Educated Horses Explained

Educated Horses
Type:studio
Artist:Rob Zombie
Cover:Rob Zombie Educated Horses.jpg
Recorded:2005 at The Chop Shop in Hollywood, California
Genre:Industrial metal, alternative metal
Length:38:25
Label:Geffen
Producer:Scott Humphrey, Rob Zombie
Prev Title:Past, Present & Future
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:The Best of Rob Zombie
Next Year:2006

Educated Horses is the third studio album by American musician Rob Zombie, released on March 28, 2006, by Geffen. A streaming "listening party" was held on MP3.com starting March 22, 2006, which caused advance copies to spread throughout P2P software programs. It is the first album to feature guitarist John 5 and drummer Tommy Clufetos, and the last to feature bassist Blasko.

In response to questions about what the album's title means, Rob Zombie said:

"It was a weird kind of phrase, like, that I remembered as something as a kid. You know, my parents, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, the whole family, were involved in carnival business and, like, circus business, so as a kid, we would get dragged to these things, and we'd have to spend all this time there. And that was just one of the attractions I remember, what they would call the trained animals, you know, educated horses."

Production

Educated Horses can be described as Zombie's most experimental album to date. Writing for Rob Zombie for the first time, John 5 experimented with a number of acoustics, which can be heard on tracks such as "Sawdust in the Blood" and "Death of It All". Yet the album still contains his signature horror tastes. "17 Year Locust" and "The Scorpion Sleeps" were both written about creepy-crawlies.

Rob Zombie has stated that the album had influences from glam rock artists like Slade, T. Rex, and Gary Glitter.[1]

Reception

The album debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200, Zombie's highest chart position since Hellbilly Deluxe, selling about 120,000 copies in its first week. It also debuted at number one on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart.[2] In its second week it dropped to number fourteen, selling a further 46,720 copies.[3]

The song "The Lords of Salem" was nominated for the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance of 2008.[4]

Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine had this to say:

Music videos

Zombie directed music videos for "Foxy Foxy" and "American Witch". Artist and animator David Hartman created two animated music videos, for "American Witch" and "The Lords of Salem".

Track listing

All songs written by Rob Zombie, John 5 and Scott Humphrey unless otherwise noted.

Personnel

Musicians

Production

Chart positions

Album
Chart (2006)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[5] 44
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[6] 5
French Albums (SNEP)[7] 184
UK Albums (OCC)[8] 90
US Billboard 200[9] 5
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[10] 1
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[11] 1
Singles
SongChart (2006)Peak
position
"Foxy Foxy"Mainstream Rock Tracks[12] 8
Alternative Airplay[13] 26
"American Witch"Mainstream Rock Tracks12
Alternative Airplay32
"Let It All Bleed Out"Mainstream Rock Tracks29

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 70's, 80's & 90's Classic Rock, Soul & Pop Music Videos | VH1 . VH1 Classic . February 14, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080705195529/http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1544469/116562/Hangin_With_Rob_Zombie/Hangin_With_Rob_Zombie/index.jhtml . July 5, 2008 . dead .
  2. Katie Hasty, "T.I. Rules As 'King' Of Album Chart", Billboard.com, April 5, 2006.
  3. Soundscan, "Soundscan / Billboard Top 200 Albums 04.12.06", Prince.org, April 14, 2006.
  4. http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx#04 Grammy.com: 2009 Hard Rock nominees
  5. Web site: Rob Zombie - Educated Horses. Hung Medien. October 30, 2021.
  6. Web site: Rob Zombie (Canadian Albums). Billboard. October 30, 2021.
  7. Web site: Rob Zombie - Educated Horses. Hung Medien. fr. October 30, 2021.
  8. Web site: Rob Zombie full Chart History. Official Charts Company. October 30, 2021.
  9. Web site: Rob Zombie (Billboard 200). Billboard. October 30, 2021.
  10. Web site: Rob Zombie (Top Hard Rock Albums). Billboard. October 30, 2021.
  11. Web site: Rob Zombie (Top Rock Albums). Billboard. October 30, 2021.
  12. Web site: Rob Zombie (Mainstream Rock Airplay). Billboard. October 30, 2021.
  13. Web site: Rob Zombie (Alternative Airplay). Billboard. October 30, 2021.