mute button is never in fast-enough reach in such situations!
More 16 Horsepower all the time!!!
 Bosami wrote:


I agree - great record through and through - but I don't know if I'd say 'feel good' music. The subject matter is quite dark.

Love it all the same though!
 
{#Whisper} I believe the other poster was being sarcastic ...
 wrongwayjose wrote:
Such a great album, full of feel-good music.
 

I agree - great record through and through - but I don't know if I'd say 'feel good' music. The subject matter is quite dark.

Love it all the same though!
Such a great album, full of feel-good music.
Fortunate to discover this album when it was released 16 years ago, and never heard it anywhere until now.  Thanks much RP.
Reminds me Of Jeffery Lee from the Gun Club..not a bad thing
If you like this, try Jim White. Sixteen Horsepower was in his movie, Searching for the Wrong Eyed Jesus, and is similar in nature to Jim.
Wish I had heard this song when it first came out.... I could have been enjoying all this time. Great toe-tapper and love the chord progression. Minor key too, that always makes a song catchy to my ear.
The man is packin' one big...chicken.
 triskele wrote:
is this guy trying to sound like patti smith?
 

Exactly!!!..
Yet another great band discovered through RP. Do we have an acronym for this?

I like the version on "Hoarse" better, though.

Benny is not a fan...
 osbyec wrote:

Rusted Root was my first thought.  The voice.

 
ditto!

my thoughts as well.  Maybe not trying, but similarities in style exist.  triskele wrote:
is this guy trying to sound like patti smith?
 


Fantastic. Never heard this. Thank you, RP!
is this guy trying to sound like patti smith?
A'movin' and a' shakin'!
Awesome debut, from beginning to end, from 16 hsp. This is a desert island disc for me. David Eugene Edwards has a scary talent.
 osbyec wrote:

Rusted Root was my first thought.  The voice.

  Same here...


 scocam wrote:
Rusted Root? did some research on AllMusic and can't find any correlation between Rusted Root and Sixteen Horsepower. Different band members, different cities. Hmmmm.
 
Rusted Root was my first thought.  The voice.

Liked it enough I bought it - RP caused me to spend money yet again {#Music}
Got a banjo! Instalike! That album cover is mondo awesome though!!{#Roflol}
this song bugs = 1
My thoughts exactly!  scocam wrote:
Rusted Root? did some research on AllMusic and can't find any correlation between Rusted Root and Sixteen Horsepower. Different band members, different cities. Hmmmm.
 


I just love his voice. This sounds great after Fotheringay.
Rusted Root? did some research on AllMusic and can't find any correlation between Rusted Root and Sixteen Horsepower. Different band members, different cities. Hmmmm.
Starts like Clash Jenny Jones!
I like it.  Gothic Americana, gonna have to get me some.
Love it.
 keller1 wrote:
Darned inspired segue from Fotheringay.
 Word.

1 {#Arrowl} 2
 jimmunn wrote:
Man that song can get grating if you aren't in the right mode for something like that.
 
I agree with you, Jim.
'll take this Lindsy, the one I have dreamed of  and about (F Mac), and a pound of sweat to experience a good one of these LIVE.
Hmmm does not sound like Sixteen Horsepower Black Soul Choir.  Sure we got the right song?

can't get enough!
I own it. I dig it.
This was the song that introduced me to 16 Horsepower many years ago and wonderfully the entire band discography including Woven Hand. Forever a personal favourite, but obviously not for everyman. As is His word.
Man that song can get grating if you aren't in the right mode for something like that.
 imaheatfan wrote:
yep - definitely the guy from Rusted Root.
 

Which one..the dude in the suspenders or the chicken?  (See CD cover)  I bet the chicken can way out sing him.  3
A frenetic Lindsay Buckingham... ...is that possible...? Apparently so!{#Drunk} Something in the background... tapping in my head... make it stop... no wait... it's good... no wait... I'm confused... slow it down... ah, thank god it's done, I wasn't sure where this was taking me.
yep - definitely the guy from Rusted Root.
I love the song, not crazy bout the singer! Album cover is great though!{#Lol}
 bigB_3 wrote:
The drums at the start sound like Ministry's "Jesus Build My Hotrod".
 
I thought it sounded like Ballroom Blitz.
 
edit: today I thought it was Good Morning Aztlan.

aww, Bill was on such a roll today, and now this!

Same singer from Rusted Root?