Dawson co-wrote every song on the album, including lead single "All on Me ". Jay Joyce served as the album's producer.[ 1]
Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic wrote that "there's a fleetness in Dawson's delivery, an exactitude in his songcraft, and a mellowness in his execution that push his music toward the confines of country".[ 2] Sounds Like Nashville writer Annie Reuter reviewed the album positively, stating that "His unique storytelling partnered with Joyce's standout production give Dark Horse a timeless appeal, which is surely just a taste of Dawson’s promising career."[ 1]
The album debuted on Billboard ' s Top Country Albums at No. 5, selling 7,000 copies (11,000 in album equivalent units) in the first week.[ 3] It has sold 18,000 copies in the United States as of June 2018.[ 4]
Title Writer(s) 1. "Dip" Devin Dawson , Barry Dean , Luke Laird 3:22 2. "All on Me " Dawson, Jacob Durrett, Austin Smith 3:44 3. "Asking for a Friend" Dawson, Connie Harrington, Brett Beavers 3:59 4. "Second to Last" Dawson, Laura Veltz , Mark Trussell 3:19 5. "Symptoms" Dawson, Smith 4:03 6. "I Don't Care Who Sees" Dawson, Smith, Jake Mitchell, Jacob Durrett 3:21 7. "Secondhand Hurt" Dawson, Will Bowen 4:01 8. "Placebo" Dawson, Jordan Reynolds, David Hodges 3:04 9. "War Paint" Dawson, Clint Lagerberg, Chris DuBois 3:42 10. "I Can’t Trust Myself" Dawson, Jillian Jacqueline, Brad Warren, Brett Warren 3:10 11. "Prison" Dawson, Seth Ennis , Josh Kerr 3:41 12. "Dark Horse" Dawson, Andy Albert , Andrew DeRoberts 3:31
Adapted from AllMusic [ 5]
Kip Allen – drums , handclapping, percussion , programming
Devin Dawson – acoustic guitar , handclapping, lead vocals, background vocals
Nick DiMaria – banjo , acoustic guitar, electric guitar , background vocals
Fred Eltringham – programming
Jason Hall – handclapping
Jaxon Hargrove – handclapping
Jillian Jacqueline – background vocals
Jay Joyce – bass guitar , bells , bowed vibes, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, handclapping, keyboards , lap steel guitar , percussion, programming
Jimmy Mansfield – handclapping
Sam Rodberg – bass guitar, handclapping
Austin Smith – electric guitar, handclapping, background vocals
^ a b Reuter, Annie (January 16, 2018). "Album Review: Devin Dawson's 'Dark Horse' " . Sounds Like Nashville . Retrieved January 30, 2018 .
^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Dark Horse review" . AllMusic . Retrieved January 30, 2018 .
^ Asker, Jim (January 30, 2018). " 'Hallelujah'! LANCO Debuts at No. 1 On Top Country Albums Chart" . Billboard .
^ Bjorke, Matt (June 22, 2018). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: June 20, 2018" . Roughstock . Retrieved June 28, 2018 .
^ "Credits" . AllMusic . Retrieved September 17, 2020 .
^ "Devin Dawson Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved January 30, 2018.
^ "Devin Dawson Chart History (Top Country Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved January 30, 2018.
^ "Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018" . Billboard . Retrieved July 15, 2020 .