Forgotten Songs of the '90s: Sparklehorse
Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: Sparklehorse
Recently, the leader of Richmond, Virginia’s own Sparklehorse, Mark Linkous, took his own life in Knoxville, Tennessee after a long battle with depression. He left behind family and an unfinished fifth album but it’s a song off his second album that demands reevaluation.
Off of 1999’s Good Morning Spider, “Saint Mary” is a harrowing song inspired by Linkous’ stay in a London hospital in late 1996 after overdosing on painkillers and Vicodin. While recovering from his dance with death, he began working on what became his sophomore effort. When released, the album was helped along by the first single “Sick of Goodbyes,” which had been written with David Lowery of Cracker and performed on their smash second album, Kerosene Hat. The song got some play on radio and MTV but when “Saint Mary” came out it all but disappeared immediately.
The song has a bit of sparse piano, cello and light acoustic guitar but besides from Linkous’ squeaking vocals, there’s nothing else to the song but that’s the most notable thing about the track is the lack of anything to hold it back from becoming pompous and overproduced. Just listening to the song is creepy enough but yet beautiful at the same time because of the song’s haunting textures.
In order to begin to appreciate Mark’s shining life and musical legacy, just take a listen to “Saint Mary” and start to think about how beautiful everything really is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxUDPEA9bpM
Recently, the leader of Richmond, Virginia’s own Sparklehorse, Mark Linkous, took his own life in Knoxville, Tennessee after a long battle with depression. He left behind family and an unfinished fifth album but it’s a song off his second album that demands reevaluation.
Off of 1999’s Good Morning Spider, “Saint Mary” is a harrowing song inspired by Linkous’ stay in a London hospital in late 1996 after overdosing on painkillers and Vicodin. While recovering from his dance with death, he began working on what became his sophomore effort. When released, the album was helped along by the first single “Sick of Goodbyes,” which had been written with David Lowery of Cracker and performed on their smash second album, Kerosene Hat. The song got some play on radio and MTV but when “Saint Mary” came out it all but disappeared immediately.
The song has a bit of sparse piano, cello and light acoustic guitar but besides from Linkous’ squeaking vocals, there’s nothing else to the song but that’s the most notable thing about the track is the lack of anything to hold it back from becoming pompous and overproduced. Just listening to the song is creepy enough but yet beautiful at the same time because of the song’s haunting textures.
In order to begin to appreciate Mark’s shining life and musical legacy, just take a listen to “Saint Mary” and start to think about how beautiful everything really is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxUDPEA9bpM
His death was truly a sad event. I have been a fan of his since his "Dancing Hoods" days.
ReplyDeleteBetween Mark's death, and Alex Chilton's death, it's been some down days for the "alternative" community.