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Rating:
Released in 1995, the debut album "Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot" by Sparklehorse (the moniker under which Mark Linkous operates) was followed the next year by the EP "Chords I've Known", which many have unjustly overlooked.
The EP can be considered as an extension of the first album due to the presence of outtakes from "Vivadixie". "Heart Of Darkness (Wiggly)" is an alternative (more folk) version of the song released on the first album, but it also stands out for the use of electric guitar instead of pedal steel guitar. "Almost Lost My Mind" is the most rock-oriented track of the bunch. "Midget In A Junkyard" is structured around the harmonic interplay of banjo and mandolin and recalls Lullaby for the Working Class. "Dead Opera Star" is an interesting blend of spoken word and traditional singing (in the chorus). "Chords I've Known" closes with "The Hatchet Song", a peculiar song in Linkous's discography for its use of piano.
5 tracks for 10 minutes of excellent music, left as a legacy by one of the brightest minds of the last twenty years.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
06 Tears on Fresh Fruit (02:07)
just when you've found your way to
the boiler room
they come and dig you out
with picks and shovels and
acetelyne torches
I couldn't do nothing but watch as her tears fell on fresh fruit
behind the boney walls of my skull
there was playing a lullaby
la la la la la la la la la la la, la la la la la
we're just trying to be free
of our bodies
our stomachs full of liquor
all our lungs
full of water
I couldn't do nothing but watch as her tears fell on fresh fruit
behind the boney walls of my skull
there was playing a lullaby
la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la la, la
10 Hammering the Cramps (02:49)
hey little dog, can you fly?
hey little dog, can you fly?
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hey little car, can you fly?
hey little car, can you fly?
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
captain howdy's here but
we can't see him
we can't see them
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
hammering the cramps
oh yeah
14 Someday I Will Treat You Good (03:40)
Something going on around here
I could not crawl back if I tried
I couldn't wait around
I couldn't wait another second
Something going on around here
I left my baby on the side of the highway
She just couldn't see things my way
Someday I will treat you good
Someday I will treat you fine
Someday I will treat you good
You know I should
Everything that's made is made to decay
Well I'm shrinking bones in the sun
Won't you tell me why that
The beautiful ones are always crazy
She's whispering like Morticia now
I left my baby on the side of the road
I left her with a heavy load
Someday I will treat you good
Someday I will treat you fine
Someday I will treat you good
You know I should
Something going on around here
I could not crawl back if I tried
I left my baby on the side of highway
She just couldn't see things my way
Someday I will treat you good
Someday I will treat you fine
Someday I will treat you good
You know I should
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Other reviews
By zigghio
I see songs as little planets, they don’t have to be in alignment, if they orbit they become boring.
It is one of the masterpieces of the ’90s because ... you can find country-punk outbursts, post rock approaches, and also gospel.
By Alternativo91
The album opens with 'Homecoming Queen' which has a beautiful arpeggio, and a whispered voice, dreamy, melancholic to avoid when feeling down.
The most catchy song, however, is undoubtedly Someday I Will Treat You Good played with feedback and dissonances which indicate that the artist was far from making a pop piece.
By zaireeka
The songs are islands of wrenching beauty.
Great sensitivity has its price.
By Angeldust82
"The album is fragile and unstable... born, grow, and die just as they were conceived."
"The closer you get to perfection the more you lose in spontaneity."
