Producer: David Charles, Mark Linkous, Dennis Herring, Engineer: David Charles, Mark Linkous, Dennis Herring, Tracks: Homecoming Queen; Weird Sisters; 850 Double Pumper Holley; Rainmaker; Spirit Ditch; Tears On Fresh Fruit; Saturday; Cow; Little Bastard Choo Choo; Hammering the Cramps; Most Beautiful Widow in Town; Heart of Darkness; Ballad of a Cold Lost Marble; Someday I Will Treat You Good; Sad & Beautiful World; Gasoline Horseys
Sparklehorse have a very unique sound. While their songs vary in tempo, they seem to never be in a rush. "Spirit Ditch" (which I first heard as a 7" single) is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in some time. Sparklehorse are often slow, though they do not plod. Their sound could be described as somewhat dark, though not ominous. The guitars add paint flecks of brightness without ever quite rising to a shimmer. Sparklehorse, while not necessarily pretty, make absolutely gorgeous music. This is one of the neatest recordings I've heard in many years within the confines of pop/rock. Ex-Silo Bob Rupe plays bass on a number of these tracks and contributes a vocal to "850 Double Pumper Holley". Brian Harvey and Johnny Hott (House of Freaks, Gutterball) are also present on this recording.
Rating : ****