The belief is good art comes from hard times. It appears Hopkins has had some stumbles over the last couple of years in the relationship area. The Horse I Rode In On is filled heartbreak: expressions of love that end in heartbreak, apologies that end in heartbreak, anger that dissolves into heartbreak. The album -- Hopkins` first since 2003 -- features his stock-in- trade roots-rock sound, and hearty and sometimes off-key warbling, and guitar mastery. Some artists try to hide the pain behind metaphor. Hopkins has chosen to rip his chest open and show you his broken heart. Too bad something bad happened to Rich, but the results are the gloriously painful The Horse I Rode In On. -- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music (San Jacinto)
