Song List

Since 1995, Denver's Sixteen Horsepower have been dispensing their particular brand of truth, starting with their first self-titled EP and then following up with the critically-lauded Sackcloth and Ashes. Their sound has always been unique and riveting, an explosive blend of sulfurous country folk, fiery roots rock and eerie Western intensity. While comparisons are made to Nick Cave, Appalachian bluegrass and O.K. Coral shoot-outs between Joy Division and Hank Williams, their sound remains their own. (I almost put "the song remains the same.")

Colorado native David Eugene Edwards and Frenchman Jean-Yves Tola remain the foundation of the outfit. Edwards' mournful voice is countered by his crisp banjo and turn-of-the-century squeeze box; while the classically and jazz-trained Tola (who admits that he also "learned some military snare stuff" when he was younger just in case he was pressed into mandatory service in the French Army) anchors the sound with his crooked timekeeping. Producer John Parish (P.J. Harvey) seals in the rich texture of working class denims, steel coal shovels and a clean Sunday Stetson. "John is very talented and creative. With the first album we felt we had achieved something," says Tola. "With John, we let ourselves loose, without any restraint; we dug ourselves in hard and now it's as if a page has turned or we have finished climbing a flight of stairs and we are ready for the next level."