''Milk and Scissors'' is the second album by American band
The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family is an American music duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks formed in Chicago, Illinois, and as of 2001 based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are perhaps best known for their song " Far from Any Road" from ...
. It was released 1996 by Carrot Top Records, and by
Scout Releases in the same year.
Production
The production of the album was interrupted by Brett's brief stay in a mental hospital.
Critical reception
The ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'' called ''Milk and Scissors'' "one of the finest albums of 1996." The ''
Chicago Reader
The ''Chicago Reader'', or ''Reader'' (stylized as ЯEADER), is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded by a ...
'' called it "wonderfully depressing."
Track listing
All music by Brett Sparks and all lyrics by Rennie Sparks, except as noted
# "Lake Geneva" – 3:11
# "Winnebago Skeletons" – 4:13
# "Drunk By Noon" – 2:51
# "The House Carpenter" (traditional, arranged by The Handsome Family, inspired by
Clarence Ashley
Clarence "Tom" Ashley (September 29, 1895 – June 2, 1967) was an American musician and singer, who played the clawhammer banjo and the guitar. He began performing at medicine shows in the Appalachia, Southern Appalachian region as early as 1911 ...
's 1930 recording) – 3:36
# "The Dutch Boy" – 3:51
# "The King Who Wouldn't Smile" – 2:35
# "Emily Shore 1819-1839" – 4:34
# "3-Legged Dog" (Darrell Sparks)– 4:34
# "#1 Country Song" (Brett Sparks) – 3:35
# "Amelia Earhart vs. The Dancing Bear" - 3:13
# "Tin Foil" - 2:41
# "Puddin' Fingers" (Mike Werner) - 1:41
Personnel
* The Handsome Family:
**Brett Sparks - guitar, vocals, dobro, organ, harmonica, lap steel
**Rennie Sparks - bass, vocals
**Mike Werner - percussion
* Diane Murphy - band photo
* Brad Miller - cover photo
* Design by Rennie & Mike with Sheila Sachs
[cf. Brett & Rennie Sparks (1996): Credits. In ''Milk And Scissors'' ]D booklet
D, or d, is the fourth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''dee'' (pronounced ), plural ''dees''.
History
The ...
Chicago: Carrot Top Records.
References
External links
The Handsome Family official website
{{Authority control
1996 albums
Carrot Top Records albums
The Handsome Family albums