"Hoarse" is a live album released by American alternative country band, 16 Horsepower, in 2000. The album serves as the band's third full-length album, following "Low Estate", an album that firmly established the band's unique blend of American and European folk music with rock influences.
The album is a testament to 16 Horsepower's distinctive and intense live performances, offering a combination of revisited songs from their previous studio albums ("Sackcloth 'n' Ashes” and “Low Estate”) and several covers. 16 Horsepower, renowned for their raw and impassioned performances, presents their unique musical fusion further amplified in a live setting.
David Eugene Edwards, the lead vocalist and principal songwriter, draws heavily from his Pentecostal upbringing to impart a fervent, nearly gothic tinge to the music. The band hails from Denver, Colorado, and in addition to Edwards, includes members Jean-Yves Tola and Pascal Humbert. The sound of 16 Horsepower is marked by Edwards' distinctive vocal style and the use of a variety of unusual instruments, including banjo, bandoneon, and lap steel guitar.
"Hoarse" provides listeners with a visceral feel of the band's live energy, a critical appeal that distinguishes 16 Horsepower from other alternative country bands of their era. Their unique sound, coupled with emotionally charged performances, cements their legacy as one of the pioneering bands of the alternative country scene.
