Educated Horses

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Educated Horses

| type = studio

| artist = Rob Zombie

| cover = Rob Zombie Educated Horses.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{start date|2006|3|28}}

| recorded = 2005 at The Chop Shop in Hollywood, California

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Alternative metal, hard rock, industrial 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

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Educated Horses

| type = studio

| single1 = Foxy Foxy

| single1date = February 14, 2006

| single2 = American Witch

| single2date = 2006

| single3 = Let It All Bleed Out

| single3date = 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 Rob Zombie 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."
{{cn|date=May 2023}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1544469/116562/Hangin_With_Rob_Zombie/Hangin_With_Rob_Zombie/index.jhtml |title=70's, 80's & 90's Classic Rock, Soul & Pop Music Videos | VH1 |publisher=VH1 Classic |access-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705195529/http://www.vh1classic.com/view/playlist/1544469/116562/Hangin_With_Rob_Zombie/Hangin_With_Rob_Zombie/index.jhtml |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

Reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r826999|pure_url=yes}}|title=Educated Horses - Rob Zombie|website=AllMusic}}

| rev2 = Blabbermouth.net

| rev2Score = 7/10{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2006-03-22 |title=Educated Horses |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/educated-horses/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Blabbermouth.net |language=en}}

| rev3 = Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal

| rev3score = 4/10{{cite book |last1=Popoff |first1=Martin |last2=Perri|first2=David|author-link1=Martin Popoff |title=The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 4: The '00s |publisher=Collector's Guide Publishing |year=2011 |location=Burlington, Ontario, Canada |isbn=9781-926592-20-6 |page=568}}

| rev4 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite book|editor-last=Larkin|editor-first=Colin|editor-link=Colin Larkin|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|year=2007|publisher=Omnibus Press|edition=5th concise|isbn=978-0857125958|title-link=Encyclopedia of Popular Music |chapter=Zombie, Rob|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofpo0000unse_v3u2/page/1550 1551]}}

| rev5 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev5score = C+{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1176383,00.html|title=Educated Horses Review|last=Collis|first=Clark|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=March 27, 2006|access-date=June 9, 2007|archive-date=April 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426220914/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1176383,00.html|url-status=dead}}

| rev6 = IGN

| rev6score = 7.2/10{{Cite web |last=D. |first=Spence |date=2006-04-12 |title=Rob Zombie - Educated Horses |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/12/rob-zombie-educated-horses |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=IGN |language=en}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robzombie/albums/album/9491563/rid/9597771/|title=Rob Zombie: Educated Horses : Music Reviews|last=Hoard|first=Christian|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 5, 2006|access-date=April 22, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509150539/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robzombie/albums/album/9491563/rid/9597771/|archive-date=May 9, 2006|url-status=dead}}

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |last=Schiller |first=Brian |date=2006-04-06 |title=Review: Rob Zombie, Educated Horses |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/rob-zombie-educated-horses/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}}

}}

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.Katie Hasty, [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/58852/ti-rules-as-king-of-album-chart "T.I. Rules As 'King' Of Album Chart"], Billboard.com, April 5, 2006. In its second week it dropped to number fourteen, selling a further 46,720 copies.Soundscan, [http://prince.org/msg/7/185183 "Soundscan / Billboard Top 200 Albums 04.12.06"], Prince.org, April 14, 2006.

The song "The Lords of Salem" was nominated for the Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance of 2008.[http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx#04 Grammy.com: 2009 Hard Rock nominees]

Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine had this to say: {{cquote|A handful of cuts are too long on sludgy instrumental grooves, but whether Zombie is out-Trent Reznoring Trent Reznor on the sitar-laden grindfest "17 Year Locust" or spitting fire amid the apocalyptic blues riffs of "The Devil's Rejects," he sounds like a gifted schlockmeister that Strokes fans can enjoy. Or at least tolerate.{{cite news | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robzombie/albums/album/9491563/review/9597771/educated_horses | title = Educated Horses review | publisher = Wenner Media | author = Rolling Stone | author-link = Rolling Stone | date = 2006-04-05 | access-date = 2006-04-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071103005036/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/robzombie/albums/album/9491563/review/9597771/educated_horses | archive-date = 2007-11-03 | url-status = dead }}}}

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

File:Eul ms 202 1891 27 theatre royal playbill.jpg

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

{{track listing

| total_length = 38:25

| title1 = Sawdust in the Blood

| length1 = 1:22

| title2 = American Witch

| length2 = 3:47

| title3 = Foxy Foxy

| writer3 = Zombie, Humphrey

| length3 = 3:28

| title4 = 17 Year Locust

| length4 = 4:06

| title5 = The Scorpion Sleeps

| length5 = 3:38

| title6 = 100 Ways

| length6 = 1:53

| title7 = Let It All Bleed Out

| writer7 = Zombie, Humphrey

| length7 = 4:09

| title8 = Death of It All

| length8 = 4:22

| title9 = Ride

| length9 = 3:32

| title10 = The Devil's Rejects

| length10 = 3:54

| title11 = The Lords of Salem

| length11 = 4:13

}}

Personnel

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Musicians

{{col-2}}

Production

  • Scott Humphrey – producer, mixing
  • Rob Zombie – producer
  • Tom Baker – mastering
  • Chris Baseford – engineer
  • Todd Harapiak – assistant engineer
  • Will Thompson – assistant engineer
  • Rob Zombie – art direction, package design, additional photos
  • Kristin Burns – photos
  • Drew Fitgerald – art direction

{{col-end}}

Chart positions

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Album

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
Chart (2006)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Rob+Zombie&titel=Educated+Horses&cat=a|title=Rob Zombie - Educated Horses|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|44

scope="row"|Canadian Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rob-zombie/chart-history/cna/|title=Rob Zombie (Canadian Albums)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|5

scope="row"|French Albums (SNEP){{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Rob+Zombie&titel=Educated+Horses&cat=a|title=Rob Zombie - Educated Horses|publisher=Hung Medien|language=fr|accessdate=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|184

{{album chart|Scotland|95|date=20060402|rowheader=true|access-date=October 30, 2021}}
scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC){{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5101/rob-zombie/|title=Rob Zombie {{!}} full Chart History|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|90

scope="row"|US Billboard 200{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rob-zombie/chart-history/tlp/|title=Rob Zombie (Billboard 200)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|5

scope="row"|US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rob-zombie/chart-history/mtl/|title=Rob Zombie (Top Hard Rock Albums)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|1

scope="row"|US Top Rock Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rob-zombie/chart-history/rck/|title=Rob Zombie (Top Rock Albums)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

|align="center"|1

{{col-2}}

;Singles

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Song

!Chart (2006)

!Peak
position

scope="row" rowspan="2"|"Foxy Foxy"

|Mainstream Rock Tracks{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rob-zombie/chart-history/rtt/|title=Rob Zombie (Mainstream Rock Airplay)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"|8

Alternative Airplay{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/rob-zombie/chart-history/mrt/|title=Rob Zombie (Alternative Airplay)|publisher=Billboard|access-date=October 30, 2021}}

| style="text-align:center;"|26

scope="row" rowspan="2"|"American Witch"

|Mainstream Rock Tracks

| style="text-align:center;"|12

Alternative Airplay

| style="text-align:center;"|32

scope="row"|"Let It All Bleed Out"

|Mainstream Rock Tracks

| style="text-align:center;"|29

{{col-end}}

References