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JFH Indie Music Spotlight Review

Paper Horses, 'Paper Horses'
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Paper Horses
Paper Horses (Bandcamp Exclusive Deluxe EP)

Street Date: January 23, 2024
Style: Americana / Acoustic / Folk
Buy It: Bandcamp



Paper Horses is a supergroup of tremendous veteran songstresses and friends. Members Sandra McCracken, Leslie Jordan (All Sons & Daughters), Jess Ray, and Taylor Leonhardt (both the latter of which make up Mission House) have joined their formidable talents for a stellar Americana band worthy of every bit of your attention.

Their debut project started with a few singles released in 2023 to all the usual streaming services, which were then pulled and released as a twelve-song Bandcamp exclusive in January of 2024. Among those twelve songs are six originals, with additional live versions of each. And there's not a clunker in the bunch, live tracks included. In fact, I love the front porch feel of the live tracks where cicadas and birds can be heard joining the songs.

Right from the start, listeners are greeted with the gently convicting lines from "Why Don't We," "We who have had much forgiven/should give as we've received/but we without amazing grace/and shame the wretch like me/if the Father's quick to love, why aren't we?" Ouch, in a good way. Next comes a plea for God to "teach us to love/to give to our neighbor/as you've given to us" in "Have Mercy."

However, perhaps the biggest highlights are the final three songs, "An Honest Word," "Jesus Is," and "Hope Has Come Near." The first of the three is a recognition that our Savior doesn't need our defense as much as our surrender, while "Jesus Is" also puts us in our rightful place as the dependent sheep and Jesus as the good shepherd. My favorite lines fall in the middle, as Leonhardt achingly sings, "I may be lonely without a friend/But I will carry my heart to Him/He knows my sorrow, my grief is His/I am no shepherd, but Jesus is." Yes, the gentle guitar strum, mandolin, and slide guitar with the soothing background vocals make for a true standout.

Lastly, McCracken takes the lead on the final track, "Hope Has Come Near." It's no surprise that it's lyrically meaty like many of the modern-day hymns she has been releasing for years. Lyrics co-written with Leonhardt like the following direct us to trust a God who is always with us, "Hope has come near us/old ways set aside/helping us see more than we can see with our eyes."

It's still early in the year, but this is the first and only album that has captured my attention for multiple listens and even driven me to purchase it to do so. As such, it's an early favorite for the top ten year-end list, and worth a listen if you like any of the individual members' solo work or Americana music in general. Featuring tight harmonies, terrific background vocals, and acoustic instrumentation, this is a group to keep up with. These are seasoned songwriters at the top of their game.

- Review date: 2/4/24, written by Josh Balogh of Jesusfreakhideout.com



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. Record Label: None
. Album length: 12 tracks
. Street Date: January 19, 2024
. Buy It: Bandcamp

  1. Why Don't We (4:03)
  2. Have Mercy (2:59)
  3. In Everything (5:12)
  4. An Honest Word (4:01)
  5. Jesus Is (4:44)
  6. Hope Has Come Near (4:19)
  7. Why Don't We (live from leslie's) (3:59)
  8. Have Mercy (live from leslie's) (2:56)
  9. In Everything (live from leslie's) (4:42)
  10. An Honest Word (live from leslie's) (4:00)
  11. Jesus Is (live from leslie's) (4:14)
  12. Hope Has Come Near (live from leslie's) (4:13)

 

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
ELI GABLE Glory Bound - Single [Capitol CMG]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Claire Leslie Thank God I'm Not Alone (from Claire's Phone) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Tommy Royale, gio. Like Dat - Single [Capitol CMG]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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